Postcards from Paris: Pont des Arts, Champs-Élysées

It’s hard to play favorites, but today’s round-up might be one of my favorite set of Postcards from Paris just yet.

padlock bridge in paris

On our first full day of exploring the City of Light (in which we walked 13 miles), we stumbled upon the Pont des Arts — the happiest-ever accident!

It’s better-known to some as Love Lock bridge or Padlock bridge, but it’s something that I’ve only seen in photos, so to witness it in-person was truly one of those Life Bucket List items.

lover's bridge paris love lock bridge paris pont de arts locks
Pont des Arts in Paris
paris at sunset

A lot of people have asked me since our trip, “What’s the best thing you did?” Or similarly, “What was your favorite part of the trip?”

My answer is very simple: “Nothing.”

buildings in paris windowsills in paris

And by that, I mean the idea of planning nothing. Of enjoying a series of days utterly free of an agenda.

That’s how you do Paris. Utterly free of an agenda.

Of course, we had an idea of things we wanted to see and do (and eat and drink), but my favorite part of visiting Paris was that it was so carefree and wanderlust’y. That’s a word, right?

Unless we were looking up directions or nearby happy hour specials (thanks to our portable wi-fi hotspot from XCOM global), my phone stayed off and at the bottom of my bag.

walking in paris

We walked. And walked. Then we walked some more. We did and ate and drank whatever and whenever the hell we wanted. It was glorious!

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On one of our afternoon explorations, we ended up strolling down Avenue des Champs-Élysées (after spending an hour people-watching at the Arc de Triomphe).

It’s a total scene, you guys.

Not only was there a line to get into Louis Vuitton’s enormous headquarters — and, of course, Laduree — but there was one to get into Abercrombie & Fitch, too.

Yeah, not kidding. We could smell the store (and admittedly, recall so many memories from teenage years) all the way from the street.

JUDGING YOU!” was all I could think as we passed by. And actually, I think Bianca may have said that out loud.

We knew better than to stop and shop along the Champs-Élysées, as it’s the Parisian version of Fifth Avenue in New York — expensive and packed with tourists. Nonetheless, it was fun to check out on our way across town to the Tuileries gardens.

louis vuitton paris headquarters laduree paris abercrombie champs elysees paris

(Above) The entrance to A&F on Avenue des Champs-Élysées. #SMH

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Our moral compasses guided us through the doors at Gucci, where Jess made a purchase and we celebrated with crepes. As one does in Paris.

streets of parisbuildings in parisstatue in parisfountains of paris

Pashli takes Paris!

Alternately captioned: Reasons I’m single. (#HandbagsOverBoyfriends)

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The entrance to the Luxembourg gardens, where we had a mid-afternoon picnic.

apartment buildings in paris

Only a few more updates from Paris that I’ll share with you over the next few weeks. In the meantime…

FOR MORE POSTS FROM PARIS…

Postcards: Arc de Triomphe | Eiffel Tower | Louvre | Luxembourg gardens | Notre Dame
Personal style/outfits: Practically PJ’s | A striped ensemble | Pretty in Pink | A Pleated Maxi

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lock and key bridge in paris

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14 comments

  1. I’m getting some major wanderlust seeing all these gorgeous photos! I haven’t been to Paris in years and keep trying to plan a trip there (and everywhere around Europe). Your approach is the exact one I would take too - exploring without an agenda. Honestly, nothing sounds more torturous to me that to have a jam-packed agenda where you barely have any time to breathe!

  2. I REALLY want to get to Paris in 2015. I haven’t been since late 2003 and I need to add a lock to that bridge. However both Tanzania and HK were unplanned trips so we’ll see where the budget takes us.

    • … both great trips, especially if you’ve never been. Hong Kong is one of my favorite places in the world. That’s on my list for a return trip in 2015, too. 72 hours wasn’t enough! Keeping my eye on flight deals…

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  6. Such beautiful photos…they brought back a lot of wonderful Parisian memories for me! I totally agree with you planning absolutely nothing and letting the city carry you away is the absolute best way to go.

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