Exploring the Left Bank
📍 Le Pont Alexandre, Paris

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The beautiful Seine River. It’s one of the most important markers in Paris and is a great guide to help navigate the city. Paris is often divided into two areas, Rive Gauche and Rive Droite. This translate to Left Bank and Right Bank. While frequent visitors and locals alike may be partial to one over the other, they are both worth exploring. The Right Bank boasts the Louvre and other incredible museums, while the Left Bank seems to have more history and renowned vintage shopping. On previous trips, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Rive Droite via Le Vendome and Le Marais. That’s why I decided to make the Left Bank a top priority on this most recent trip. Join me for some exploring on Left Bank.

Breakfast at a Historic Cafe

Excited for the full day ahead of us, we got bright and early and started from our hotel in the 2nd arrondissement. The first destination was for a quintessential Parisian breakfast at one of the famous Left Bank Cafes. Essential their are two camps, Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore. Both were a favorite amongst the Paris literary set, think Hemingway and Fitzgerald, and have an identical menu. While I can’t strongly recommend one over the over, I genuinely loved our breakfast at Les Deux Magots. We watched the city come alive with our croissants, café alongé, and jus d’orange. Next time, I’ll give Café de Flore or La Bonaparte a try. 

Visiting the Musee Rodin

After breakfast and some aimless exploring, we made our way to the Musée Rodin. Auguste Rodin is best known for The Thinker and The Kiss (see above) but is also considered the founder of modern sculpture. Many friends so highly recommended this particular museum. I was so excited to see the space in person. He had such a gift for expressing such emotion in his 3-Dimensional work, and it was a joy to see it up close and personal. As always, I highly recommend the audio tour to completely understand what you’re taking in. After the interior tour, enjoy a coffee to stay and enjoy the back gardens that have even more of Rodin’s work. 

Exploring Les Invalides

most widely talked about museum, especially compared to the Louvre and D’Orsay. If you’re a history buff or francophile, I cannot recommend this museum enough. Inside this complex, you’ll find several museums about the military history of France. Just beyond the cathedral, which was absolutely stunning, you’ll also find the tomb of Napoleon. Although he was exiled twice, I was in awe of how much his country still feels for him and the memorial that was created in his honor. With its gilded sculptures, the famous Pont Alexandre III bridge leads straight to Les Invalides and serves as the perfect path to fall in love with French history.

There’s just so much more to be said about Le Rive Gauche. From picnicking under the Eiffel Tower to dinner at Le Procope, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris, there’s is so much to love about the Left Bank. If you’re planning your very first trip to Paris, please be sure to make both sides of the Seine River a priority.

Love from Paris,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

What to Know About Paris
📍 Palais Garnier, Paris

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Bonjour de Paris! After an unintentional break away from social media and blogging, I’m so happy to be back after a long trip to Paris and Provence. The perfect recipe for a stellar vacation was equal parts exploration and relaxation. I kept thinking it felt like a second honeymoon, and I’m so thankful for our time abroad. I’ll be sharing all of the details from our trip soon, but first, I wanted to talk about the preconceived notions of traveling to France. You may have heard some negative comments from loved ones who have traveled to the ‘City of Lights.’ If you’re toying with the idea of traveling to Paris yourself, I wanted to help squelch some of those misconceptions. Here’s what to know about Paris.

Are Parisians really that rude?

No. This comment is probably the number one feedback from traveling Americans. Maybe it’s just because of luck, but I’ve never really encountered the rude Parisian. The biggest thing to remember is that Paris is a bustling city. Like in any city, locals don’t have time to cater to tourists. From a restaurant standpoint, it’s critical to have a few French phrases in your pocket to greet and ask for a table. This little act truly goes a long way.

Is Paris a safe city?

Yes, but with reason. Again, Paris is a big city with different levels of ‘safety’ in particular neighborhoods. On this trip, David and I took the crowded metro, had late night walks back to our hotel, and strolled through more touristy parts of town. There was never a point where I felt uncomfortable or unsafe. Keep in mind that I was never alone and am very used to city living. It’s most important to trust your instinct and know that Ubers are readily available in the city for you to get to your next destination.

Is French food even worth it?

A resounding yes! I have a deep love for food, and it was one of my top reasons for wanting to visit Paris in the first place. The ingredients are simple, the flavors are awe-inspiring, and the meals are so memorable. I genuinely don’t think we had a bad meal once while we were in France. There’s your standard French fare, think escargot and bœuf bourguignon, but don’t forget to try different cuisines that have made their place in French culture, like Vietnamese and Lebanese.

Is speaking French essential?

No, but make an effort. The vast majority of Parisians will speak English to varying degrees. At hotels, boutiques, and restaurants in particular, you’ll be less likely to have a language barrier. However, as a guest in their country I think the least you can do is learn a few key phrases to help bridge the gap.

• Parlez vous anglais? Do you speak English?
• S’il vous plaît. Please.
•  L’addition, s’il vous plaît. The bill, please.
• Bonjour (day) and Bonsoir (evening): Hello.
• Merci. Thank you.
• Au revoir. Goodbye. 
• Ou sont les toilettes? Where are the toilets? 
• Excusez-moi. Excuse me. 

Is the fashion like Emily in Paris?

No. From my point of view, most of the people who were dressing like Emily were American tourists looking for an Instagram moment I know we really want to believe that French fashion is all bright colors and designer labels, but that’s just not typically the case. Parisian style is undoubtedly effortless and chic, but it’s also extremely practical. Imagine staples with a twist and comfortable sneakers to get around the streets of Paris.

Are the museums touristy?

Yes, but that’s the fun! I recently read that there’s a huge difference between a spot being touristy and a tourist trap. There’s no shame in going somewhere that is popular amongst tourists. The top art museums in Paris host some of the most precious pieces of art in the world, but you won’t always see local Parisians there. Bar Hemingway is a favorite amongst Americans, but it’s a must-visit for any literature lover. When visiting a new city, let yourself be a tourist and have fun finding local favorites along the way. 

Is Paris too big to enjoy fully?

Not with a Metro card! It’s easy to underestimate how spread out the city of Paris is. It could take you hours to walk from one site to the next. My first piece of advice? Wear your most comfortable pair of sneakers. I highly recommend Vejas sneakers. The second piece of advice? Get from Point A to Point B via the Metro. It’s clean, efficient, and surprisingly easy to navigate. It saved us so much time as we traveled around the city and is cheaper than Uber.

Is a trip to Paris worth it?

Absolutely, 100%. Paris has something to offer every single visitor. Whether your focus is shopping, art, dining, or history, there’s so much to uncover. Often, all of those mediums are infused together. It should be every traveler’s bucket list. I promise you, especially if you come with an open mind, that you’ll be sure to fall in love with this incredibly romantic city.

Paris, I absolutely love you! I can’t wait to keep sharing my travels and adventures. If you have any questions about French travel, I’m more than happy to answer. If I can convince anyone to finally take the plunge and book your trip, than I consider my posts to be a success!

Love from Paris,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.