Paris Day 1: Fresh Eyes on Our First Few Hours

The hotel welcomed us with wishes for a happy anniversary. 

We searched so hard for a hotel with a balcony (at my insistence) and did end up using it every day.  

So happy to have made it!

The wit and efficiency of bikes everywhere. The practical and charming style of bikes that only 2 US brands have achieved, yet here it is every bike, at every age, from a plethora of brands. The skirts and dresses and overall day-ready clothes that are worn on every bike here. Biking is not meant to be a chore or a workout, it's simply how you get to work.

Joie de Vivre is real. It's a Tuesday night, and the whole city seems to be happy to be out together. Double cheek kisses for everyone, from everyone. Nobody isn't smoking, laughing, and drinking. There is no phone scrolling to be seen, even as a crosswalk is being waited on, or the second seat at the cafe table is yet to be filled.

95% of babies (of which there are encouragingly a lot) are being pushed in a Babyzen Yoyo stroller, which has me feeling validated in 100% of my parenting decisions. 

Never ashamed to stop and soak in the architecture. 

A little before and after of dinner: being the first ones at the restaurant to enjoying the conversations and reunions around us after pizza, drinks, and tiramisu. 

Tuesday:

Walking from the train station to Hotel Paradis

Soaking up our balcony

Drinks at Le Bonobo Cafe

Pizza at Sonata Paradis

Fran Prix (our first visit to the grocery store staple of our trip)

Boulongerie Mariel at the corner