When Paris Perfectly Aligns with Your Soul
I have a feeling that May 23rd will forever be etched in my memory as one of my absolute favorite days in Paris. It was one of those days where everything just seemed to align with all the things I hold dear: God, my amazing husband, a healthy dose of art and culture, and, of course, a little retail therapy!
Our day began with an early start, our destination being Montmartre to visit the stunning Sacré-Cœur Basilica before the inevitable crowds descended. I had heard whispers of a bit of a climb to reach the Basilica, perched atop a hill, but "a bit" turned out to be an understatement! Let's just say my glutes got a serious workout from what felt like an endless staircase. However, the walls lining the steps and the streets of Montmartre were adorned with some truly impressive graffiti – so much talent on display! Our early wake-up call proved absolutely worth it as we were among the first to arrive at the top, greeted by the most breathtaking panoramic view of the entire city spread out before us. Brian and I sat for a while, just soaking it all in, gazing at the beautiful cityscape as we patiently waited for the doors of the church to open.
Stepping inside the Sacré-Cœur Basilica was an overwhelming experience. The sheer beauty of the sanctuary took my breath away, but it was the sound of the nuns singing that truly moved me. It brought tears to my eyes. I found a quiet seat and spent some precious time in conversation with God. I poured out my love and gratitude, thanked Him for countless blessings, asked for continued renewal, and simply sat in His presence, offering praise. This experience was like a gentle rekindling of my inner flame. I honestly never wanted to leave. I felt this incredible desire to just sit in His embrace, enveloped by the Holy Spirit. Even now, just writing about it, tears are welling up again. God is so good, so faithful. Fifteen years ago, feeling so trapped and helpless, I never would have imagined this life. Twelve years ago, when the unknown felt so overwhelming and clinging to God was my only constant and comfort. Seven years ago, when tragedy shook our family to its core, and I had to once again place my trust in God's plan, even when I couldn't understand it. And just five years ago, when we were hit hard by another life-shaking event. Through it all, His presence has been my unwavering strength.
Leaving the Basilica, we wandered through the charming, winding streets of Montmartre and soon found ourselves at the Wall of Love, a large and beautiful wall covered in "I Love You" written in 312 different ways and countless languages. Brian and I couldn't resist sharing a sweet kiss at this romantic spot. Continuing our stroll, we came across a delightful flower shop, and my wonderful Brian surprised me with a lovely bouquet – talk about romantic, yet again!
Next up was a must-do on my personal Paris list. As a big fan of the movie Amelie, I had to visit Café des Deux Moulins. This iconic restaurant is where Amelie works in the film and serves as the backdrop for so many memorable scenes. Amelie famously declares Crème brûlée as her favorite, especially the one served at this very café. Well, I can officially say it was absolutely delightful! I also loved that the restaurant had retained so much of its original charm from the movie – it truly felt like stepping right into Amelie's world. Shortly after we were served our Crème brûlée, another couple sat at the table next to us, and I struck up a conversation with the wife, who was also a fellow Amelie enthusiast. It was such a nice, spontaneous connection.
From one beloved movie location to another, our next stop was the one and only Moulin Rouge! I had to grab a photo outside this iconic cabaret, but we decided not to go inside for a show. The ticket prices were quite steep, and I wasn't sure that a beautiful, albeit scantily clad, woman dancing quite fit my vision of a perfectly romantic day.
Then, we made our way to the opulent Palais Garnier, the Paris Opera House. Oh my goodness, this place is absolutely magnificent! Stepping inside felt like entering another world. We wandered from room to room, completely in awe of its grandeur and beauty. The opulent gold detailing, the intricate sculptures, the soaring ceilings adorned with breathtaking artwork – it was all simply stunning. Imagine a grand hall filled with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow on walls dripping with gold leaf, ornate moldings, and rich velvet drapes. As I ventured onto a balcony seating section overlooking the stage, I was incredibly lucky to witness a prima ballerina in the midst of her practice! As someone who also deeply appreciates the art of ballet, this was an unexpected and magical moment. I sat there, completely enthralled, watching her execute perfect battement tendus and soaring Grand jetés, the way she moved with such grace and strength, the artistry flowing right through her fingertips. Once again, the timing felt impeccable.
