Paris, France: Eiffel Tower

I’ll be the first to admit… this is not a very creative suggestion when considering what sites you must see in the world. But, after having spent my 21st birthday camped out next to the Eiffel Tower with a bottle of wine and few of my best friends, I have to share some tips on how to maximze your experience here.
 First of all, if you decide to go to Paris in the winter like I did, DRESS WARM! Nothing is more frustrating than being in an incredible place but not being able to enjoy it because you’re freezing cold. But, I am also aware that taking pictures in front of a site like this is a necessity so dressing cute is also a priority. To that I have two statements: wear thick wool socks & do not be afraid of layers! I was wearing a long sleeve thermal shirt, a normal long sleeve shirt, and a thick leather jacket with a huge scarf, which just barely made me comfortable.

Another tip: comfy shoes! Europe is known for its walkable cities and you really will be walking 10 miles some days. So after a long day of shopping Champs Delysses, the two-mile walk to the Eiffel Tower will be much more welcomed with appropriate shoes. Again, if you go in January, a comfy and cute pair of boots that you can wear wool socks under is ideal.

On a budget? Stop in a shop and buy wine before you get there! There will be vendors selling wine but they know the tourists won’t have thought ahead and will be willing to pay premium prices for a cheap bottle of wine. Throw a couple cheap bottles, a wine opener and some plastic cups in your bag and you’ll be able save some precious euros!

Finally, be in the moment. Snap those pics right at the beginning and then tuck your phone away and enjoy the surreal views around you. Whether you trekked to the top to see all of Paris from above, or layed out a blanket at the base, I guarantee you will be stunned at the beauty.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Charleston, South Carolina: Poogan’s Porch

Image
So far this blog has been heavily focused on European cities… But there are many places around right in the United States that are must see (and must eat) spots worth mentioning. In honor of the notoriously spooky holiday of Halloween just passing, I feel it’s a good time to mention a delicious—but haunted—restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina. I visited Charleston for the first time this August and immediately fell in love with the city. It is an adorably quaint town full of classic southern architecture, boutique shopping, and of course… food. My friends and I are foodies, so whenever we go to a new city we want to make sure we are hitting the best restaurants. We came across Poogan’s Porch as a top place for brunch. It is an adorable restaurant located in what used to be a house. They have tables outside, as there is a double-decker porch, and they also have tables throughout the different rooms of the home. The food was exceptional and the service was great, but what ma...
Read more

Amalfi Coast: Nerano

Image
The beautiful Amalfi Coast is no secret destination and if you have the time to visit Italy and spend some time in this area, you absolutely must! But, if you’re on a budget like I was, staying in Positano isn’t exactly easy to do. Positano is extremely beautiful and is undoubtedly the most recognizable spot on the Amalfi Coast. There are many shops, restaurants, hotels and people constantly running through this town built meticulously down a mountain. But, this is certainly not the only beautiful destination on the Coast. When I traveled to the Amalfi Coast, I booked an Airbnb in the quaint, insanely picturesque town of Nerano. This town has way less activity than Positano, but the quietness and beauty make this escape uncomparable—and more affordable. This is a photo of the view from the Airbnb that I stayed in: Better yet, my friends and I planned a day trip to Positano and it worked seamlessly. We scheduled an hour taxi ride over and planned a private boat trip that too...
Read more

Zurich, Switzerland: Thermalbad & Spa

Image
Switzerland is a country I had heard amazing things about… great chocolate, heaquarters of FIFA, the Alps and stunning views. However, it wasn’t until I met one of my good friends at University of Georgia who is from Zurich that I decided it was a must see destination. Since a few of my other friends were studying abroad in Europe last semester as well, my friend from Switzerland and a couple others who were in Athens still for the semester decided to plan a trip. Over spring break, the people not studying abroad made the long trek overseas and all of us already in Europe booked trips to Zurich. We all stayed at my friend’s house and had our own personal Swiss tour guide! This experience was incredible and we were lucky that we had our friend to take us to all of the best places. One thing I loved to do whenever I’m in a new place is visit the place with the best view of the city ( see Barcelona Bunkers post ). My friend immediately knew of the perfect pla...
Read more