5 amazing things to do in Paris, my hometown, 

Pour voir la vie en rose...

Text and Photography : Julia Rose Camus 

1-  Go to Angelina’s on rue de Rivoli

Once you’ve reached the end of the touristy Champs Elysées you’ll wind up on a more charming rue de Rivoli where you can admire Paris’s delicate architecture around the place de la Concorde. If you look closely in between the tourist stores you can find some great little shops with unique merchandise such as one of a kind t-shirts with amazing artistic designs. Finally you will get to Angelina’s where you can enjoy the best hot chocolate ever with a delicious pastry or ice cream like the “Coupe Mont-Blanc” and observe the fine architecture of this tea-room that is over a century old where you could once find people such as Proust or Coco Chanel to get a feel of the real “parisian way of life”. Even though it is a bit pricey and you may have to wait a few minutes, it is absolutely worth your while.

2-  Discover the Quartier Latin

The quartier Latin is one of the oldest parts of Paris, it is touristy but also very homey. You can enjoy a stroll through the narrow streets and sit in the terasse of one of the multiple cafés. There is a really great atmosphere there especially in summer evenings when you can sit outside. Another great thing to do is walk along the bouquinistes on the quai de Seine and find some great non tacky souvenirs from Paris like old books and posters. You can also go down the stairs on the quai de Seine and walk right next to the Seine, it is a very pleasant walk especially at night.

3-  Go see the Ponts des Arts

Not far from the quartier Latin, you will come accross a more luxurious part of Paris called Saint-Germain-des-Près where you will find a lot of modern and fun art galleries. But the best is yet to come, after the galleries comes the real work of art, Le ponts des Arts. For several years now people have come from all over the world to see the padlock bridge where lovers attach a padlock to the bridge with their names written on it, kiss the key and throw it into the Seine.

 4-  Get an amazing view at the Sacré Coeur

 Go see another magical part of Paris that always makes me feel at home, Montmartre. Where you can find several adorable pastry shops and stores. Then after walking up what seems to be a million flights of stairs you get to the top in front of the Basilique du Sacré Coeur where you can see the most chilling and memorable view of Paris you’ll ever see.

5-  Go to see Notre Dame

The memorable place that inspired Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris will help you soak up Paris’s culture. The gothic architecture and stain glass windows will make you feel as if the book came alive. Right next to the majestic cathedral, in a small corner you can find a unique book shop called “Shakespeare & Co” where you can buy amazing recent and old books organized on rustic wooden shelves as people play piano on the upper floor.