Paris (2024 Olympics)
Who knew such a last minute trip would end up going down in history as one of my most epic trips up to date! As if Paris isn’t already a must-see, the hype surrounding the 2024 Olympics only heightened my excitement. I’ve visited this magical place quite a few times when I was a kid (as I have always had family residing there), but to now go as an adult, by myself, without my mom present to hold my hand, hit DIFFERENT. My time in Paris was definitely spent living like a TRUE TOURIST lol. I did all of the cliche things! Went up the Eiffel Tour, walked on the same floors as Beyoncé at The Louvre, saw the city view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, attended OLYMPIC GAMES. ETC ETC. There was truly no time for rest. As soon as I landed, it was was GO time!
Accommodations -
Paris is not a cheap place so I figured hotels would be a bit out of budget for such a last minute trip. I found a super cute airbnb that was located in a super cute (and safe) neighborhood placed in the 8th Arrondissement. I wanted a comfortable and spacious apartment that had a french aesthetic to it. It was important to have the metro be a short walk away and any Uber rides to all desired locations be less than 30 minutes tops! The apartment building was great. Quite, clean, small elevator available, and on a beautiful street. There were many restaurants nearby, Uber bikes right outside, and top attractions such as Avenue des Champls-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe only bout a 5 minute drive away.
My main source of transportation were my feet (lol), Uber, the metro, and electric Uber bikes. The amount of steps I tracked while in Paris is unmatched! Make sure to bring comfortable shoes for walking. I was stunned at how quickly Uber drivers arrived for pick up. I never waited longer than 3 minutes for an Uber. Each driver was friendly and knowledgeable of the surrounding areas which was super handy because many streets were blocked off due to the Olympics. When I wasn’t in a rush, the metro was affordable and convenient. 4 Euro per ride. The metro was clean and felt safe. The most fun way to get around was with the electric Uber bikes. You just scan the QR code with your phone to unlock the bike and start your ride. SO fun and a great way to explore the city. Renting a car isn’t necessary. The roads are small, parking is scarce and I’d even go as far to say only the French should be driving in Paris lol.
Eatery -
When I say I did my RESEARCH on food to eat in Paris!!! I mean I was on TikTok and google HEAVY trying to find delicious, yet diverse, yet authentic, yet affordable restaurants to eat at. Lol.
Amourette Passy - A French restaurant located walking distance to the Eiffel Tower. The star here was the Porn Star Martini!! OMG so delicious. If I had an endless amount of funds, I’d order 10. SO YUMMY. The food was good too. The sea bass was perfectly seasoned and the rigatoni was saucy.
Pink Mamma - Found this on TikTok and apparently it’s the place to be! You’ll definitely want to make reservations ahead of time. A beautiful multi-story Italian restaurant. The truffle pasta is the most popular dish which I found to be quite good but the burrata blew me away. I’d recommend this spot even if it’s just to say you’ve been. Good but nothing AMAZING. Request seating at the top floor (gorgeous) and be sure to check out the speakeasy on the basement floor called ‘No Entry’ after you dine!
Waly Fay - THE BEST FOOD I HAD IN PARIS! WOW! A Senegalese restaurant serving authentic made to order African food. The ambiance is casual enough to go with friends, yet romantic enough to have as a date night. The food gets a 10/10 from me. The Chicken Yassa! My goodness! So flavorful. The codfish fritters.. chefs kiss! MUST TRY.
Gumbo Yaya - I was really excited to try this soul food restaurant. Another TikTok find that I couldn’t pass up. The vibes upon entry are immaculate. A cute shack looking restaurant with R&B tunes playing in the background. They have an extensive menu of all things soul-food; fried chicken, mac & cheese, yams, sweet tea, to name a few. The food was seasoned to perfection but I had a hard time enjoying my food because mostly everything on my plate was cold. The fried chicken was nice and hot but literally everything else I ordered was room temperature at best. Mac & cheese, yams, cornbread, waffles, chicken biscuit… all cold. I was definitely disappointed and I probably wouldn’t go back, but I’d still recommend this place. Like I said, the flavors were there! The temperature of the food just kinda ruined the experience for me.
