Ooh la la! Katie was in Europe for work, so she added a few extra days to her trip and we met up in Paris. At this point I am basically a professional Paris tour guide. :). We both trained in and started our whirlwind Check-The-Box tour.

Professional Arc de Triomphe photographer- snapped this one in the middle of a green light crossing the Champs Elysee
We decided to splurge a little on the hotel. Woooooey!! The Hotel Athenee did NOT disappoint. Super posh.
The ivy, red awnings, and red geraniums were gorgeous.
This place was so fancy that the complimentary chocolate was dusted in gold powder. 🙂
We explored the Montmartre area, which I hadn’t been to before. I’ve seen the hillside village from a distance, and had heard great things about it. I wish KP and I had thought to book Moulin Rouge tickets. Next time!
Former residence of either Van Gogh or Picasso (did I mention that this is the discount tour where facts are questionable and should be verified by another source?)
The Sacré-Cœur cathedral
Once again, the picture fails to capture the OMG of reality. That Jesus mosaic is jaw-dropping.
Great views of the sprawling Paris rooftops
This might have been our favorite part of the whole weekend. We found a super crowded cafe table overlooking the artists at work. There were SO MANY artists drawing portraits of people in this square. Neither of us wanted to sit and model for hours, but we loved watching others.
The Louvre. What’s that in the background, Katie? Not the Eye of London. 🙂
In the Mona Lisa room
After exploring Paris on foot, it was time to view the city from wayyyyy up high.
A champagne on the tower is a must
Dinner at Gigi Paris – live music, rooftop views of the tower’s sparkling nightlights, delicious food, and a fab friend. Who can ask for more?!
Did I mention how fancy our hotel was? This was our breakfast on the last morning…

When we moved to Germany, I knew I would go to Paris once, but I wasn’t sure I would like it. I have now been 4 times, and I sprinkle in something new and different each trip. It always seems to show me more reasons why people love it.