Heart of Paris

My roommate Chelsea and I (who goes to Madison) decided to take the metro and somehow find our way to the Eiffel Tower. It actually really worked out because we ended up at the more touristy part of Paris and just walked toward the Eiffel Tower.

This is what we saw when we got out of the metro stop. It sounds cliche but it was really breathtaking. From here, we were surrounded by some of the most iconic parts of France. I don't think I can really describe the moment but imagine having this fountain (below) on one side, as you're looking down the street at the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower always looming in the distance.

Place de la Concorde

Arc de Triomphe from the Place de la Concorde.

By the time we got to the Eiffel Tower, the sun was setting and I was able to take this picture from a bridge over the Seine. 

Sunset on the Seine in front of the Eiffel Tower.

And finally, the Eiffel Tower. It was somewhat crowded but it was awesome to finally see it again. It has been about three years since the last time I was here and it will never get old. Out of all the pictures I took, this was my favorite one.

Eiffel Tower

One of the things I noticed today is that there are a lot of parks in Paris. It is really impressive how much green there is all around the city. In a way, it makes the city feel smaller and not as if a million people live here. It's actually one of the things that I love most about this city-- it really feels like a small town.

Although we walked so much today and I was exhausted, I had a great time being somewhat of a tourist in the city where I now actually live. I was also forced to use the metro, which I was really nervous about, but now it seems a lot easier.