We'll Always Have Paris

There are no words to explain how much I love Paris. But actions might, considering this was my third time in the city this year. This part of the trip I did alone, which may sound intimidating to some, but I believe everyone at some point, especially in their 20s, should go on an adventures by themselves. It is amazing what you observe in the culture around you, and I know it sounds cheesy, but what you learn about yourself in a foreign situation.

I spent four days just walking around the city, eating and partaking in the occasional shopping. This time around I stayed in the Saint Germain area, in the 7th arrondissement. This area is wonderful for it’s shops and restaurants, and you can walk everywhere. If you want one of the best meals of your entire life, go to Relais de I’Entrecote Saint-Germain for steak frites (Shout-out to Olivia for changing my life). The restaurant literally only serves steak frites in a highly secretive sauce that I will one day find out. If you still want steak frites but you are with picky people who do not understand the utter gloriousness of a perfectly cooked steak with a side of fries, try Poulette. They do a very nice steak (minus the incredible secret sauce) and have some of the best chocolate chip cookies. Finally, one of my favorite spots in the whole city is a café I found with my mother back in March called the St. Regis on the Il Saint Louis. On Thursday I sat there for two hours, enjoying a perfectly fluffy omelet, a chocolate croissant, latte and orange juice. Perfection.

For my last two days of break I visited some friends out in the country, in a village called Luzarches, which is near Chantilly.  The countryside is breathtaking and it gave me a break from the city life, which I didn't realize I so desperately needed. Now that I am back in London, I can truly appreciate how crisp the country air was. Coming back to reality was much harder than I thought, especially now that London is living up to is reputation of cold rain and pitch-blackness at 4pm.