Paris has been an trip consisting entirely of walking. Ella and I come home at night and almost immediately pass out, not before taking our shoes off our aching feet. Our third day and Paris all we did was walk! From monument to monument was around ten miles, not counting the actual walking we did around each site. Our first day in Paris we had some trouble on the train and since then we've been avoiding public transportation even when it would make our lives much easier. We've also been walking because it's been a great way to see the city. Each arrondissement is like entering a different world, a new neighborhood to explore.
Our third day in Paris was Bastille day, France's Independence Day. We walked leisurely over to the gardens of the Louvre where we sat for a while by a pond and watched a duck and her ducklings swim effortlessly through the water. Our stomachs lead us to the park's edge where we had an overpriced snack of cafe au lait (ole!) and split a chocolate and banana crepe. We then made our way up to the Cathedral of Scared Heart without using a map, just using the church on the hill as a guiding beacon. Sacred Heart lies at the top of a large hill, meaning the views of the city are spectacular. Its all white facade makes it look so pure and pristine standing alone on the top of Montmartre.
After spending time in the shade of a tree looking at the view and some failed attempts at selfies, we descended the hill with our sights set on the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triumph. We hadn't been that interested in climbing monuments, but we decided getting to the top of the Arc was a must. It would have been an incredible place to watch the Bastille day fireworks, but it closed early for the holiday. After we started walking to the Eiffel Tower to find a spot to watch the fireworks. Seeing the fireworks next to the Eiffel Tower was picture-perfect. It's what I've always imagined when I pictured Paris. Everything about Paris is romantic, from the people to the city itself. It truly is a magical city, just waiting to be explored!
