10 Memories of Paris That Make Me Happy

It’s hard to put into words the feeling I have when I am in Paris. Or when I think about Paris, for that matter. If you’ll pardon the expression – there really is a certain je ne sais quoi about the City of Light. It’s unexplainable, intangible – yet it’s most certainly there. It’s palpable. It’s Paris.

I thought I’d give a glimpse of some memories I have accumulated over the years that bring a smile to my face whenever I think of them. There are hundreds really, but I had to narrow it to ten.

And of course, these are in no particular order. How could I possibly?

1. That first croissant. Paris does croissants like no other. Flaky, buttery, crispy, doughy. Dreamy. It doesn’t matter if you get ‘em at a hotel, a fine upscale cafe, a local neighborhood joint or from the local boulangerie. Some say it’s the water that makes them so damned good. I don’t care really – all I know is that they are to. die. for.

2. The Seine. Rain or shine, strolling or riding, up top or down below – it’s beautiful no matter which way I remember it. Even picnicking along its banks. The Seine makes Paris, in my opinion. You can feel the energy of the city flowing, pulsing through it- even though the water generally remains pretty still. Every vantage point offers something unique and picturesque. The bridges that traverse it are each special in their own right.

3. The 400-year-old quirky hotel where I stayed during my first visit. And making friends with the housekeeper who also served me breakfast every morning, a simple baguette-style roll with butter and jam, along with the most delicious cafe au lait. Ever. I would stare out of the tiny breakfast room window onto the beautiful square below as I practiced my rudimentary French with this welcoming woman who greeted me with a big smile and seemed to sing her responses to me in her native French. She charmed the socks off me. I arrived not knowing a soul- and left with a new friend.

4. The jaw-dropping views from the top of the Eiffel Tower, La Samaritaine, Arc du Triomphe and Sacre Coeur. See it once, you’ll never have to see it again- those gorgeous panoramas of the city are ingrained in my mind forever. Those Paris Mansard rooftops, bridges, tree-lined boulevards and church spires are truly one-of-a-kind. I can close my eyes and recall the images whenever I want.

5. Calling home every night on my solo trip from a tiny phone booth situated at the end of a quiet, cobbled street near my hotel in Paris. I happily visited late every evening and would excitedly recount my tales of the day, at length, to the voice waiting on the other end. I’d skip back to my hotel in the dark, thinking of what the next day had in store.

6. The Grand Architecture. I’ll never forget the first moment I ever rounded the corner near the Pont Neuf and got my first view of the grandness of the buildings lining the river. But I’ll also remember walking the back streets of Montmartre and the upscale neighborhood in the 7th arrondissement. I fell in love with the grand apartment houses in varied shades of stone and cement that seem to loose themselves in the sky with onyx wrought iron balustrades. Flowers just fill the tiny balconies and seem to drip down the sides of the buildings.

7. My time on the I’sle Saint-Louis. I love strolling the tiny island. The shops are all so charming. It was here that I was pampered by a shop owner getting a true glimpse of what good service is like in Paris. She spent about an hour with me, draping me in scarf after scarf until she found just the right one to work with my ‘coloring’. She smelled and looked delicious. It was also here that I heard wonderful accordion music beckoning me from the back of Notre Dame.

8. Taking in the view of Notre Dame, while resting on a park bench near the edge of the Seine. I was sitting there minding my own business when a pigeon decided to crap right on me. Ah. Good times. I wasn’t exactly happy when it happened – but it’s something I’ll never forget- and now I can smile about it! I will fondly remember it as my ‘Good Luck Greeting in Paris’.

9. Shopping at the food markets. I always remember how alive each and every sense feels when shopping for food in Paris. Whether in the open-air markets or specialty shops – I savour every moment. The colorful flowers, the fresh fruits and vegetables spilling out of crates and the hand-written signs announcing their variety and price in French. The smells of rotisserie chicken and roasted potatoes. And don’t even get me started on the cheese. Hundreds of varieties of cheese, each more foul and putrid-smelling than the next, fill the air. And I adore each and every one. The moldier the better! I long for that awful smell and a small sliver of that cheese.

