In-Flight Entertainment

Turns out 2048 is no longer in Delta’s entertainment package. Tragic. So naturally I pivoted to “Walk the Vine,” where I saved countless little chickies from being eaten by a mysterious reptile.

As for Matt? I was wrong. He actually slept. We’ll call it five hours. Color me shocked.

Airport Hustle

We landed right on time, and passport control, customs, and baggage claim were surprisingly smooth. Only one taxi scammer tried his luck as we exited — cue flashbacks of Egypt (and Mexico isn’t off the hook either). As rehearsed, we ignored him and kept walking straight to the official city-regulated taxi line.

With traffic, the ride to our hotel took about 45 minutes, though the last 15 felt like scenic circles. Thankfully, fixed-rate fares keep the stress level low.

On arrival at our hotel in the 4th Arrondissement, I went to grab my bag while Matt paid. Our driver promptly slapped my hand away and declared that “Monsieur” was responsible for the luggage. Silly me! What was I thinking, trying to carry my own suitcase?

Nap, Then Napoleon

Check-in, freshen up, and a quick nap (miracle!) before heading out again. Usually I pack our itinerary so tightly that naps are mythical creatures, but we snuck in 20 minutes before our prepaid tickets to the Military Museum.

Correction: tickets were actually for 4:00 p.m., not 4:30 like I thought. We strolled in around 4:35, and guess what? Nobody cared.

Matt was in heaven. History buff paradise. Included with our tickets was the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Now, I’m no historian, but I did see his recent movie, which painted him as a bit unpopular by the end. Seeing the grandeur of his tomb and the beauty of the building around it was… surprising. Apparently falling out of favor doesn’t stop you from getting a royal-level sendoff.

On Foot Through Paris

We left just before closing and walked north toward Pont Alexandre. Then kept walking (and walking) through Champs-Élysées, stopping only so my husband could score a jersey at the PSG store. Eventually, the Arc de Triomphe — still just as iconic as when I saw it 13 years ago. Commissioned by Napoleon himself, it’s a massive, proud symbol of French military glory. And oh yes, the French are still very proud of it.

By then, my phone had stopped cooperating, so dinner plans were a gamble.

Dinner + Gelato (The Important Part)

I told Matt about my study-abroad days in Paris (back when I was a 22-year-old brat, evidence still available if you scroll far enough). My classmates and I always went to the St. Michel neighborhood for dinner, so that’s where we headed.

Two short trains later, we arrived to a street lined with endless restaurant choices. I got distracted by a souvenir shop first (shopping: done within minutes, thank you very much), then we asked a local for a recommendation.

Le Saint André in Paris 6. Looked like it could be a tourist trap. Wasn’t. Food = excellent. I ordered duck confit, Matt had salmon. No photos exist — hunger won. But don’t worry, we made up for it by “needing” gelato afterward. Absolute perfection. 

A Perfect Evening

The weather was a little warmer earlier but retired to a nice breeze in the evening. It truly couldn’t be more perfect. So far everyone we met has been very nice which isn’t how I remembered Paris. But also my previous perspective was of a 22 year old brat. If you scroll down enough you can read it for yourself. 

Outfit Report

Now! If you were dying to know about today’s outfit…. Calm down already. We’re doing a slow transition out of the leggings and hoodies. So much so that I still wore leggings today, and a hoodie may have been hanging out around my waist. Matt on the other hand went full Euro— he’s so stinking cute, I can’t! But the earrings are in full shine! 20 points to whoever can count how many earrings I wear during the entirety of this trip. 

Ok it’s bed time now. Enjoy this post and stay tuned for tomorrow as we visit the Mona Lisa while avoiding pickpockets!