The last time I was in Paris, I had just turned 18 years old. I was there with my mom for my birthday, and we took a very hectic tour of Western Europe so we were in town for only two nights. This time around, I was with my husband Carlos and baby Tristan and we stayed for a good week. All I can say is: what a difference a relaxed itinerary makes! We were able to explore the city at our own pace and get a glimpse of what its like to live there.

We skipped the museums (and pretty much any place with a line) and instead spent our time cooking at home (the ingredients available to us were just amazing), relaxing at parks, shopping, and dining in cafes. We were extra careful in terms of security, as we have heard of many stories of pickpockets and petty crimes being done to tourists (which is why we skipped taking the Metro and just took Uber everywhere). But it was all good. We still enjoyed walking around the city (be wary of which arrondissement you’re in though).

Paris really is quite beautiful, no matter what the season. And you will see that in our photos–we explored the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Montmartre but there are so many other places to see. One week is not enough! <3