Paris

So I took the train from London to Paris and met my amazing friend Rachel. She's been living in Paris for a couple of years and let me crash at her place which was so great- even if it is a 6th floor walk up, so many stairs! She lives right between the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe- like walking distance to both. Also, she knows EVERYTHING about Paris and what to see. She does these cool bike tours in the summer and she took me on a private bike tour which was really awesome. Rachel had to work so a lot of the time I just wondered alone and then when she could, I would met up with her and she showed me so many awesome things. Sadly, I only really had two days so I just scratched the surface.

Funny story- the day before I left London, a couple of guys I went to high school with posted a picture of themselves in front of the Eiffel Tower. I messaged them that I was going to Paris the next day. We looked into meeting up but were unable to, which is too bad. Sometimes it is such a small world!

The first day I woke up thinking I would grab some breakfast and then head over to the Eiffel Tower but when I got outside and saw the sky I knew I needed to head to the Eiffel Tower right then. I'm so glad I did. The sunrise was BEAUTIFUL and I got some really awesome shots of the Tower. That pretty much never happens for me. Usually it's rainy and overcast when I want pictures of iconic places. On the last day I walked by the Eiffel Tower on my way to the airport and it was a rainy, cloudy day and I thought- this is what I normally get. There were no less than 6 couples all having what looked like engagement photos taken by professionals with the Tower behind them the day I went. I didn't walk up to the Tower or anything- I got my shots and that's all I really wanted.

After that I had some breakfast, walked over to the Arc de Triomphe and took a few pictures. This is the place that Rachel recommends actually going up because you get good views of the city with the Eiffel Tower in it. I didn't feel like going up so I just made my way to the Louvre. I didn't bother actually going in the Louvre, that will have to happen another time. I know it's one of those things that you need a lot of time for and I didn't have it. I hung out in the mall under the Louvre and then met up with Rachel.

Rachel took me on this bike tour and I don't even remember everything we saw. As we were riding past Notre Dame someone really important- minister of defense or something- pulled up and got out right next to where we were. There was a police escort and all this commotion. Rachel asked one of the officers who it was but it wasn't anyone we knew readily. We then spent the evening wondering around the Marais (I think) which was cool.

The following day I got up and went to Sacré-Cœur Basilica (Sacred Heart) for sunrise. Not as awesome as the day before, but still beautiful. Then I headed to Père Lachaise Cemetery where Jim Morrison is buried. A co-worker told me I should check it out. It's a really cool cemetery. I wondered around and actually went inside Notre Dame. More wondering. It was New Years Eve and Rachel had left town with her boyfriend so I was on my own. I thought about going to a celebration at the Arc but then decided to just head home and spend the time reflecting on the past year and making goals for the future. Lame I know, but it was good to do and I enjoyed it.

The next day I headed back to Kuwait. I totally lucked out because the day before a HUGE snowstorm hit Istanbul. My flight was only delayed a couple hours and I ended up making it home without much trouble. My friends who were flying the day before got stuck in Istanbul, were told by the airline that the next flight they could get them out of was in three days. They ended up having to buy last minute tickets on another airline to get out. I can't even imagine....

six floors.... so out of shape! so glad I packed light! 

This is inside the courtyard area of Rachel's apartment.  

First sight of the Eiffel Tower 

Seriously amazing sunrise! I couldn't narrow down the pics even though they all look the same. Sorry! 

Paris architecture in the beautiful morning light. 

Arc de Triomphe

The Louvre

The mall under the Louvre

That building in the middle is the oldest (or one of the oldest) buildings in Paris. :) AND I'm pretty sure I saw an episode of House Hunters International where they looked at an apartment in there. 

I don't remember all the great information Rachel told me about this place, but it's cool looking

This is the work of a French urban artist called Invader. You can get an app and get points for each original Invader you locate and take a picture of. It checks the geotag and awards you points.

They're all over and Rachel knows where a lot of them are. 

Again- don't remember but it was cool. 

There was a TON of awesome information Rachel gave me about this area- including some stuff about famous people, but I don't remember. I'm terrible. Should have taken notes. 

Just cool looking. She probably told me the history here too. Sorry Rachel! 

Notre Dame

Random Christmas set up near Notre Dame.

This was the top of one of the street barrier poles. I thought it was awesome because it's a cat. 

Cool globe lights at a bookstore. I'm stealing this idea. 

Those marks are from cannon balls from the revolution- pretty neat

Pretty Christmas lights. 

Cool temporary coffee shop made from recycled doors. 

This river shot kinda looks like a Monte painting

Police HQ all patriotic with the flag lights

Notre Dame at night.

Smart people take the tram up the hill to Sacré-Cœur Basilica (Sacred Heart)- thanks for the tip Rachel

The stairs I walked down but didn't have to walk up because I took the tram. 

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Check out the swan!

Notre Dame- the only tourist thing I bothered going inside, and only because Rachel promised the line wouldn't take too long. 

How I expected the Eiffel Tower to look the first day with my usual luck with iconic sites. I would have like to have taken more foggy, missing the top of the tower shots but I was running late. Or I thought I was because I didn't know the flight would be delayed. 

Snow at the Istanbul airport.