Is Paris still magical?

Just a few days ago, I came back from Paris. It was my first time in the city of love, and although it felt strange, it didn't disappoint. I was expecting streets that smell like garbage, dirty pathways and crowded areas all over, but the truth be told, even though I experienced a little bit of that, most of my time there was completely the opposite. You could say I was quite shocked by how clean it seemed. Maybe it was a good week to visit, maybe something changed there, but I was pleasantly surprised to see how charming the city is. So because Paris left me with a good aftertaste, I decided to write a guide with everything me and my family did, on our first trip to the French capital.

Of course, we did all of the touristy things everybody does, but because they are famous for a reason. So let me show you a few of my pictures and let you in on a few facts about the city. Enjoy the post!

1. Eiffel Tower

Ok, let's talk Eiffel Tower. You knew this was coming, didn't you? It's like going to London and not mentioning the Big Ben, or to Rome and not mentioning the Colosseum. This marvel is the Paris postcard, the reason many of us book the trip on the first place, and honestly, it did not disappoint.

Being frank, a part of me thought it might be overrated, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I will probably always feel a bit that way about it. I mean, it's just a big iron structure, right? But not really. The second we caught a glimpse of the Iron Lady (yeah, that's her nickname), we were speechless. And every time you look at this extraordinary piece, it's like reminding yourself that beauty still exists in this world.

For the best views of the tower head to Trocadero. You get this big open space, fountains, a little drama from the steps, and of course, a lot of people doing "candid" photos that took over 60 tries. Here you'll find naked men waiting for you to pay them to take a picture with them and the tower. A little too much for me, but hey, I guess for some people it could work. Who am I to judge. Unfortunately, the view of the Trocadero was closed when we were there, but that didn't mean we didn't still have time to snap a few photos of what was around it.

Fun fact time! Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the World's Fair and people hated it at first? Some Parisians called it an "eyesore" and a "disgrace to Parisian elegance". Fast forward to today, and it's literally the most iconic monument in the world.

We were so prepared to go up and see the view, but then reality kicked in and when we saw the queue, we decided not to waste time on that. Instead there are places in Paris where you could see the view for free and still having the same feeling. We went to the Lafayette Galleries on Haussmann boulevard and got the best pictures of Paris!

So yes! The Eiffel Tower lives up to the hype. She's tall, she's shiny, she's dramatic and she's worth it. If it wasn't, people wouldn't book a trip just to see it.

The Eiffel Tower

2. The Louvre

Next stop: the Louvre, aka the world's most famous art museum, aka the place where I walked more than 10,000 steps and still didn't see everything.

Many people go to the Louvre for the famous Mona Lisa, but in all fairness, we were there to see everything else, but her. Of course, we had to drop a visit and see what all of the hype is about, and let me tell you, she's tiny. It's an amazing paining with a lot of history and power. You could feel the way she looks at you from the room before hers. Of course, La Gioconda was painted by the famous Leonardo da Vinci in the early 1500s, and he worked on her for years, so naturally, that little smirk she has would be felt from a mile away. Did you know that she was also stolen for a couple of years and that's what actually made her famous. But to be completely honest, don't just go to see her, there's much more to explore in the museum!

So, alongside Mona, there are over 35,000 pieces of art in the museum. Some of them are super famous like Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace or The Coronation of Napoleon. Honestly, you could spend days in the Louvre and still not see everything. What we actually did was to pick up a few art pieces we really wanted to see, some well-known ones and some that are not so known, wander a bit, and that saved us from getting lost. If you ever get the chance to go, please remember to look up as well. The ceilings in the museum are their own kind of artwork.

Oh and what we loooved the most about this amazing museum, was the exterior. The glass pyramids were so stunning and right next to the historic architecture, it seemed like is was made so as the whole place looks modern, but with a tad of old.

By the time we left, my feet were shaking already and my brain was full of ancient statues and Renaissance masterpieces. Would I go again? Most definitely! Would I take more breaks and maybe wear better shoes? Absolutely.

Are you ready for the next stop?

The Louvre

3. Versailles

Ok, so I know I said that this post was going to be about Paris, but let's be honest, you cannot talk about Paris without visiting Versailles too. So don't come at me for this one, but make sure to keep on reading, cause it's quite interesting, I promise.