10. Spending time with my Parisian friend, who also happens to be a foodie. I love hanging out in her fav off-the-beaten-path spots, eating at her local haunts and enjoying espresso in the back room of her hubby’s Pharmacie while he gives us lessons in French skin care. But, perhaps the most memorable experience of all the time with her was enjoying a home cooked meal at her house, spending time with her family. Not one single thing I have done in Paris compares to that.
Share your favorite memories of Paris in the comments!

Alison
March 8th, 2010
What wonderful memories! A few that immediately spring to mind for me are: Walking into Sacré Cœur for the first time and hearing the most incredible organ music; having my first ‘street crepe’ outside Notre Dame; The wonderful chintz covered Hotel des Grandes Ecoles that we stayed in; having a martini in the bar on top of the Pompidou and enjoying the incredible view!

You have a great list Alison! Oh, yes that first crepe…….

.-= Alison´s last blog ..Frida Kahlo at Bozar Brussels =-.

Foodie Froggy
March 8th, 2010
OH MY !!!!!!!! I am blushing (I am the Parisian friend mentioned above) !!!!! Wonderful memories indeed !
Thanks Robin !
Bises,
Anne

Of course it is you, silly. Who else has the honor of being my best Parisian friend Bises xox

Mardi@eatlivetravelwrite
March 8th, 2010
Sigh. I miss everything about Paris – even the hard times when I was working 5 part time jobs to make ends meet. There’s just something magical about that place.

Wow. Sounds like you really liked Paris. I agree, magical.

Jen Laceda
March 8th, 2010
I love the view from atop the Pompidou Centre as well. My other fave memories: strolling the hallowed halls of Musee du Louvre and Musee D’Orsay; walking up on Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe; sauntering around Paris at 5 am when the bus from Amsterdam drops you off near the Carrousel du Louvre; (and cheesy as it may be) watching the Eiffel Tower light up at night!!! Thanks for sharing!

There is nothing cheesy about your memories of Paris, as long as it makes you happy…go for it!

.-= Jen Laceda´s last blog ..It’s Literally in Reel Life! =-.

Laura
March 8th, 2010
Great memories indeed! My best memory is attending Christmas Eve mass at Notre Dame Cathedral with my dad and lighting a candle for his father who was watching over us in heaven

What a perfect memory.

SpunkyGirl
March 8th, 2010
I LOVED Paris. I was only there for 3 days, but it was fantastic. Nothing beats fresh croissants and strawberries for breakfast. The architecture is breathtaking. Thanks for bring back my own memories of Paris.

Mission Accomplished

.-= SpunkyGirl´s last blog ..I waited to travel… =-.

Marta Szabo
March 8th, 2010
What to pick? The tiny studio we rented for 2 weeks near the Arts & Metier metro stop. The Metro itself! Those whitewashed tunnels. The conveyor belts that speeded you along. The MonoPrix! Cheating at the Metro turnstile and helping the next guy cheat too. The Eiffel Tower at night from below. Uh-oh, I think we were only supposed to pick one! The perfect piano concert we heard in a church on the RB near Notre Dame. Shakespeare & Company! The best bookstore in the world! Okay, I’ll stop. But you know I could go on!

Marta, no worries- there was no limit on memories! I love Monoprix too

Gray
March 8th, 2010
Oh, wow. I hope my first experiences in Paris are as lovely as yours! It makes me want to hop a plane tomorrow!

I am sure they will be Gray. Let’s get you over there….pronto!

.-= Gray´s last blog ..Recommended Reads, March 7, 2010 =-.

JoAnna
March 8th, 2010
I can’t wait to go to Paris someday. I would love to eat a croissant that doesn’t come out of a plastic container at an American grocery store.

Oh, JoAnna – those are not croissants – those are just buttered rocks

.-= JoAnna´s last blog ..5 Questions with a Cruise Travel Guide =-.

