I spent the last two weeks roaming around France in Paris and Bordeaux stuffing myself with pastries and cheese. Though I missed being surrounded by the skyscrapers of Seattle, I appreciated the cohesive, aesthetic appeal of the buildings in Europe.
The French have an impeccable attention to detail which was apparent in the expansive parks, their clothing, and most evidently in the lavish rooms of nearby palaces. They also know how to live! I love that the French take time to slow down and lounge at cafes mid-day to sip beer or coffee outdoors. They also eat smaller portions of food that is far superior to traditional American cuisine. I returned home with a burning desire to redecorate my room and an eagerness to cook French food. Here is a chronicle of the most amazing sites I visited, experiences I had, and food I ate.
1. Palace of Fontainbleau
This trip further fueled my love of interior design. Fontainbleau was the most jaw dropping and decadent palace I visited. I became a shameless tourist upon entering and photographed every room, light fixture and piece of furniture in sight. After leaving I determined I was meant to live in a different century.
2. Palace of Versailles
The exterior of the main palace is particularly beautiful due to the plethora of gold detailing and marble, not to mention the famous golden gates which guard the estate.
My favorite building was the Grand Trianon, deep within the Versailles estate. The Room of Mirrors was impeccably furnished. It was originally a council room for Louis XIV from 1691-1703. However, during the Revolution, Napoleon replaced the furniture and later his wife, archduchess Marie-Louise, used it as her drawing room from 1810 to 1814.
I was rather indifferent about visiting the Eiffel Tower. To me, it is simply a gigantic structure that I can admire for its craftsmanship but can’t help but dismiss as a tourist attraction. However, I was in awe of its beauty when it was lit up at night. The Euro Cup is currently going on, so viewers have the option of going to the “fan zone” by the Eiffel Tower to drink beer and watch the soccer games on huge flat screen TVs. This was my favorite night in Paris because the fans were hilariously spirited, the location was surreal, and as it was my last night in France, the experience was bittersweet.
This café is outside Paris, tucked within a grocery and garden store. Not only was the food divine, but we dined with chickens and roosters directly behind us. The wall was glass, allowing us to see into their spacious cage. I don’t think this would pass FDA standards in the U.S. but it was awesome to eat with adorable, fluffy chickens behind us and know where the eggs we were eating had come from.
Though this is not a location you can visit unless you’re family friends with the girl I traveled with, I couldn’t resist sharing images of their beautiful home. Their apartment is the epitome of my dream house with huge walls and windows and a meticulously planned white, black and gold interior. After staying here, I couldn’t wait to get home and decorate my room.
France endured record rain while I was visiting. The Seine, which snakes through Paris, overflowed its banks causing delays to the French Open, a French town to be evacuated and forcing museums like the Louvre to close so art could be moved. The rivers water level rose over 14 feet. One can see in the photo below that the walkways along the river were completely submerged.
My trip made me realize how stunning France is. I’m eager to return and recommend stopping by some of these locations if you ever visit!
