My first ever visit to France was everything I dreamed of and more. We spent three amazing days soaking up the sun, drinking wine, and exploring the city. Paris had been on my bucket list for so long, and I finally got to see it!
When we landed, it was around 28 degrees such a lovely change from cold and rainy Manchester. We started our trip with a long evening walk along the Seine River, all the way to the Eiffel Tower, before stopping for dinner and a glass of wine.
On our first full day, we visited the Louvre, and oh wow this place is huge! It’s incredible how you can study something at school and then one day find yourself standing right in front of it. After four or five hours of walking through the museum, we managed to see all the “must-see” pieces. I was most impressed by the paintings. There’s something about them that speaks in a way sculptures or even poetry can’t. The way each person interprets a painting differently makes it even more fascinating.
After an intense morning, we went to see the Moulin Rouge building (I tried to book tickets, but we were too late). We ended up sitting on the steps of the Basilica, sharing a bottle of wine and listening to a street musician playing guitar. Later that evening, we found a small bar in Montmartre, had some French beer, and listened to live music. It felt so simple and so perfect.
The next morning, we had breakfast under the Eiffel Tower — French cheese, croissants, and of course, wine. Afterwards, we rented city bikes and cycled around Paris, stopping whenever something caught our eye. I fell in love with the arches, the doorways, the narrow streets, and all the bridges. There’s so much soul in this city. Paris has definitely become one of my favourite places in the world.
We spent our last evening watching the sunset, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over the view of the Eiffel Tower glowing against the evening sky. It was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend, and I honestly didn’t want to leave.
Paris is such a vital, vibrant city — modern yet deeply rooted in its history and heritage. I loved everything about it, from its beauty to its rhythm, and I know this won’t be my last visit. See you soon, Paris.
