If you have happened to stumble upon my posts in the past, you may be experiencing déjà vu: yes, I was in Paris in December as well. I firmly believe, however, that it is just not possible to visit Paris too many times! So I was not about to pass up the chance to visit a dear friend of mine from (from Wayzata High School as well) during her own exciting abroad adventure in Paris. And I am ridiculously glad that I did.

How I Got There: I flew from Dublin into Paris Beauvais on the popular European budget airline, Ryanair. Since it was Ryanair, Paris Beauvais was an airport a little less actually in Paris then the name would lead you to believe…the shuttle from Beauvais to Porte Maillot, a metro stop in Paris, cost thirty euro round trip and took about 1h15. So if you're willing to make your journey a bit longer, it's not an awful way to save around a hundred euro that you might have paid to fly into Charles de Gaulle! If you enjoy convenient, easy, and non-stressful travel…Beauvais is a hundred percent not a place you will want to step foot in.

Things to Do, People to See: Luckily on my last Paris trip, I was able to do much of the sightseeing that was my priority so this trip was more to enjoy the city itself. On recommendation from a friend, I visited Laduree on the Champs-Elysees for macaroons and it was absolutely, fantastically, FABULOUS! The restaurant was closed, so we picked up our macaroons and ate them on a bench while people watching (which is hands down one of my favorite hobbies anywhere abroad). I also visited the Louvre for the second time, and found a few new areas I had missed previously- make sure to walk through Napoleon's apartments. Especially if you won't have time to visit Versailles, they are a perfect example of luxurious French opulence. Those chandeliers, man….

Chateau Thoiry: ALERT: ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE AHEAD. My friend Maari, currently abroad in Paris, was kind enough to invite me to visit her relatives at their family chateau, Chateau Thoiry (which is about a half-hour train ride from Paris Montparnasse). The chateau has been in their family since it was built in 1559, and currently houses a museum on the first floor and a zoo, opened in 1968, in the backyard. We were able to stay for a night and experience the absolute beauty and splendor of the castle, as well as the kindness of the current occupants! The chateau can only really be explained in photographs, so hopefully the images below will be able to show how absolutely amazing this place is. If you ever have a spare day in France, I absolutely encourage you to take a trip out to a true example of French history; the train ride to Thoiry is also through the rolling French countryside which is not a bad way to spend a half hour! The museum is completely gorgeous, and the zoo is a lovely and natural environment- like, the animals LOOKED HAPPY. It was an unreal experience, and I am so grateful to the family for allowing me to experience it.

Basics: The metro is extremely easy to use, so you won't really need to worry about cabs or buses during your time there. Since I knew I'd be there for a few days, I bought a carnet of tickets (ten tickets for 6e35), and individual rides are 1e70. Eating out in Paris is EXPENSIVE, like Ireland expensive, but buying food in grocery stores is surprisingly cheap and they have a pretty large selection!

Why to Go: Paris is a beautiful place to be, even if you can only stay for a few days. I distinctly remember the moment when I was walking through the Tuileries, passing French men with long baguette loaves in their messenger bags, being able to see the top of the Eiffel Tower in the distance, and smelling the musty, fresh sod from the gardeners re-planting the lavender flowers. And those are the type of times I will remember about Europe- walking, soaking up culture through every pore, and living in the moment.