Panozzi Marais - A yummy Italian sandwich shop. Simple and straightforward. Only one meat choice available (pork) and vegetarian friendly. Super fresh ingredients. If you love sandwiches, you’ll love it here.
La Creperie - Crepes are a must! I typically get them from street vendors but I came across this little restaurant and had to stop by. Offering both sweet and savory crepes. My favorite is a simple sugar crepe, but I also tried the lemon curd and it was amazing. Such a sweet treat!
Activities -
If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, you HAVE to do the touristy stuff. Each monument is iconic and honestly, you can’t say you’ve visited Paris if you haven’t seen The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe up close and personal. I downloaded the ‘Get Your Guide’ app on my phone (www.getyourguide.com/) and used this platform to book all activities in advance. I loved it because it was simple enough and kept all of my tickets stored in one place.
The Louvre - One of the most famous museums in the world! Home to the Mona Lisa painting anddd Beyoncé was here!!!!! Secure your ticket ahead of time if you want to go inside. There is a restaurant on the premise with a beautiful view of the The Louvre pyramids.
The Eiffel Tower - The famous Tour Eiffel! The literal symbol of Paris. Amazing views from both the second and top floor. Once the sun sets, lights sparkle every hour on the hour I think until midnight. Another activity you’ll want to book ahead of time if you’d like to go up. You have the choice of walking up the many many many steps or taking the elevator. You also have the choice of having a guide to educate you on the history of the Eiffel Tower or having no guide to kinda explore at your own pace.
Arc de Triomphe - The views from the top are arguably better than the views from the Eiffel Tower. Do as you will with that information. It is a WALK UP! Lots of steps but totally doable. Aside from the gorgeous views, I learned that the Arc de Triomphe honors the brave French soldiers who lost their lives in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The sculptures are STUNNING and SO detailed.
Evening cruise w/ music - Awh! I love this activity. A cruise along the Seine River with French music playing in the background and an optional glass of champagne included. Such a beautiful ride, passing by major French monuments along the way. Get in line to board early, that way you can secure a seat on the top floor of the boat. I recommend booking the tour that starts about 30 minutes before sunset that way you can experience it during the day as well as take it all in at night.
Sacré-Coeur - A famous Catholic Church open to the public that sits on top of a hill. The views of the city are beautiful from the top in which you have the option to walk up or take a cable car. Super lively area and to my surprise, the famous gates with the locks attached to them is up here!
Fotoautomat - Cute vintage photo booth 10 minutes away from the Sacré-Coeur. You get a strip of 4 black and white photos for 6 Euro. AMAZING quality. You have the option of paying by card or cash. It is a small booth, certainly 2 people tops can fit inside. Photo strip takes about 5 minutes to develop. A sentimental souvenir to take back home from Paris.
Le Rouge Night Club - I stayed out until 4am this night. Oops! Lol. It was cool to experience a Parisian night out at a poppin French club. Entry fee of 20 Euro came with a free alcoholic drink which was nice. It was LIT inside. SO MANY PEOPLE. Mostly American Hip Hop music with splashes of French and House music. As someone who dosen’t hit the club very often, I had a great time.
2024 Olympics Games
Paris 2024 Olympics
The Paris 2024 Olympics was SUCH an experience. Wow. I feel like I can’t ever miss it moving forward. The entire city was used as fair ground for olympic events. Olympic banners lined the streets, temporary structures were built, celebrated monuments were used to host, and people from all over the world sat side by side to watch top athletes perform.
While the busy-ness of the city during such a grand time can push people away, I absolutely LOVED the energetic environment. It seemed like everyone was on a high. So much pride and support went to each persons perspective country. Everyone was so nice. Stadiums were roaring with cheers and applause. SO many people. Definitely chaotic moments. Traffic was a B!t(h - but you know… we got through it. Lol. It all comes with the territory of such an epic moment in time.
