Paris: Croissants, Monet, and a little Sparkle

The Architecture Can't Be Beat

Paris. Even the name feels dreamy. It’s a city that greets you with flaky pastry crumbs on your fingers, the smell of fresh bread drifting through the streets, and that little sparkle the Eiffel Tower gives off at night that makes you feel like a kid again.

Like most visitors, I started with the famous must-sees. The Louvre left me wide-eyed (and yes, the Mona Lisa is much smaller than I expected, but somehow her smile still pulled me in). Standing beneath the Eiffel Tower made me feel both tiny and important at the same time. A cruise on the Seine at sunset? Let’s just say the movies didn’t exaggerate.

But for me, the real highlight wasn’t on the typical checklist. I wandered into the Salvador Dalí museum in Montmartre...and it completely pulled me in. His art was playful, strange, and so full of imagination that it felt like stepping into a dream. It reminded me that Paris isn’t just about what you see. It’s about what makes you laugh, what surprises you, and what stays with you long after you leave.

Of course, I can’t talk about Paris without talking about the food. I ate my way through as many bakeries as I could find, and I have no regrets. Croissants so buttery they practically melted in my hands. Pain au chocolat that made breakfast feel like dessert. Macarons in colors so pretty I almost didn’t want to eat them...almost. And then there were the savory bites too, like escargot and onion soup that warmed me on a chilly evening. But honestly, some of my favorite moments were the simple ones, like sitting at a café with a cappuccino and a pastry, watching the city move around me.

Montmartre ended up being my favorite neighborhood because it felt alive in a different way. The winding streets, the little cafés, the artists painting at their easels, it all felt like stepping back into another time. Add Dalí’s wild imagination into the mix, and it became one of those moments where travel turns from “sightseeing” into something more personal.

What I loved most about Paris is that it has something for everyone. If you’re chasing romance, it’s there. If you want history, it’s around every corner. And if you just want to eat your weight in croissants and call it culture, well, Paris won’t judge you.

For me, Paris wasn’t just about checking things off a list. It was about slowing down, tasting everything (sometimes twice), and letting myself feel part of the story of the city. And that’s what I love to share with my clients. Your Paris might be museums, or food, or neighborhoods that surprise you. Whatever it is, it will be your own story, and I promise, it will be magic.