We were blessed with the opportunity to stay in Paris for 4 days a week ago. It was amazing and definitely leaves you yearning to go back. The following is a semi-long picture post of the highlights of our days there. Enjoy.

The following pictures were taken on my phone depicting our leaving cold snowy Switzerland and arriving in green lush France. 

Gare de Lyon - Paris' main train station

The Metro was our main transportation while in Paris. The Paris Metro is a lot dirtier than both the Berlin Underground and London's Underground. For some reason I found that odd. 

Loved the Metro signs throughout the city.

Looking out from our hotel window up and down the Paris streets.

Lovely old Church

Charming street lights

An amazing outdoor skating rink right beside the Seine River.

Hôtel de Ville

The Concierge 

Looking across to the right bank

Pont des Arts bridge where lovers and friends write on locks, lock it to the fence, and then toss the key into the river. 

Looking towards the Institut de France

We loved these booksellers! They line the walkway along the river selling everything from antique books, Vogue magazines, to old maps of the city. We could have spent many hours just rummaging. 

The Musée de Orsay

Unfortunately, they didn't allow pictures inside.

The Eiffel Tower

We later went back at night to see it all lit up.

Since the weather on the first two days we where there were freezing, in the evenings we sought shelter in the latin quater and found this fun Piano Bar.

We also visited the famous and iconic Shakespeare and Company bookstore

Notre Dame in the distance

While in Paris we enjoyed quite the culinary experience! 

I enjoyed authentic French Onion Soup

While another night Zack enjoyed escargot. I tried one and it was okay. :)

Somehow we accidentally forgot what Beef Tartar was and ordered it for dinner one night. We're not a fan of the raw beef. It tasted good, like onions and Worcestershire sauce, but we couldn't mentally get over the raw part. 

We spend an entire morning at the Louvre. We read somewhere that if you took the time to see every piece of art in the Louvre, it would take you 6 months!

The Winged Victory of Samothrace

The Mona Lisa

To be honest the Mona Lisa was a little underwhelming as you couldn't get anywhere near the painting due to all of the tourists. And the people who did get to the front never moved. Plus with everyone taking pictures with their dumb iPads(seriously people!), it was hard to get a good shot. 

Outside the Louvre

Walking in the rain through the gardens by the Louvre.

Seeking shelter in a nearby cafe to warm up

The Concierge 

The weather was great one of the days we were there and so we decided to stand in line for 2 hours to go to the top of Eiffel Tower. 

The following are the views of Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower

There was a Champagne Bar and so we decided to celebrate our trip to Paris

Walking to the Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe

Fancy shops on the Boulevard Haussmann

Paris opera house

The Luxembourg Gardens

We spent a quiet night in our hotel room with French TV and wine on Valentines day. :)

Sitting at Cafe's was another pastime of ours while in Paris

Our last day in Paris we spent at Versailles.

The Château de Versailles

The famous Hall of Mirrors

We took the Petite Train to the Grand Trianon on the Versailles grounds

The grounds were beautiful. Parts were under construction or covered up because of winter, but still massive and impressive. 

Not a bad amphitheater eh?

Paris was a whirlwind trip! We arrived on Wednesday afternoon, walked around to get our bearings, went to the Louvre and Musée de Orsay on Thursday along with a visit to the Eiffel Tower, Friday we decided to stand in line most of the morning to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, headed then to the Arc de Triomphe, and wandered in the Montparnasse neighborhoods, and then on Saturday spent almost all day at the Palace of Versailles. We had a great experience, loved the food, the people, and the city. There is no way one can get a true feel for Paris in a short trip and we envy those who can spend up to a month in this beautiful city.