Water Lilies, Sweet Surprises, and a Late-Night Croque Monsieur!
Parisian Day Two
Bonjour mes amis! I'm still buzzing from our incredible second day exploring the magic of Paris. Grab a croissant and a café, because you're going to want to hear all about it!
Our morning started with a leisurely 30-minute stroll to the Musée de l'Orangerie. Honestly, even the walk through those charming Parisian streets felt like a postcard come to life.
This museum is a must-see, especially if you're a fan of Claude Monet. His enormous Water Lilies murals are housed in two serene oval rooms, creating this incredibly peaceful and immersive art experience. It's like stepping right into his Giverny garden. Beyond Monet, the museum also boasts a fantastic collection of other Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masters, including works by Cézanne, Renoir, Picasso, and Matisse. We made sure to get there right when the doors opened, which was perfect for having some quiet time with these masterpieces before the school groups started to arrive as we were heading out. And a personal highlight for me? Discovering a new artist to adore – Marie Laurencin! Her feminine and pastel-hued paintings completely stole my heart.
Just outside the museum, we found ourselves in the iconic Jardin des Tuileries. This formal French garden, nestled perfectly between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, is an absolute feast for the eyes. Stunning views stretched out in every direction, dotted with beautiful sculptures, elegant fountains, and those immaculately manicured lawns that France does so well. We took our sweet time wandering through, eventually finding a lovely bench to simply sit, relax, and soak up that quintessential Parisian ambiance. And of course, no visit to a Parisian garden is complete without a spin on a carousel! Our family has a soft spot for their craftsmanship and whimsical beauty, and the Tuileries Garden definitely didn't disappoint.
Next on our agenda was Place Vendôme, and as we approached this elegant square, something caught our eye – a line forming outside a rather chic-looking bakery. Upon closer inspection, we realized it was the renowned patisserie of the Michelin-starred pastry chef, Cédric Grolet! I've long admired his innovative and utterly stunning creations online, especially his unbelievable fruit-shaped desserts. We decided to take a chance and hopped in line. Can you believe we ended up being third in?! A super kind gentleman even let us go ahead of him – Parisian kindness at its finest! As we waited, Brian and I were practically giddy with anticipation, excitedly discussing which of his edible works of art we were going to try. Then, as if on cue, a bouncer appeared at the door – a sure sign the magic was about to begin! He silently ushered the first two groups into the shop, and just like that, it was our turn. Looking back, the line behind us had grown tremendously – talk about perfect timing and a serendipitous stumble! The shop itself was so elegant and inviting, a true reflection of the artistry within. We finally made our choices, a few exquisite desserts, and decided to take them back to the tranquility of the Tuileries Garden to savor every single bite. Honestly, could there be a more perfect atmosphere for such decadent treats?
Our delightful sugar rush fueled us as we continued our stroll from Place Vendôme, enjoying the opulent surroundings as we made our way to the iconic Place du Palais-Royal. We paused here for a mini photoshoot, capturing some fun memories, and I even squeezed in a quick photography lesson for Brian. Always a great way to combine sightseeing with learning!
A short walk brought us to the charming Galerie Vivienne. This covered passage is an absolute delight, with its beautiful neoclassical décor, intricate mosaic floors that tell stories with every step, and a stunning glass roof that floods the space with light. We loved Browse the unique little boutiques, bookstores, and inviting tea rooms tucked away within its historic walls.
Just a stone's throw away was the BNF Richelieu (Bibliothèque nationale de France, Richelieu site), the historic site of the National Library of France. The architecture here is truly impressive, a testament to centuries of knowledge and culture. We got to admire the Salle Labrouste, this absolutely magnificent reading room that feels like stepping back in time. While you can't fully explore the library without a card, it was still awe-inspiring to witness. And a little personal tradition of mine? I picked up a cute pink shopping bag and two adorable children’s books about Paris for the kids. I've been collecting a children’s book from every place we visit, starting with one from Maryland, and it's become such a fun way to remember our adventures.
Our next destination, Passage des Panoramas, was just a quick five-minute walk from the library. This is the oldest covered passage in Paris, and it had such a diverse and vibrant mix of shops, restaurants, and historical charm oozing from every corner. We even stumbled upon the cutest paper crafting store, and Brian, who's really into paper art, was thrilled to find and bring home a cool 3D paper sculpture. That was definitely a highlight for him!
