Exploring Paris, Day 1: From the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower and Beyond

Paris is a city that invites exploration at every corner, and that's exactly what we did today! This morning, we set out to visit The Louvre was the first stop after walking through the most charming open market on the way to the Metro.

The Louvre

The entrance to The Louvre was breathtaking and stunned every one of us. Unfortunately, we did not get the chance to go in today. Being a weekend, the museum was at full capacity by 9:30 am. Of course, we didn't let that stop us at all. We enjoyed the park and grounds, with several mini photoshoots going at the same time. Don't worry though, we'll be back on Wednesday and have a ton more to share on this topic.

Change of Plans

What do you do when your original plan doesn't happen? Improvise! We started a walk across the city, stopping by a fantastic little French cafe where Emma was amazing at memorizing 12 individual food and beverage orders before bringing out the most delicious crepes and breakfast faire. From there, we passed shops filled with antiquities on our way to the Musée Rodin. All we could say was WOW! The entire property was filled with fantastic artwork and a rose garden that was a work of art all it's own. Don't mind us and our photo shoot, including our best impression of a Rodin sculpture.

A Rainy Walk to the Eiffel Tower

After the Musée Rodin, we set off towards the Eiffel Tower to take in the sights. We didn't get many pictures there but, don't worry, we'll be back!

A Lovely Dinner to End a Lovely Day

After a chilly, wet walk through Paris, we stopped at Pizza Amalfi where owner and staff, personal friends of our fearless leader Dr. Kimberly Green, showered us with hospitality, and amazing food! Our server Aldo was a delight and treated each one of us like we were a special guest in his home, taking pride in seeing to every little thing a group of 12 people could ask for. If you're ever in Paris we definitely recommend you check them out.

Speaking of checking things out, how great is Aldo in his pink tux? We also got a special surprise when Korrin's performance was broadcast to the TV, sharing her beautiful voice with the entire restaurant and earning cheers from other patrons.

Did Someone Say Bananas?

To end a day of great exploration, fun, and friendship, how else would you travel back to your hotel than with a bag of bananas. The fantastic owner of Pizza Amalfi sent us with more than enough bananas to keep our energy up as we head to two site visits and more exploration tomorrow.