French Vacation!

I just returned from an incredible trip to England and France. It was an unforgettable experience filled with art and breathtaking scenery. I didn’t mention this in the video, but I have to confess—I’m a total river girlie! Show me a river tour and I’m on it Haha. Our next trip is going to be on the river. lol, Literally on it.

We arrived in France just two weeks before the Olympics began, and it was fascinating to see the preparations for what promises to be one of the most visually stunning Olympics of my lifetime. Beyond the Olympic buzz, we explored some amazing art and monuments. Admittedly, we were only there for two days, and although we’ve visited France before, I have to say this time it truly blew me away. The food was incredible, and the fun was non-stop.

Now, let’s talk about the walking—oh boy! In California, we’re so reliant on cars that experiencing a city that thrives on public transportation was quite a change. While we do have buses and subways here, they’re on a whole other level overseas.

Monuments and Experiences

We arrived on a Tuesday, so the Musée d'Orsay was closed (we’ll definitely visit it next time). Instead, we enjoyed a Seine river cruise, which was absolutely amazing. Also, I picked up a little tip: you don’t need to pronounce all the syllables in French words. That’s my top takeaway from the trip! Haha.

We took a detour to Notre-Dame de Paris, which had a fire in 2023. This was our second visit, and we wanted to see the progress on the reconstruction. I remember visiting the church in 2010 and feeling such a sense of calm and awe—it was the oldest building I had ever been inside. The fire was heartbreaking, and I hope the repairs are progressing well so that Notre-Dame can soon welcome visitors once again.

Let’s Talk Art!

We also visited the Musée du Louvre—woo! I absolutely love that museum. Funny story: the first time we went, we got stuck in the furniture section! Haha. This time, I was determined to avoid that. I was excited to see paintings by Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Leonardo da Vinci, and, of course, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, my all-time favorite sculpture.

I hope you love the video.