I tried to love Paris on my own. I did.
After all, Paris is the most visited destination in the world. It’s a dream city for millions of people around the world; romanticized endlessly in cinema and literature.
But love for some places comes easily (I fell in love with Hanoi the second I stepped out of the airport) — and for others it does not.
Perhaps I would have felt more passionately about Paris if I’d come as just a tourist; traveling through the city for a few days, intent on soaking up all that the City of Lights has to offer. But actually living in Paris…let’s just say, I have a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower from where I live, and I’ve stopped looking at it altogether.
———
But when my boyfriend Mike came to visit last week, everything changed. The rose-colored glasses came on in full force, and the city took on a whole new light. Seeing Paris through his eyes made me appreciate the city once more: its beauty, its history, its culture.
Suddenly, the Eiffel Tower looked like an architectural marvel; pain au chocolats tasted like breakfast from the gods; the murky Seine seemed like the most romantic river in the world.
Paris is a wonderful city for all travelers, solo or not. But for me, Paris is an experience meant to be shared.
A homemade meat and cheese platter with a bottle of €4 Beaujolais: before, this used to be just a snack I’d scarf down before or after work. But add in a partner and move the setting to the balcony, and you’ve got a simple, relaxed and romantic evening for two.
For some reason, I’ve become quite reserved in Paris. With Mike around, I finally let my hair down — from a three-hour Segway tour around Paris (yes, we are those people) and an afternoon picnic at the Eiffel Tower, to taking funny shots of the fountains at Place de la Concorde and animals unhappily bathing at the Louvre. It felt wonderful to be a little silly.
We made the most of the bad weather days; ominous rain clouds and chilling winds couldn’t stop us from enjoying a walk through the Tuilleries, the fountains at Trocadero, or an apéro in Montmartre.
If anything, they only made us appreciate the blue skies and warm weather that came in the days that followed even more.
Walks along the Seine and the Île Saint-Louis, one of two islands in the river, became our go-to afternoon activity. We didn’t put a lock on any of the bridges, but instead enjoyed gelato on the swelteringly hot spring days with our feet dangling over the river.
I had a blast taking Mike to all of my favorite spots in Paris — croque place, falafel place, salad place, cheesecake place — but also shared in the joy of exploring a new restaurant for the first time. For my birthday, we splurged and had brunch at Angelina and dinner at Verjus. I truly cannot recommend the latter highly enough.
The best part of the week, however, was just appreciating the simple things as we walked around the city; from spotting an old street sign on Île Saint-Louis to sipping a flat white in Montmartre. With Mike around, every little thing — about Paris, about life — felt more wonderful and right than it ever had before.
Paris, I tell you, is for lovers.
I'm an American writer in Paris and serial expat addicted to living abroad. I believe in traveling while you're young – and that it's possible to balance long-term travel, a career, and a relationship at the same time. I first moved abroad at 18 and have been permanently overseas since graduating in 2010. I've built a career in media and journalism through living in China, Singapore, and Paris, and covered sports events from London to Azerbaijan. I currently travel solo while engaged to someone 6,000 miles away. 
I love everything about this post!
Beautiful post – thanks for sharing! Have a Great Day!
The simple beauty of this post is breathtaking, especially because of the outcome of your honey’s visit to Paris *hugs*
So sweet…and so many lovely memories for your new life!
Love love love love LOVE! Love everything about this–I’ve had a fling in Paris and I’ve visited with a wonderful guy friend, and I agree–it’s better a deux!
Lovely! Congratulations again on your engagement
such a lovely post! i got chills reading it! lovely photos… so glad that you found your love for Paris with your love! and congrats again :) xx
ahahahaha! I love that you guys were those people on a segway tour! Did I tell you that I once saw a tourist completely eat it off the front of her segway? It was hilarious, but only because I’m a terrible person, and only second to that picture of a Pomeranian in the fountain.
Congrats again on the engagement!!
Also, in celebration of your birthday + engagement, I changed my gravatar picture to the one you requested in a post oh so long ago. That’s true blog love, if you ask me. heh
omg LOVE. IT.
Glad to hear you’re finally coming around! Nice rock, by the way! :)
An ENORMOUS Felicitations on your engagement! Best wishes, my darling, and thank you for sharing it so beautifully!
Congratulations! It’s amazing how a person can make you see a place with whole new eyes.
First of all, congrats!!
I didn’t fall in love with Paris either when I was there. Maybe I need to go back with a boyfriend….your pictures are definitely making me reconsider! Love the shot of the dog in the fountain.
I knew I was missing something when I studied abroad there! Haha. I love everything about this. All the more reason I need to go back with Gerard. :) Congrats again Edna!
Congratulations! Paris is fabulous! The romance, the food!
I only “discovered” Paris by accident because my mate and I missed a plane and had to stay for two days before being able to continue. I grew up in Holland and never went to Paris. I lived all over the world, and never went to Paris. It took a missed plane to make me see it. Then we went back for more ;)
Again, congratulations and may Paris bring you lots of continued happiness.
Loved reading this! It’s so true – having someone special by your side can completely change your perspective about a place. Glad you got to see Paris through rose coloured shades after all. :D
This is a beautiful post! I love the Paris narrative unfolding here… I have extended family in Paris, and spent some time there as a kid. When I came back as an adult the first time, I found it incredibly off-putting, rude, cold (it was Feb), etc. The last time was a total 180. I can’t wait to show Paris to Andy and eat ALL THE FOOD.
Beautiful photos, and I agree that it’s always better when you can share it with the one you love. The memories that you have later are special, too.
Eeeek! Is this when you got engaged?? :) Congratulations again, I loved all of the photos of Paris!
I just stumbled upon your blog from 20sb through a link to this post. I feel a bit silly posting on such an old post when you have newer ones, but the pictures here are so beautiful! I want to have a picnic near the Eiffel Tower.