I Love Paris in the Winter

I love Paris in the Winter!

Though it is freezing and quite snowy, we have loved our time in Paris. Well, honestly I probably enjoyed it more since poor Jackson has been sick the entire week. We did get a few good walking tours in despite his illness. One was a four hour overview of Paris general walking tour on a gorgeous, sunny day. We started at Place St. Michel, walked to Notre Dame, St. Chappel, crossed Pont Neuf, walked through the Louvre, the Garden of Tuileries, the obelisk, the Champs Elysees, and finally ended near Napolean’s Tomb. We learned more about the Louis’ and the Napoleans of French history and how France fought hardest for its democratic society. Our passionate tour guide Arnaud (from LA!) ended the tour with the moving reminder that Paris might not exist today if it was not for the Dietrich von Choltitz, the Nazi General who ignored Hitler’s request to burn down the city of Paris at the end of WWII. I am sure we all have heard this story at one point in our lives but if you have not, you can read more here.  This of course left me moved to tears and my love for Paris grew even stronger.

Our second tour was a rainy, wet tour of Montmarte (the Mountain of Martyrs).  Though the weather was not what I would have chosen and our guide was not as passionate as Arnaud, it was still a great tour. The Montmarte area is just what I imagined Paris to be like – cobblestone roads, artists painting, terrace cafes, boulangerie’s and flower shops everywhere you turn. This is the area where Picasso, Van Gogh, Dali, Toulouse- Lautrec, and many other big time artists lived and painted.

If you are ever in Paris, take one of these New Europe tours! The general tour is free and the Montmatre one was only 12 euros. You can find out more info on their website.