Bits of Paris: The Rest & Giveaway Winner

 

Dress: J.Crew scalloped (worn here - sim, lace, floral, all-over)
Top: J.Crew vintage (sim, sim)
Necklace: gift (sim, sim)
Bracelets: C.Wonder pave initial, Asos set or single, Yunikelley via Etsy
Rings: gift, c/o JewelMint (steal, sim)
Clutch: Coach demi (worn here - sim, simpler)
Shoes: J.Crew cece (sim, patent, prim & proper)

Last post on Paris, really!

I brought my camera with me this go-around in an attempt to take more pics, and during the two free afternoons I had to wander, I took so many pics that it's been difficult to narrow things down. Paris is such an easy city to walk in and you can pretty much see the majority of the main sites of Paris in one afternoon going down the Champs-Élysées.

There are so many more areas of Paris I've yet to explore though, I'd love an excuse to go back!

View down the Champs-Élysées - you can see all the way down to La Défense, the business district. On Champs, there is an Abercrombie & Fitch store - no big deal, right? Apparently it is! There's always a queue out front, it's gated and flanked by two of the most stereotypical SoCal All-American-looking "greeters" you can find this side of the Atlantic. Who knew worn out pre-schredded over-priced tees are a thing in Paris?

 

  The Left Bank and Notre Dame.

Île de la Cité - one of the two little islands located on the Seine, and home to Notre Dame. It's smaller neighbor, Île Saint-Louis, is my new favorite area of Paris. It's like quintessential Paris - narrow streets, quaint homes, neighbors chatting with little shop owners.

 

Some of the sculptures in the Tuileries. And that's still about as close as I've gotten to the Eiffel Tower. So much more of Paris left to explore!

Les Invalides - now that's a military hospital!

 

The Arc de Triomphe. And just some of the padlocks of love on the Pont des Arts next to the Louvre.

 

No picture can capture how awe-inspiring it is to see an A380 come down to land right over your head after doing an aerial demo at Le Bourget. And gratuitous shot of some more macarons. Just 'cause.

Speaking of awe-inspiring - Versailles!

 

The palace itself is definitely worth a visit and it's only about a 20 minute drive from Paris. However, the gardens themselves can be accessed for free - just enter through one of the numerous open side garden gates instead of through the main entry via the palace.

The gardens are ridiculous. I spent several hours walking around. There is a grand canal where you can rent little row boats and several restaurants and cafes. The locals treat the gardens of Versailles like their personal public park - how lucky!

 

Ceiling-to-floor pink floral and gilding in Marie Antoinette's bedroom.

Ooh la la, the gardens! I already want to go back ...

 

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And finally, ladies, thanks to all of you who had entered my giveaway for a $50 gift card of your choice to either Anthro, J.Crew or Zara. Drawn at random via Rafflecopter, the winner of the card is ...

Entry 48 - Katie S.

Congrats, girl! I'll be shooting you over an e-mail shortly to see which card you want. Thanks again!