Paris Day 2- Louver Museum-Louvre Couture: Art and Fashion—Statement Piece exhibit

I booked our tickets online before we arrived in Paris. To avoid the crowds, we chose an early timed entrance at 10:00 AM. It was a cold, cloudy, and slightly drizzly day—pretty miserable weather to be waiting outside. Even with timed tickets, we ended up waiting about 45 minutes to get in. Ironically, the walk-in line for people without tickets was actually shorter and moved faster! I told Katie, "These timed entrance tickets are a scam!"

We paid extra for the Louvre Couture: Art and Fashion—Statement Piece exhibit, and it was absolutely worth it. Both Katie and I loved it. She took charge as our guide and made sure we didn’t miss a single room.

After checking our backpack into the storage room, we headed straight to the couture exhibit. At first, it wasn’t too crowded, but it definitely got busier as time went on. The exhibit was amazing—each room featured a fashion statement piece beautifully displayed, blending perfectly with the room’s decor. Katie was determined that we see every last one.

We took tons of photos, but I’ve only included a few here to give you a glimpse of the fashion on display.

The museum’s cafeteria didn’t disappoint. There were a few small food shops alongside the main cafeteria, offering a good variety of hot and cold dishes. The food was decent, and the prices were reasonable.

Paris Day 1 (continued)-Notre Dame Cathedral

From Pont Alexandre III, I took bus #63 to Saint-Germain-des-Prés to meet Katie for lunch. I arrived early, so I walked around the area a bit before meeting up with her.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of the four administrative quarters of the 6th arrondissement of Paris, centered around the church of the former Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. I visited the church and then strolled along the main street in the neighborhood. It was filled with chic boutiques and lively restaurants, many with people enjoying meals on their outdoor patios.

After lunch, we walked to Notre-Dame Cathedral. Both Katie and I had tried to book entrance tickets online, but every time we checked, the website showed them as "Sold Out." We decided to head there anyway and try our luck by waiting in line. Although the line was long, it moved surprisingly quickly. After about 15 minutes, we were inside the cathedral. Despite the crowds, everyone moved along smoothly.

We were fortunate to arrive shortly after a service had started and got to witness the presentation of the entrance of the popes—a special moment.

The newly restored interior is absolutely stunning. I hope my photos can do it justice.

Paris Day 1 (continued)- Pont de la Alexander III

After walked around the Place de la Concorde.  We continued walk across the Pont de la Concorde and walked along the Seine riverbank to reach Pont de la Alexander III. Along the way, you can see the Eiffler Tower in the background.  At the end of Pont de la Concorde is the Assemblee nationale-Palais Bourbon (lower house of the French Parliament).

The Pont Alexandre III is often considered the most beautiful bridge in Paris. It's an ornate Beaux-Arts style bridge that spans the Seine River, connecting the Champs-Élysées area (on the Right Bank) with the Les Invalides and Eiffel Tower areas (on the Left Bank). It was built 1896–1900, named After: Tsar Alexander III of Russia, to honor the Franco-Russian alliance.  It was designed by Joseph Cassien-Bernard and Gaston Cousin, it is a low-arched steel bridge with extravagant decorations—think golden statues, nymphs, winged horses, cherubs, and lampposts that look like works of art.

The bridge is a symbol of friendship between Russia and France.  The bridge itself is a work of art—every element is decorative, yet it maintains a balanced, airy feel.

The views from Place de la Concorde are epic: you can see the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais, the Seine and Pont de la Alexander III all at the same time.

What to Look For at the bridge: there are Four Gilded Statues: At each corner, there’s a 17-meter-high column with gilded bronze winged horses on top; Art Nouveau lamps: Elegant and detailed, especially beautiful when lit at night; Bridge Sculptures: Including nymphs and allegorical figures representing the Seine and Neva rivers (France and Russia).

Continue walk across the Pont de la Alexander III, we reached Grand Palais museum and Petit Palais art museum. This is a statue of Winston Churchill right after you across the bridge at the corner of Petit Palais art museum.

The statue marks Churchill’s historic connection with France, especially during WWII. There’s a famous quote inscribed on the pedestal: “We shall never surrender.”  This recalls his fierce resistance to Nazi Germany and his alliance with Charles de Gaulle and the Free French Forces.

Assemblee nationale

Eiffler Tower and Pont de la Alexander III and Seine river

Winston Churchill statue

Petit Palais Art Musuem

Grand Palais Museum

Paris Day 1- Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde is a public square in Paris. It is the largest square in the French capital

Original named as Place Louis XV to honor the king at the time. Later its name changed to Place de la Révolution during the French Revolution.

Place de la Concorde has a dark past—it was the main site of the guillotine during the French Revolution. King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, and many others were executed here in the 1790s. After the chaos, it was renamed Place de la Concorde to represent reconciliation and peace.

