What better way to celebrate my retirement than to spend a week in Paris? It was the ultimate trip, an exciting way to commemorate ending a long career and the start of a new life ahead of me. Accompanied by three other ladies, this was my first and only girls’ trip. None of us had ever been to Paris, and we were all excited to check it off our bucket lists.
The itinerary was full of things to do: A couple of tours, wine tasting, and lots of shopping. Sounds like the perfect trip? Almost. We struggled to communicate when trying to ask for directions. It was cloudy and rained throughout the week. The cold and wind hit us at every angle. Yet, we were in Paris – the City of Lights! We were here to make memories of a lifetime.
Although there are so many things I loved about Paris, here are the top 5 of my favorite moments to share:
You Can’t Visit paris Without Seeing The Eiffel Tower
It’s the most touristy thing to do in Paris. However, the Eiffel Tower is a spectacular sight to see. This tall, wrought-iron structure is the icon of the city. The lines to get to the top are long, so be prepared to wait. Since we stayed around until dark, we were lucky to see the tower illuminated, which made the experience more amazing.
Roaming Around The Louvre
If you plan to visit the Louvre Museum, you’ll need at least a couple of days to spend time there. I was only there half a day and rushed through to see as much as I could. Seeing the world-famous collections of paintings and statues I’d learned about from as far back as elementary school was an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, it was late in the day when we arrived, so we didn’t have much time fo see as much as I would have liked to have seen.
Enjoying A Walk In Montmartre
Known for its artistic history and old village charm, Montmartre was once the home of Van Gogh and Picasso. We spent the day browsing through the neighborhood’s upscale shops and cafes. The hilly, cobblestoned streets allows excellent views of the rest of Paris, and I couldn’t leave without a photo in front of Les Mur de Je t’Aime, the wall of “I Love You” scribed in over 250 languages. Montmartre was also where we met for our Secret Food Tour. For a few hours, our guide led us around to the best patisserie, boulangerie, and fromagerie in the neighborhood to taste all of France’s finest foods. By the end of the tour, we knew the proper way to eat a baguette and became experts on French cheese.
Shopping At Galeries Lafayette
If you love shopping, you’ll have an extraordinary time at Galeries Lafayette. We spent hours wandering through the multi-level department store. However, there’s so much more than shopping to do here. It turned out to be more of a fun day instead of a shopping day. On the third floor, there is a Glasswalk, a walkway that provides you with a fantastic view of the mall below. If you’ve read the About Me section, you know about my fear of heights. Walking on this glass floor while looking down at the stores below was a daring moment for me. However, it was my time to challenge myself, and I slowly made my way to the end. The view was well worth it too.
I didn’t end it there. A giant, rainbow-colored net suspends in the middle of the second floor for you to climb on. Even though it’s one floor down, it’s just a net, and it sways with movement. Talk about scary! Yet, I felt like a big kid, and once I made it to the middle, I just relaxed.
Holding On For Dear Life On The Glasswalk 
The Rainbow-Colored Suspended Net Was The Scariest
An Enlightening Experience: The Black Paris Tour
This culturally unique experience is the gateway to all things involving black history in Paris. From music and arts to architecture, even war, black people have contributed more to Paris than most of us have ever known. Our guide led us around the city on foot, by bus and the metro to explore the neighborhoods. We viewed monuments, statues, churches, and houses of celebrities and artists. After the tour, we walked to Goutte d’Or (also known as Little Africa), a neighborhood in Paris, and finished the day with dinner at an African restaurant called Les Délices du Sacré-Coeur.
Bonus: The Transportation
One thing I’d like to mention is how easily accessible everything was. We used the metro to get around (living in New York made it much easier!), and when necessary, we used Uber. One of the days, we booked a Seine River Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Cruise through Viator. Starting at about 18 euro, you can opt for the one or two day pass and use the river as a passageway to visit many of the famous attractions within walking distance. Attractions such as Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre are on the stops along the river.
At the end of this incredible week, it was time to prepare for our return home. I boarded the plane, relishing the memories of the previous days. Paris was everything. And I know I’ll return someday. I buckled into my seat as I prepared for the flight I thought about my return home. It was time to go back to reality. For a brief moment, thoughts of schedules, getting up early, and office meetings crossed my mind as they often do when returning from a vacation. This time I laughed to myself. After all, wasn’t I just celebrating my retirement?