Then it was time to brave the Paris Metro to head towards the majestic Arc de Triomphe. Now, this is where things got a little… well, let's just say we had a bit of a directional challenge. We were definitely struggling to figure out the right way to go, feeling a little lost in the labyrinth of underground tunnels. We decided to ask for help and approached a lovely elderly woman, but she didn't speak any English. We went back and forth, both being incredibly pleasant but completely unable to understand each other. I even tried to pull up Google Translate, but in a moment of travel clarity, it suddenly hit me – the Arc de Triomphe is famously located at the end of the Champs-Élysées! So, I just blurted out the name of that iconic street, and her face lit up – she knew exactly what I meant! Turns out, she was headed in that direction too, so we happily followed her to the world-famous shopping avenue, which, let's be honest, I had a little desire to explore anyway. Time was of the essence, so I only allowed myself a quick peek into the glittering storefronts. Of course, I had to pop into Lululemon – because, why not? Naturally, my search was confined to the clearance rack, hoping to snag something for Bryce back home, but alas, no luck this time. By this point, both Brian and I were ravenous. And what does any good traveler do when hunger strikes in a new city? They find a McDonald's! It's my little travel quirk – I have to try the local McDonald's wherever I go. This time, we indulged in some curly fries and a Big Mac. The bun was definitely different – softer and slightly sweeter, but absolutely delicious! And get this – we even found the elusive Nether Sauce from Minecraft that had been sold out back home! Curiosity got the better of us, and we had to try it. Spoiler alert: it wasn't very good. Next up, a mandatory stop at the Pandora store. I had to get a little something from a shop on the Champs-Élysées, and I also collect Pandora beads from every place I visit as a wearable memory. I picked up a beautiful gold Eiffel Tower charm and had the month and year engraved on the tiny disc. There wasn't a ton of room for creativity with the limited characters, though!
With our little taste of Champs-Élysées conquered, we had to hustle in the light rain to finally reach the magnificent Arc de Triomphe. This was a major must-see for Brian, and we were on a bit of a tight schedule because we had timed tickets for a guided tour of the Louvre, with the grand finale being a visit to the Mona Lisa right before closing, guaranteeing us a front-row view of that enigmatic smile. I definitely didn't want to miss that! We took in the splendor of the arch and hopped right back onto the Metro – thankfully, there's a station conveniently located right there. The instructions for our Louvre tour meeting point were a tad confusing, and Brian and I started to get a little stressed about potentially missing it. After some turning around and a bit of aimless wandering, Brian finally spotted the designated spot. Our guide, however, was the epitome of Parisian nonchalance, which then reminded me – we were on Paris time! I found that for the most part, schedules were more like suggestions than strict deadlines. Lol.
Onward to the Louvre! These tickets were definitely a splurge, but honestly, they were worth every single penny. We were escorted straight into the museum, bypassing all the long lines. We even got to use a private bathroom just for tours and had the option to store our belongings in a secure locker, also just for tour participants. Our guide had this little stick she'd wave in the air so we could easily spot her and stay together, and she was a total pro at navigating us through the throngs of visitors. It was awesome! She was hilarious, engaging, and incredibly informative. I learned so much weaving through the seemingly endless rooms, seeing so many grand and iconic pieces that I honestly don't think I would have even noticed or fully appreciated without her guidance. One of my favorite stories she shared was about this seemingly simple profile portrait of a young lady. The painting itself wasn't overly flashy, but the history behind it was absolutely fascinating. It turns out, the painting was commissioned as essentially her dating profile to attract potential suitors, with every tiny detail – from the flowers she held to the color of her dress – symbolizing something specific about her personality and status. A historical dating profile! That definitely gave me a good chuckle. Our fantastic three-hour tour culminated with the much-anticipated visit to the Mona Lisa, and yes, we got to walk right up to see her! There was no wait to approach her roped-off area, although I did have to be a tad patient for my turn to get a photo with just us and that iconic smile. It was truly a magnificent tour, and I highly recommend booking a guided experience through Get Your Guide if you want to make the most of your visit.
From the Louvre, it was back to our hotel to quickly freshen up before heading out for an evening photoshoot with the breathtaking Eiffel Tower. Our meeting point with the photographer was at 1 Avenue de Camoens, offering that classic, slightly elevated view. She was a new photographer and had a lot of creative ideas and enthusiasm, which I really appreciated. However, she unfortunately lacked the proper lighting equipment and experience to really capture us well at night. I ended up enjoying guiding her a bit, sharing some tips and tricks for nighttime portraits. The final images turned out pretty good, but I definitely had to put in some editing work to fix the white balance and overall coloring. They were also quite grainy, which I had unfortunately anticipated given her lack of external lighting. Still, the memories were made, and the experience was fun!
The photoshoot wrapped up quite late, after 11 PM. By then, the city was really starting to wind down, and we realized that the Metro was also nearing its last runs. We were definitely feeling the chill of the night air and were cold, still a little damp from the earlier rain, and absolutely starving. We were starting to worry about getting stuck so far from our hotel with no transportation options, so we made a mad dash and thankfully managed to hop on the very last train of the night back towards the area where we were staying. But when we finally arrived at our neighborhood, everything was completely shut down – not a single restaurant or shop open. Oh no, our stomachs were rumbling something fierce! Just when we thought we were destined for a late-night of hunger pangs, a beacon of fabulousness appeared – we spotted one small restaurant/bar still open, looking like a warm and inviting haven not too far from our place. We were the only customers inside, but the waiter was incredibly welcoming and genuinely happy to serve us. Since the cooks had already finished for the night, the menu was pretty limited, but at that point, I honestly didn't care what they had. I ordered a croque monsieur, and you will absolutely not believe this – it was, hands down, the absolute best croque monsieur I have ever had in my entire life. Maybe it was the late hour and our extreme hunger, or maybe it was just that perfectly grilled ham and cheese with that creamy béchamel sauce hitting all the right notes, but it was pure perfection. What a serendipitous and utterly delicious end to a long, incredible, and wonderfully Parisian day! Stay tuned for more adventures!