Football (Soccer)
The first event I attended was the quarter final football (soccer) game; USA vs Morocco. My ticket was 100Euro for a category A seat and it was 100% worth it! I was quite close to the field and sat in the middle section, but closer to the goalie. Morocco came to play OKAY and their fans were going crazy! I truly feel like the fan love and support that Morocco had lead them to victory as they beat the USA 4-0! Such a fun time!
Track and Field
I was also in the building for both men and women track and field events. Both took place at the Stade de France with men competing during the day and women competing at night time.
I was so happy to see Noah Lyles compete for round 1 of the 100m dash. I bought a restricted view ticket for 85Euro and sat waaayyyyy up in the nosebleeds. I couldn’t see the screens which made it difficult to immediately know who came in first place, but I could see the entire track clear as day. I would totally recommend restricted view seating because 1- the tickets are quite cheap, 2- you really do get a birds eye view of the entire stadium, and 3- the staff wasn’t strict at all, which left room to move around freely. The great thing about these Athletics packages is that your ticket grants you access to more than one event. I found myself unexpectedly entertained by pole vault- a sport that I probably wouldn’t have thought to see, but definitely enjoyed.
The women have been dominating sports this year and the Olympics were no different. Women are SO exciting to watch. My 400Euro ticket (YIKES) seated me in category A, extremely close to the track. While these were meant to be some of the best seats (hence the price of them), I must say I was a bit disappointed with where I was placed. I was on the complete opposite side of the 100m leg and I was seated on a curve which made it difficult to see pretty much anything that wasn’t directly in-front of me (thank God for the screens). Easily the most expensive, yet least favorite seat compared to the other events I attended. I finally got to see THEE Sha’Carri Richardson compete for her chance at gold. Although she won silver, I had no choice but to be happy for Julien Alfred who made history by being the first olympian of Saint Lucia.
Paris (2024 Olympics)
Who knew such a last minute trip would end up going down in history as one of my most epic trips up to date! As if Paris isn’t already a must-see, the hype surrounding the 2024 Olympics only heightened my excitement. I’ve visited this magical place quite a few times when I was a kid (as I have always had family residing there), but to now go as an adult, by myself, without my mom present to hold my hand, hit DIFFERENT. My time in Paris was definitely spent living like a TRUE TOURIST lol. I did all of the cliche things! Went up the Eiffel Tour, walked on the same floors as Beyoncé at The Louvre, saw the city view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, attended OLYMPIC GAMES. ETC ETC. There was truly no time for rest. As soon as I landed, it was was GO time!
Accommodations -
Paris is not a cheap place so I figured hotels would be a bit out of budget for such a last minute trip. I found a super cute airbnb that was located in a super cute (and safe) neighborhood placed in the 8th Arrondissement. I wanted a comfortable and spacious apartment that had a french aesthetic to it. It was important to have the metro be a short walk away and any Uber rides to all desired locations be less than 30 minutes tops! The apartment building was great. Quite, clean, small elevator available, and on a beautiful street. There were many restaurants nearby, Uber bikes right outside, and top attractions such as Avenue des Champls-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe only bout a 5 minute drive away.
My main source of transportation were my feet (lol), Uber, the metro, and electric Uber bikes. The amount of steps I tracked while in Paris is unmatched! Make sure to bring comfortable shoes for walking. I was stunned at how quickly Uber drivers arrived for pick up. I never waited longer than 3 minutes for an Uber. Each driver was friendly and knowledgeable of the surrounding areas which was super handy because many streets were blocked off due to the Olympics. When I wasn’t in a rush, the metro was affordable and convenient. 4 Euro per ride. The metro was clean and felt safe. The most fun way to get around was with the electric Uber bikes. You just scan the QR code with your phone to unlock the bike and start your ride. SO fun and a great way to explore the city. Renting a car isn’t necessary. The roads are small, parking is scarce and I’d even go as far to say only the French should be driving in Paris lol.