Jenni
March 8th, 2010
Picnics on the Champs de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower, walking down the treelined Boulevard Saint-Germain in the spring, smelling the boulangeries before you see them, the view of the Seine and Eiffel Tower from the top of Bazaar de l’Hotel de Ville (BHV), the Saint-Ouen flea market, the middle eastern food at Chez Marianne in le Marais, the rotten sweet smell of the metro (weird, I know).

Thank you for reminding me why I love Paris.

You are most welcome. Thanks for sharing why YOU love it so much, Jenni! Don’t even get me started on the flea markets

Keith
March 9th, 2010
Fab memories indeed! One of my best memories of Paris was sitting at the very edge of the Ile de la Cité, near Pont Neuf, one evening with my best friend and watching the boats pass by. We hadn’t seen each other in years and we sat there talking for hours about our childhood and how we’d grown up since, each going our different ways. We decided to leave past midnight, only to find that the gate to the street was locked. It was a tall gate with an equally tall iron fence which stretched right over the edges of the river. There was no way to climb over the gate so we had to climb around it, with the Seine beneath us. We made it safely to the other side and started laughing. It was a magical moment!

Keith, what a memory. Thanks so much for sharing it. It made me giggle

.-= Keith´s last blog ..Ten things to do in Manchester =-.

Keith
March 9th, 2010
Another memory I have of Paris is career-related. I was there for a meeting (when I was still a banker) where I was told that I’d not been chosen for a director’s position. I’d worked really hard to get to that point and hearing the news was devastating. It wasn’t a happy moment – it was quite literally the beginning of the end of my banking career. With hindsight, I can now say that that was a life-defining moment and I’m happy it happened….. in Paris!

It’s never fun when it actually happens, but later on you look back and say ‘thank goodness’ that happened. Just think, you wouldn’t be here today if it didn’t I’ve had several of those in my life.

.-= Keith´s last blog ..Ten things to do in Manchester =-.

Paulita
March 9th, 2010
I had a first in Paris when I was 20 that I can’t repeat here… But we traveled to Paris as a family when my kids were little and went into a lovely bakery near the Arc de Triomphe. Two of my children chose yummy pastries and the third chose a KitKat bar. We still tease him about it now that he’s 16. Why go to Paris? Just run down to the 7/11 and get a KitKat.

I love these sweet little stories. It’s funny what people remember Thanks for sharing!

.-= Paulita´s last blog ..Baby Texts =-.

Kasia
March 9th, 2010
My first memory of Paris as a student, was being completely taken with the architecture and beauty around every corner. I found a charming little bistro (aren’t they all?) and ate dessert followed by dinner. Sitting by the dessert tray, I could not resist! I was alone that weekend but felt that high of being in love. So many more stories from following visits…Now that I am living in Paris, and in love I might add, I try my best to experience the city through the fresh and eager eyes of a tourist. I need to do this more often

You are one lucky girl, Kasia. Thanks for sharing your memories with us!

Whineaux (Dawn)
March 11th, 2010
Ahh Paris. It infuriates me to hear people telling me how rude Parisians are especially when I see how Americans behave. They are warm delightful people who know how to say hello and take the time to enjoy a meal.

My favorite memory? Impossible. Paris is a gift that makes my heart soar when I think of being there. My husband and I took our first big trip together to Paris. We spent a week diving in and out of cafe’s, and wine bars, getting lost on the metro, meeting locals, perusing food markets and buying a $70 t-shirt because the lady was too kind for me to not buy it.

I agree whole-heartedly about the misconception of Parisian rudeness. I find nothing further from the truth! And it sound like you have been seriously bitten by the Paris bug Takes one for know one!

Jeff Titelius
October 8th, 2011
“Flaky, buttery, crispy, doughy. Dreamy.” That says it all about gay Paree!! What a wonderful collection of memoirs my friend…and beautifully written too!! You really immerse readers in those jaw dropping views from the places you mention above. I have one more to add – the spectacular view from the top of the bell tower of Notre Dame. From there, it’s the hallowed halls of the Louvre and sitting down at a tiny sidewalk bistro on the Ile de la Cite and sipping cafe!! That’s Paris!! Loved this post.