On the square, there is Luxor Obelisk, a 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk gifted by Egypt in the 19th century. It’s covered in hieroglyphics and once stood at the entrance of the Luxor Temple.

There were two colorful and beautiful fountains inspired by the ones in Rome—Fontaine des Mers (facing the Seine) and Fontaine des Fleuves (facing Rue Royale).

There are eight statues representing major French cities like Lyon, Bordeaux, and Nantes, placed at each corner of the square.

Fontaine des Fleuves

Luxor Obelisk

Fontaine des Mers

3 Days in Paris - Impressions and Experiences

If you're already in Europe, getting to Paris is very easy—especially by bus or train. I took the Eurostar from London, and just over two hours later, I arrived at Gare du Nord in central Paris.

Compared to the trains I've taken in China and Peru, the Eurostar felt a bit outdated. The seats were small and not particularly comfortable. The ride included only about 30 minutes under the English Channel; most of the time, we were traveling through the UK and French countryside. In February, it wasn’t scenic at all—I don’t have any photos worth sharing from that ride.

A fellow passenger, traveling with her family from London, told me that train ticket prices vary a lot depending on the time of travel. Avoiding peak holiday periods can save you a significant amount of money.

For convenience, I booked a hotel near Gare du Nord without realizing that, as the hotel staff put it, there was "a lot of movement around the station." They advised me to be extra cautious. Fortunately, my friend Katie joined me later, and we explored Paris together. In the evenings, we walked near the hotel without any issues.

One of the first things I recommend doing upon arriving in Paris is getting a Navigo Card, which works just like the SmarTrip card we use in Washington, DC. It’s reloadable and can be used for both metro and bus rides.

You can buy the Navigo Card at machines in most metro stations—but keep in mind that the machines for purchasing the card and the ones for reloading it are different. I tried to get mine at a station across from the hotel but failed. There were no staff at the ticket window, and the place didn’t feel very safe for a solo woman traveler, so I left quickly.

Later, while ordering food at a nearby restaurant, I asked the staff about where to get a Navigo Card. They kindly gave me directions to another metro station a bit farther from the train station, which they said was safer. It wasn’t a long walk, and when I arrived, the station felt much better—cleaner, safer, and with staff at the ticket office. There was no line, and I got my card with money loaded and was ready to explore!

When Katie arrived later in the afternoon, she didn’t bother with a physical card—she used a phone app to add the Navigo Card to her phone, which worked perfectly.

During our three days in Paris, we used the Navigo Card for both metro and bus travel. Paris has an impressive public transportation system, though there’s always a lot of walking—so wear comfortable shoes!

In Paris, there really isn’t a "low" season at major attractions—it’s always crowded. Buy tickets in advance if you can. That said, I was frustrated when we had to wait in line for 45 minutes in the cold and rain to enter the Louvre, even though we had pre-purchased our tickets. Strangely, the line for people who hadn't bought tickets in advance was shorter and moved faster!

We paid extra for the Louvre Couture: Art and Fashion—Statement Piece exhibit, and it was totally worth it. Both Katie and I loved it. Katie took the lead as our guide and made sure we didn’t miss a single room.

The museum cafeteria didn’t disappoint either. It offered plenty of options, the food was decent, and the prices were reasonable.

As usual, the line to see the Mona Lisa was ridiculously long. Since both of us had seen it up close on previous visits, we skipped it this time.

We couldn’t book Notre Dame Cathedral tickets online—it was sold out. So, we just showed up and decided to wait. Surprisingly, the line moved very quickly and we were inside in just 15 minutes! The interior has been beautifully restored, and it’s absolutely stunning. Don’t miss it.

We also visited some classic spots like the Eiffel Tower and Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre—must-sees for first-time visitors.

The cafes and restaurants we visited for coffee, lunch, and dinner were a highlight. Paris is truly a paradise for food lovers. Prices weren’t too bad either, especially compared to other European countries.

Instead of rushing to see as many sites as possible, we took our time and just enjoyed the city. After three days, I realized that to truly enjoy Paris, five to seven days would be more appropriate.

And one last note for fellow travelers: pickpocketing is a real issue. Be very mindful of your belongings. Yours truly lost another pair of sunglasses—someone snatched them right off the top of my backpack while I was sitting on a bench checking my messages!

Floral Library (The Tulip Library)

Also known as the Tulip Library, this charming spot is one of Washington, DC’s hidden gems!

The Floral Library was established in 1969 as part of Lady Bird Johnson’s Capital Beautification Project, maintained by the National Park Service. Depending on the season, the beds are filled with either tulips or annuals each year.

Tucked between the Washington Monument and the Tidal Basin—at the corner of Maine and Independence Avenues, SW—this is just one and a half acres.

These photos were taken on April 4th, the day we visited the Tidal Basin hoping to catch the cherry blossoms, only to discover they had already faded. But stumbling upon this colorful tulip garden brought such a comfort and joy!