The City as a Canvas

     One thing I was surprised to find out about the beautiful city of Paris, as I'm sure you will be too, is that its roads, alleyways, bridges, and buildings are abundantly full of art. I'm not talking about art as in the unrivaled architecture (which is beautiful on its own), but street art, done by Paris' many street artists. Everywhere you look there is a newly painted mural, paper collage, etc that adorns the city streets. A lot of this art is political in nature, commenting on parisian government, feminism, or existing social issues. The artists typically go by pseudonyms such as "Mystique" or "Space Invader" to hide their identities, and can be found producing art all over the city, no matter what arrondissement you're in. These are just a few photographs of the many I took as I stumbled upon art while walking throughout Paris. Sometimes I find them amusing, other times stupid, and yet other times beautifully moving. Enjoy! xoxobb

Luxembourg Gardens

One of my absolute favorite spots in Paris are the Luxembourg Gardens. I've been going a lot lately to sit and read, get a little sun, or have a quiet picnic.  There are public chairs all over the place, along with tennis courts, chess tables, benches, and plenty of paths to walk or jog along. A beautiful little escape in the center of the city!! Last week I saw a proposal happen right in front of the Luxembourg Palace, so apparently it is also a place of romance! But then again, isn't all of Paris? Sending hugs and kisses from the City of Love xoxobb

August in Paris

     
     I realized just today that, devastatingly, my last week in Paris has crept upon me. I leave a week from Sunday, and there are no words to express my unwillingness to go. These 12 weeks have flown by too quickly! Alas, all good things come to an end, c'est la vie, and I'll just have to make the most of these last remaining days.
     The 1st of August (unfortunately) brought boatloads of tourists and (even more unfortunately) the closing of many a shop and restaurant throughout the city. As Parisians went off to their vacation destinations, signs in store windows went up that read : Bon Vacances! Closed till the end of August! With less places open I was left with more time to just walk the streets and explore parts of Paris that I had yet to see. You would think that after being here so long I would have seen most of it, but there's always a new corner to turn around, always a new road to follow. These photos are from the winding cobblestone streets of Montmartre, a very picturesque, quintessential Paris.
     I've got a busy list of things to do and see before I leave, here's to hoping they all get done!! In the meantime, wishing everyone a happy weekend full of sunshine xoxobb

Eurotrip

       London and Prague, in my opinion, are two of Europe's most amazing cities, and this month I was lucky enough to visit both!!! What I instantly loved about London, I'll admit, is that I could speak English with no inhibitions and felt completely okay doing so. Although I've had little to no problems with speaking French, it was a nice and welcome break. Besides that, London is so unbelievably beautiful in its own quaint English way. The first night, I went to see a performance of Julius Caesar at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre! It was a wonderful experience, standing in the center like they used to do, and watching a classic Shakespearean play. We walked around the city, stopping by all the well-known attractions, and finished the day by touring London's East End. We went to the insanely cool Spitalfield Market and had dinner at Tayyabs, London's best and most popular Indian restaurant. The food was out of this world and a meal that I've dreamt of many times since!!! On our last day, we indulged in a classic full English breakfast, complete with sausages, eggs, baked beans, and, of course, English breakfast tea! We went to Camden street for the infamous Camden market, spent a couple hours walking around, before heading back to the airport. I loved everything about my time in London and can't wait for the day I get to go back!!
      The following weekend I was jet-setting yet again, this time to Praha!! Some friends I made my first month here in Paris were spending their second month in Prague, so a couple of us went to visit them there for a few days! Besides Paris (naturally) Prague quickly became my favorite place in the world. It's beauty is underrated but without a doubt unrivaled compared to anywhere else I've been. The metro runs on an "honor code" system (meaning we never bought a single ticket) yet they somehow remain clean and uncrowded and, best of all, air-conditioned! The food was heartier than that of France and everything was incredibly cheap. We went on paddle boats on the river by Charles Bridge, visited the Lennon wall, went to Old Town to see the clock tower and the square, and went on a nighttime boat tour to see the city all lit up. They definitely know how to party in Prague, we didn't come home before 6am the whole time I was there, each night making our way back as the sun was rising. Needless to say, I was exhausted when I got back, but boy was it worth it!! Enjoy some photos from both of the trips! I've been back in Paris a week now and will be posting about my recent activities soon, until then, cheers to you and cheers to the Eurotrip of a lifetime! xoxobb