After being mesmerized by the ballet practice, our next mission took us to The Galleries Lafayette in search of the ever-so-adorable Jellycats! My daughters are completely obsessed with these plush creatures, and I was determined to bring one home for each of them. Especially exciting was the fact that Galleries Lafayette has a special Jellycat Experience, complete with a cute café counter where you get a menu and pretend to make your chosen sweet treat (aka a plush Jellycat!). I had read that their stock often sells out early, so I was a little worried about the variety. Finding the Jellycat section within the vastness of Galleries Lafayette proved to be quite an adventure! After a bit of searching and asking around (we discovered that the shop was actually located inside FAO Schwarz, and many employees didn't speak much English or know where FAO Schwarz was!), we finally found an employee who could at least point us in the right direction. The Jellycat Café was even cuter in person, and we were in luck – everything was fully stocked! There were four adorable dessert (Jellycat) options to choose from, and with five children back home, we had a slight dilemma. Luckily, one of the options was a set of three macarons, so I cleverly decided my two oldest could each pick one of those, and I would keep the third! When it was my turn at the counter, of course, I had to FaceTime Priscilla to let her be part of the fun. She loved seeing all the Jellycats! However, she then proceeded to spot other Jellycats around the shop and insisted we go on a full store tour to show her each and every one. Her birthday money was burning a hole in her pocket, I tell you! There were so many adorable ones to pick from, and she ultimately chose, in my humble opinion, the ugliest one! Really, kid? It was a fat little frog… wearing a duck floatie! Not only was it arguably the least cute, but I also knew that Grace, my little frog enthusiast, would want it too if it came home with us. So, we called Nana, who graciously agreed to get one for Grace's birthday as well. Yay! Two slightly questionable, yet undoubtedly loved, Jellycats acquired. Ha ha! We then headed up to the roof of Galleries Lafayette to take in yet another breathtaking view of the city, with the iconic Eiffel Tower standing proudly in the distance. Afterwards, it was time for a little window shopping because, while the luxury stores here were lovely to dream about, they were definitely outside my budget. Now, for a little backstory: when I was in middle school and early high school, my absolute favorite brand was Benetton. I would diligently save my lunch money and scour the sales racks to purchase their colorful pieces. I had noticed quite a few people in France sporting Benetton attire, and I had a feeling there might be a store nearby. Sure enough, right across the street from Galleries Lafayette, there it was! I made my way inside and treated myself to a few reasonably priced t-shirts. I was absolutely thrilled with my little nostalgic retail therapy session.
Our next destination was the trendy Canal Saint-Martin. It was a lovely area with a bit more of a bohemian, local vibe. However, our timing for this one was a little off. We arrived right when schools were letting out and the workday was ending, so shortly after we got there, the streets were flooded with people, buzzing with the sounds of excited chatter and the energy of everyone heading home. This area isn't super touristy, and the locals were clearly happy to be done with school and work for the day. We headed to the train station, not realizing that seemingly the entire neighborhood was trying to get home at the same time. After four unsuccessful attempts to squeeze onto an already packed train, we finally gave up and ordered an Uber. I would definitely recommend visiting Canal Saint-Martin, but maybe earlier in the day! Ha ha.
We headed back to the Marais and enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the streets around our hotel. Sadly, most of the shops were already closed. We found the listed store hours in France quite comical – often displaying something like 11 am to 7 pm, and even then, they often opened late and closed early! I did manage to find a few charming little thrift shops still open and even bought myself a dress. We also stumbled upon a cute little Crêpe shop that was still serving, so we grabbed a sweet treat and a photo. The owners were so friendly that we ended up staying and chatting with them for a bit. Then, we continued our wanderings. As the evening drew to a close, we found a lively cafe with outdoor seating and snagged a table. I ordered a refreshing salad and a mojito (my favorite!). However, the mojitos here had a bit of a spicy kick to them, which wasn't quite my taste, so I ordered something else. I had the pleasure of chatting with the people sitting at the table next to us – first, a father and daughter with a lovely Dutch accent, and then a very cool gentleman from Spain who had moved to Paris for work ten years prior. I absolutely love meeting new people and hearing their stories. What a perfect way to cap off another unforgettable day in this incredible city!