First of all, Versailles is not just some gardens and a palace. It's a full on royal flex. Although it was our least favourite part of the trip because we imagined something else. It was still stunning architecturally, but the inside was a bit disappointing to be completely honest. What we liked and were actually awed by, were the gardens (Jardins de Versailles). They do live up to the hype. Gigantic labyrinths, full of life, fountains everywhere and lakes, music coming out from speakers. You were really feeling like you were waking with the king.

So, what's so important about this palace? Here's the deal: Louis XIV (or the Sun King), decided Paris was too basic and build himself this royal dream house in the countryside. Think about the Kardashians, but make it bigger and bolder. His estate has around 700 rooms and enough gold to make you cry (although we are not professionals, we all agreed that the gold was fake, even if it was real).

Another fun fact! Marie Antoinette, yes the decapitated one, had a fake village built on the estate where she could live a "simple life" in a designer gown. Imagine playing house with real cows and staff. That's peak delusion, but also peak luxury.

Was the visit worth it? Maybe yes, maybe no. We're still debating. It's true, Versailles is dramatic, over-the-top and unforgettable, but also don't make big expectations if you put it on your bucket list. Also, treat yourself to a macaron from Ladurée at the gift shop, they are worth the hype. My favourite one was the pistachio flavoured macaron, but try them for yourself and let me know.

Jardins de Versailles

4. Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées

Yes, the Champs-Élysées, one of the world's most famous streets. It's so famous that they named a song after it. Of course it played in my mind from the beginning until the very end. Of course I didn't actually know the lyrics to the song and probably if a French person would have heard me, they would have thought I'm having a stroke.

This street is iconic, glamorous and huge, but also super expensive and a little intimidating. You might be thinking you're going to just stroll casually, and then end up watching where you walk because of how many people are passing through by every second. Also, let's be honest: a lot of this street is luxury most people cannot afford. From Louis Vuitton or Dior, to Cartier or Chanel, if you can name it, it's probably there. Some of these stores have queues longer than some Parisian museums. No kidding. But even if you don't buy something, window shopping is an experience in itself.

What's more, you might ask. Well, there's the Arc de Triomphe, which is casually massive and just sitting in the middle of a roundabout at the beginning of the Champs-Élysées. It was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 after his army crushed it at the Battle of Austerlitz. He wanted his troops to walk through it like heroes, except the construction took too long and he died before it was finished. It actually honours those who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. There's even a Tomb of the Unknown Solider under it that's guarded 24/7. There's also a flame that's been burning since 1923 and never goes out. It's lit every single night at 18:30 in a quiet ceremony.

Arc de Triomphe

5. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur

The Montmartre neighbourhood is a literal dream. It feels so medieval and you feel sometimes like you're walking into a fairytale. I dare to say it is also very romantic and artsy at the same time. Maybe it's because you're literally walking into a vintage postcard. It's the place where you turn a corner and accidentally walk into a guy playing an instrument while painting someone's portrait. If you ever watched Amélie, that's exactly how it feels like to be there. You just feel creative when you're in Montmartre.

Now, the big boy, the big white church on the hill, the one and only, Sacré-Cœur. People say it looks like a marshmallow castle made of clouds, and they are not entirely wrong to be honest. You could spot it from almost anywhere in Paris and the views from up there are as spectacular as you'd imagine. You'll see the famous rooftops, the Eiffel Tower in the distance and enough sky to make you consider quitting you mundane job and moving here "just for a year".

The best part of it all is that you can go inside the basilica for free. It's peaceful, beautiful and architecturally stunning. When we were there, this guy outside was constantly singing love songs, which made it very "Paris". The whole experience is worth your visit. And fear not, even if it's on a hill, there's a funicular that can take you up in no time.

Sacré-Cœur

Final thoughts

Ah, Paris! The city of lights. The city of love. The city of magic? Yes, it still feels magical indeed. It's the city that smells like fresh bread in the morning, cigarettes in the afternoon and Chanel No. 5 in the evening. We came, we saw, we ate. We also walked an absurd number of steps that should be illegal and if not, should be considered a fair amount of cardio for the next months.

The city is one big Pinterest mood board. It's romantic without a doubt. It's dramatic in the best, Frenchest way. It will test your patience and physical durability of "we can do it, just a few more steps", but it will also reward you with astonishing scenery and an amazing culinary experience.

Here's what I learnt in Paris this time:

• The Eiffel Tower never gets old.

• The pastries are not optional.

• Getting a little lost is always a good plan.

Verdict? I will come back for sure. There's still many places and locations I want to see, visit or even eat at. In this part we didn't talk about everything but I hope you got a sense of what Paris could feel like if you give this city a small chance like I did.