France Trip: Versailles

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Palace of Versailles - Hall of Mirrors

Can't do a trip to Paris without a day trip to Versailles, apparently! Last time I was here, I was in high school, so it was nice to experience the gardens and the music-synched fountain shows again as an adult.

Palace of Versailles - Entrance Palace of Versailles - Gardens

The opulence. The audacity,

Palace of Versailles - Gardens Palace of Versailles - Gardens

France Trip: Paris, The Eiffel Tower and The Louvre

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

La Tour Eiffel La Tour Eiffel

It was a busy tourist day, but we got through it! The views from La Tour Eiffel are lovely. It wasn't my friend's top choice of activities, nor was The Louvre, but if it's your first trip to Paris, you kinda gotta go. They're iconic, and quite lovely!

La Tour Eiffel La Tour Eiffel

Around Eiffel Tower Marais


The Louvre - Venus de Milo

We did The Louvre after the Eiffel Tower. The Louvre was absolutely mobbed, but the trick is to enter through one of the less popular wings...and slowly work your way to the more popular spots.

The Louvre - Egyptian The Louvre - Greek

As always, The Mona Lisa is an absolute mob scene, but the people watching is spectacular!

The Louvre - La Joconde The Louvre - Outside

France Trip: Giverny

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Giverny - Monet's Gardens

Just a day trip from Paris. An absolute bucket list sort of place - Monet's Home and Gardens in Giverny! Absolutely stunning.

Giverny - Monet's Gardens Giverny - Monet's Residence

Giverny - Monet's Residence Giverny - Monet's Gardens

France Trip: Paris

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Walking along Champs Elysées - Arc de Triomphe Walking along Champs Elysées

Spent ten or so days in Paris, and it was a lot, so I'm going to break it out into several different posts. We started day 1 with helping my friend recover from jet lag by walking all over the Champs Elysées, and trying to get her to pronounce it, lol.

Walking along Champs Elysées -The Orangerie Walking along Champs Elysées - Glace Bachir


Church Day - Saint Chappelle Church Day - Saint Chappelle

Day 2 was what I call "Church Day", although it did not fall on a Sunday. We started with a reasonably moving insane line to Notre Dame, and followed that up with an insane never-moving line for Saint Chappelle. But I'd never been to Saint Chappelle, and it was absolute magic. The interior colors, the stained glass! Just lovely.

Church Day - Notre Dame Church Day - Notre Dame

Followed that up with a trip to Montmartre for lunch and a funicular up to Sacré Coeur. Had some chocolate mousse at Chocolat Chapon and an eventually orchestra concert at Saint Sulpice.

Church Day - Sacré Coeur Church Day - Orchestra in Saint Sulpice


Boat Tour on the Seines (Bateaux Mouches) Boat Tour on the Seine (Bateaux Mouches)

On another day, we did a last minute jaunt to the Rodin Museum before it closed...and then headed to our night boat cruise on The Seine with Bateaux Mouches. Imagine a day sprinkled with hunting down well-reviewed boulangeries and restaurants as well. Lots of walking, lots of eating. Lots of site-seeing. Paris is just such a lovely city to visit.

Rodin Museum Rodin Museum

France Trip: Strasbourg

Friday, April 10, 2026

Around Strasbourg Around Strasbourg

Stopped in Strasbourg on my way to Paris. Already loving the train system at this point!

Around Strasbourg Around Strasbourg Cathedral

Stowed my suitcase in a luggage locker, there's apps for scheduling and handling that. More guaranteed than relying on an open train luggage locker. Allowed me to hoof it to the historic part of town which was absolutely delightful.

France Trip: Colmar

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Around Colmar Around Colmar

Took a bus from Zurich to Colmar, France. What a smooth process! Then spent a night in Colmar, which is essentially the town from Beauty and the Beast, as far as I can tell. What a dream of a little town. Absolutely, completely, swoon-worthy.

Around Colmar Patisserie - mille feuilles?

So quaint it's anger-inducing? Like, there are not words for how picturesque this town is.

Around Colmar Surcreries

I could've wandered around, eating patisserie, enjoying the scenery and people watching for days. Instead, I gave myself one night!

Au Doré Boulangerie Around Colmar