Eatery -
When I say I did my RESEARCH on food to eat in Paris!!! I mean I was on TikTok and google HEAVY trying to find delicious, yet diverse, yet authentic, yet affordable restaurants to eat at. Lol.
Amourette Passy - A French restaurant located walking distance to the Eiffel Tower. The star here was the Porn Star Martini!! OMG so delicious. If I had an endless amount of funds, I’d order 10. SO YUMMY. The food was good too. The sea bass was perfectly seasoned and the rigatoni was saucy.
Pink Mamma - Found this on TikTok and apparently it’s the place to be! You’ll definitely want to make reservations ahead of time. A beautiful multi-story Italian restaurant. The truffle pasta is the most popular dish which I found to be quite good but the burrata blew me away. I’d recommend this spot even if it’s just to say you’ve been. Good but nothing AMAZING. Request seating at the top floor (gorgeous) and be sure to check out the speakeasy on the basement floor called ‘No Entry’ after you dine!
Waly Fay - THE BEST FOOD I HAD IN PARIS! WOW! A Senegalese restaurant serving authentic made to order African food. The ambiance is casual enough to go with friends, yet romantic enough to have as a date night. The food gets a 10/10 from me. The Chicken Yassa! My goodness! So flavorful. The codfish fritters.. chefs kiss! MUST TRY.
Gumbo Yaya - I was really excited to try this soul food restaurant. Another TikTok find that I couldn’t pass up. The vibes upon entry are immaculate. A cute shack looking restaurant with R&B tunes playing in the background. They have an extensive menu of all things soul-food; fried chicken, mac & cheese, yams, sweet tea, to name a few. The food was seasoned to perfection but I had a hard time enjoying my food because mostly everything on my plate was cold. The fried chicken was nice and hot but literally everything else I ordered was room temperature at best. Mac & cheese, yams, cornbread, waffles, chicken biscuit… all cold. I was definitely disappointed and I probably wouldn’t go back, but I’d still recommend this place. Like I said, the flavors were there! The temperature of the food just kinda ruined the experience for me.
Panozzi Marais - A yummy Italian sandwich shop. Simple and straightforward. Only one meat choice available (pork) and vegetarian friendly. Super fresh ingredients. If you love sandwiches, you’ll love it here.
La Creperie - Crepes are a must! I typically get them from street vendors but I came across this little restaurant and had to stop by. Offering both sweet and savory crepes. My favorite is a simple sugar crepe, but I also tried the lemon curd and it was amazing. Such a sweet treat!
Activities -
If you’re visiting Paris for the first time, you HAVE to do the touristy stuff. Each monument is iconic and honestly, you can’t say you’ve visited Paris if you haven’t seen The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomphe up close and personal. I downloaded the ‘Get Your Guide’ app on my phone (www.getyourguide.com/) and used this platform to book all activities in advance. I loved it because it was simple enough and kept all of my tickets stored in one place.
The Louvre - One of the most famous museums in the world! Home to the Mona Lisa painting anddd Beyoncé was here!!!!! Secure your ticket ahead of time if you want to go inside. There is a restaurant on the premise with a beautiful view of the The Louvre pyramids.
The Eiffel Tower - The famous Tour Eiffel! The literal symbol of Paris. Amazing views from both the second and top floor. Once the sun sets, lights sparkle every hour on the hour I think until midnight. Another activity you’ll want to book ahead of time if you’d like to go up. You have the choice of walking up the many many many steps or taking the elevator. You also have the choice of having a guide to educate you on the history of the Eiffel Tower or having no guide to kinda explore at your own pace.
Arc de Triomphe - The views from the top are arguably better than the views from the Eiffel Tower. Do as you will with that information. It is a WALK UP! Lots of steps but totally doable. Aside from the gorgeous views, I learned that the Arc de Triomphe honors the brave French soldiers who lost their lives in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The sculptures are STUNNING and SO detailed.
