Bonjour! I have returned to Paris, France as part of Eurotrip 2022.

The last time I was in that city was in December 2018, and even then, it was a whirlwind tour through France. To be honest, my first impression of Paris wasn’t very good. During that time, Paris was cold, dark and gray. Maybe people weren’t in the best mood because it was winter. Then again, I only spent two nights there, so I missed a lot of what makes the city special. I made it a point to revisit, because some things are worth giving another go.

This time, I visited when it’s warm, vibrant, and green. Paris has truly come to life in the summer, which goes to show that sometimes things need a second chance. Maybe revisiting a place needs to come from a different perspective, or a different season. Coming back here was the right choice, because now I can see what Paris truly has to offer.

Art in Paris: The Museums

Since I’m still in the second week of Eurotrip 2022, I have found that it’s important to pace myself when going to museums. Paris has many landmarks, museums, and history to uncover, and it’s tempting to try to do as much as possible. After all, it is exciting to delve into the extensive political and artistic history of this legendary city. But one thing I’ve noticed is that I’m experiencing the first stages of museum burn-out. So, this time I just selected two art museums to go to. There will be more art museums to visit later this trip.

The Louvre

The Louvre is the most visited art museum in the world, and it houses the most famous works of art such as the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. It’s inside the Louvre Palace, a 13th-century fortress, and you can see the remnants of the fortress in the lowest floor of the museum. It has expanded since, and today it offers the huge art collection that we see today.

The Louvre exhibits cover a wide time period, spanning from the beginning of ancient civilizations (Roman, Greek, Egyptian) to up to the 19th century. The museum is so massive, that you can easily spend the entire day in there–or even two days if you really want to stop and take your time. As with most museums, I highly recommend buying your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line. Instead, you can go through security and the entrance fairly quickly.

Of course, I wasn’t going to check out of this life without seeing Leonardo di Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”–arguably the world’s most famous painting, which, by the way, is smaller than I expected.

And then there’s the Venus de Milo sculpture, another iconic masterpiece from my art history days.

Then there’s the ornate Apollo Room, which was the model of the Palace of Versailles Hall of Mirrors. Personally, it beats taking the trip all the way out to Versailles.

I ended up spending five hours at the Louvre! That’s the only thing I did for the entire day. To be honest, while I loved it, limiting the number of museums I visited this time was good for me because it can be sensory overload after a while. When I saw less museums, I could take my time in them more and really appreciate what humanity is capable of creating.

The Centre Pompidou

The Centre Pompidou has such a unique architecture, and I have never seen anything quite like it. Colorful pipes stories high wrap vertically around the glass museum, while on the other side, an escalator in a clear tube zig-zags up the avant-garde building. This innovative facade is a real testament to the modern art it houses, ranging from Surrealism to Dada art genres.

This exhibition at the Centre Pompidou featured multiple works by the renowned fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, who created dresses inspired by the artworks of the modern artists.

There were several installations, which I loved. This one was my absolute favorite.

There’s even an entire library dedicated to the acclaimed abstract artist, Vassily Kandinsky, that’s open by appointment only for those with proper research credentials.

Vegan Food Tour in Paris with Thory and Tom

As an introvert, I have no problem with enjoying my own company and imaginative world. Being a solo traveler, I can do many things on my own terms and be in full control of these plans. Doing all of this on my own has been truly an empowering experience, because I have learned to tap into the inner resources and take initiative. But after a while, I have been feeling a little bit of loneliness and decision fatigue.

My best friend Karim introduced me to his French friend, Thory. And then Thory introduced me to her friend, Tom. I am not familiar with French food, especially since most of it isn’t vegan. But Thory and Tom knew all the best spots in town. Thory graciously planned out an entire vegan food tour for us to try.

Urban Greener

We met at Urban Greener by the neighborhood of Montemartre. It’s a snug bistro that offered brunch that Saturday morning. Thory and I got the Tofu Benedict, while Tom enjoyed his pancakes. My Tofu Benedict was on a slightly sweet pancake, so the contrast between sweet and savory was a flavorful balance.

Getting around Paris with friends and food

After brunch, we walked up hilly Montmartre to the grand Sacre Coeur Basilica. When we made it back down to the other side of the hill, Thory suggested we rent scooters and zip through Paris.

Riding on a scooter is definitely better than walking! It opened up a greater sense of freedom, as Thory navigated us through the leafy streets of Paris. Sharing the road with cars and bikes, while dodging lamp posts, traffic barriers, and parked cars, was part of the exhilarating fun, as wind whipped through my long purple hair. Never mind that I am 35 years old. Riding a scooter in Paris made me feel young and free again…maybe even a little dangerous.

There was another vegan cafe called Copper Branch. I got a peanut butter brownie. Unfortunately, I was so excited to eat it that I forgot to take a photo!

At a stoplight, I turned my head to the left and saw this iconic 13th-century cathedral.

“Is that…the Notre Dame?” I asked.

“Ouiiiii!” Thory said.

The Notre Dame is yet another landmark building, an excellent example of Gothic architecture–which is characterized by flying buttresses, pointed arches, ornate details, and stained glass. It caught on fire several years ago, and it’s still closed to the public. And we just happened to pass by it!

Land & Monkeys

Tom eventually had to leave for work, so it was just Thory and me. We went to Land & Monkeys, which is a vegan French bakery that sells all sorts of pastries and desserts. I was blown away by how many choices they were! I had to get the cinnamon roll, pain au chocolat, and a type of long brioche with chocolate chips.

Aujourd‘hui Demain

Our last stop was at Aujourd’hui Demain, a vegan clothing shop, bistro, and grocery store all under one roof. This might be the first time I’ve seen a multi-purpose vegan establishment like this!

I had the unforgettable Selfish Burger, which is a vegan fish filet sandwich with micro greens, pesto, and tangy tartar sauce inside fluffy brioche bread. It was pretty hard to decide what to get, because everything looked so vibrant, nourishing, and flavorful.

Au Revoir, Paris

I’m so glad that I had returned to Paris! A city as elegant as this one deserved a second chance, that’s for sure. Sometimes all it takes is a different approach and a mind open enough to look past the first impressions. Paris is indeed brighter this time of year, and more welcoming and ready to have you.