When in Paris

A Traveller's Guide to Paris 

There’s a certain magic to Paris that no photograph, no poem, nor any painter’s stroke can quite capture. It’s the way the air feels different, somehow filled with romance and history. The crisp scent of buttered croissants wafting from corner cafés, the soft glimmer of street lamps illuminating on the cobblestones, and that energy of effortless chic.

After landing in the City of Love, we did what any starry-eyed visitor would do: we made a dash for the Eiffel Tower. Even through the haze of tiredness from our flight, there it was as beautiful and gleaming as ever. And although nearly every restaurant had closed for the evening, we found one little restaurant still open near the tower. Nothing too bougie, no fancy plating. Just a cosy table and a chicken and onion pizza that, at that moment, felt like the best thing we'd ever tasted. 

The next morning began in true Branch fashion: With curiosity first. We wandered through the Dior Museum, where fashion meets art, although it is a love letter to elegance. I made the rather questionable decision to wear heels, so I had to stop off at the local Zara to buy some ballet flats, lifesaver! I would highly recommend the museum; Christian Dior’s clothes were so elegant; they say you can see when a designer loves women, and that man sure did. Each stitch portrayed passion and a reverence for the feminine form. ( I may have already chosen my dream wedding dress. )

The following day, we decided to take a spontaneous boat trip on the River Seine. On that boat, it felt as though time had paused; all my mind could think of was the scenes from ‘Emily in Paris’ that I had recognised by the surroundings. Paris unfolded before us like a living postcard; Notre-Dame, Musée d'Orsay, and bridges kissed with golden statues. The soft sway of the water, the sounds of the fellow besotted passengers taking in the wonders. Oh, it was bliss. 

We strolled beneath the Arc de Triomphe. A small word of advice I would not recommend trying to cross that roundabout on foot! After we visited the Arc de Triomphe, we found a small crepe stand and I got a lemon and sugar crepe…it was delicious.  Later, we found ourselves at the Louvre Pyramid, and I was in awe; it is even more beautiful in person. The tourist in me took a ton of photos. We didn’t go inside this time, just lingered in the courtyard, soaking up the buzz of the locals and tourists who, like us, were all drawn to this wonderful place.

And because every great city deserves to be seen like a local, we hopped on Métro Line 6. It takes you through the city above ground in parts, giving you a stunning glimpses of the skyline and the Eiffel Tower once again, this time from a new perspective, framed by the windows of a Parisian train.

Paris is not a city you see in a day. It’s a city you feel. It’s in the conversations overheard at cafés, the sparkle of lights on the Seine, and the unexpected joy of a pizza at midnight.

When in Paris, let yourself get lost. That’s where the stories are.

Avec Amour, Anaiá Xx