my favorite moments in paris

One of the things I love the most about travelling to places you love is those moments. These moments that you can remember so vividly as if it was happening to you right now, those moments that represent your time at the place, and that aren't necessarily special to you, but that can and will happen to anyone who goes to that certain place. So I decided I could incorporate this into my top tens by making this my top ten favorite moments in Paris. As usual, no particular order.

1. Hanging out in the Tuileries on a bright and sunny day, watching people pass by, children running around, musicians playing even though they aren't supposed to. You could just sit here forever on the bench and let the world pass you by, maybe having ice cream or a crepe from one of the vendors, just letting the sun warm your skin and breathing in the fresh air.

2. Sitting outside in that Parisian cafe, eating that Croque Monsieur, and knowing you couldn't possibly feel more Parisian than you do right now.

3. Entering the hustle and bustle of the Champs Elysees where people dart in and out of stores with music playing and the general excitement that shopping brings, whether you're at Louis Vuitton or Nike there is just this exhilaration of being there.

4. Walking through the little cobblestoned streets of Montmartre, past the cafes and the accordion player, looking up to see Sacre Coeur, and then over at the rest of Paris and feeling as if you are at the top of the world.

5. Arriving in Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, and realizing that you really are there, that it's not just a dream.

6. Relaxing in the Champs de Mars as the sun goes down, watching as the Eiffel Tower lights up, and then eventually begins to glitter.

7. Walking down the Eiffel Tower steps at night, after seeing all of Paris from the top, you can continue to see its magic as you go down the stairs, watching the lights from the buildings get closer and closer, feeling as if you are in the center of it all, because you are.

8. Riding a boat on the Seine, whether its at night when everything is lit up, or during the day when its bright and sunny and you can see couples along the side and people tanning, and life just happening around you.

9. Going around the base of the Eiffel Tower at night with the guys flying those little helicopters they're trying to sell, and as you try to make sure none of them fall on your head, you can look straight up and see the immensity above you.

10. Just walking alongside the Seine, passing the book sellers and bridges, having the ability to cross one of these bridges to enter the Right or Left Banks, and knowing it’s like being in two different worlds that although different are also the same.