Arrival
Our Paris flight was surprisingly smooth! A quick tip: skip the jeans for comfy clothes instead (though preferences vary, like Mikaela who prefers jeans). The plane food exceeded expectations, and we enjoyed great company onboard. Landing at Charles de Gaulle felt like a movie scene, with the plane stairs laid out. Despite CDG's reputation for chaos, luggage claim was quick and easy. Our only hiccup? A two-hour traffic jam when our Uber went to the wrong hotel across the Seine - apparently a record gridlock even for Paris standards!
Hotel de Londres Eiffel
We arrived (finally) to our hotel, Hotel de Londres Eiffel. Since we came before the tour, which we recommend, we got a room not included in the tour which was on the 2nd floor. Our rooms were connecting, so Mikaela and I shared one room, and Brandi was in the room across from us. The rooms were not only elegant, but the family-owned hotel truly embraced the homey feeling. We were welcomed by Richard, who was super kind to provide details about the city and local gems.
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Though we were feeling the effects of jet lag and tried resist it, we ended up taking a two-hour nap! I also prepared my camera for its debut in Paris, and here’s my first official photo with my digital camera:
6/27/24
Brandi was surprised with some chocolate from her significant other upon our arrival. Thank you Tom!
First Meal in
Paris
After we dropped our bags at the hotel, our stomachs started a full-on mutiny. So, off we went to grab a bite. I went for a Pokè bowl—yes, I know, not very French of me, but hey, it was a 10/10 meal, so I’m calling it a win! I even got some berry gelato to make up for it.
Musée du Parfum
After our extensive nap, we got dressed and went to the Musée du Parfum, repping our florals. We went through the history of perfume, and eventually made our own. We got to customize the scent and how much of each fragrance we wanted to add. If you like floral scents in perfumes, I would definitely recommend this activity. I loved having this pocket-sized perfume in my bag whenever I needed it, and it was so convenient.
What an amazing day! I had my very first metro ride, and wow, what an adventure! No one warned me about how quickly those metro doors slam shut – Mikaela nearly got caught in between them! But we turned it into a fun experience, sticking together and making sure we didn't face that surprise again for the rest of our trip! Beware of pickpockets on the metro! Make sure your bag isn't visible and is covered by a coat.