Evening cruise w/ music - Awh! I love this activity. A cruise along the Seine River with French music playing in the background and an optional glass of champagne included. Such a beautiful ride, passing by major French monuments along the way. Get in line to board early, that way you can secure a seat on the top floor of the boat. I recommend booking the tour that starts about 30 minutes before sunset that way you can experience it during the day as well as take it all in at night.
Sacré-Coeur - A famous Catholic Church open to the public that sits on top of a hill. The views of the city are beautiful from the top in which you have the option to walk up or take a cable car. Super lively area and to my surprise, the famous gates with the locks attached to them is up here!
Fotoautomat - Cute vintage photo booth 10 minutes away from the Sacré-Coeur. You get a strip of 4 black and white photos for 6 Euro. AMAZING quality. You have the option of paying by card or cash. It is a small booth, certainly 2 people tops can fit inside. Photo strip takes about 5 minutes to develop. A sentimental souvenir to take back home from Paris.
Le Rouge Night Club - I stayed out until 4am this night. Oops! Lol. It was cool to experience a Parisian night out at a poppin French club. Entry fee of 20 Euro came with a free alcoholic drink which was nice. It was LIT inside. SO MANY PEOPLE. Mostly American Hip Hop music with splashes of French and House music. As someone who doesn’t hit the club very often, I had a great time.
2024 Olympics Games
Paris 2024 Olympics
The Paris 2024 Olympics was SUCH an experience. Wow. I feel like I can’t ever miss it moving forward. The entire city was used as fair ground for olympic events. Olympic banners lined the streets, temporary structures were built, celebrated monuments were used to host, and people from all over the world sat side by side to watch top athletes perform.
While the busy-ness of the city during such a grand time can push people away, I absolutely LOVED the energetic environment. It seemed like everyone was on a high. So much pride and support went to each persons perspective country. Everyone was so nice. Stadiums were roaring with cheers and applause. SO many people. Definitely chaotic moments. Traffic was a B!t(h - but you know… we got through it. Lol. It all comes with the territory of such an epic moment in time.
Football (Soccer)
The first event I attended was the quarter final football (soccer) game; USA vs Morocco. My ticket was 100Euro for a category A seat and it was 100% worth it! I was quite close to the field and sat in the middle section, but closer to the goalie. Morocco came to play OKAY and their fans were going crazy! I truly feel like the fan love and support that Morocco had lead them to victory as they beat the USA 4-0! Such a fun time!
Track and Field
I was also in the building for both men and women track and field events. Both took place at the Stade de France with men competing during the day and women competing at night time.
I was so happy to see Noah Lyles compete for round 1 of the 100m dash. I bought a restricted view ticket for 85Euro and sat waaayyyyy up in the nosebleeds. I couldn’t see the screens which made it difficult to immediately know who came in first place, but I could see the entire track clear as day. I would totally recommend restricted view seating because 1- the tickets are quite cheap, 2- you really do get a birds eye view of the entire stadium, and 3- the staff wasn’t strict at all, which left room to move around freely. The great thing about these Athletics packages is that your ticket grants you access to more than one event. I found myself unexpectedly entertained by pole vault- a sport that I probably wouldn’t have thought to see, but definitely enjoyed.
The women have been dominating sports this year and the Olympics were no different. Women are SO exciting to watch. My 400Euro ticket (YIKES) seated me in category A, extremely close to the track. While these were meant to be some of the best seats (hence the price of them), I must say I was a bit disappointed with where I was placed. I was on the complete opposite side of the 100m leg and I was seated on a curve which made it difficult to see pretty much anything that wasn’t directly in-front of me (thank God for the screens). Easily the most expensive, yet least favorite seat compared to the other events I attended. I finally got to see THEE Sha’Carri Richardson compete for her chance at gold. Although she won silver, I had no choice but to be happy for Julien Alfred who made history by being the first olympian of Saint Lucia.
TRAVEL
VLOGS
