A Week in PAris, France

To begin our 2019 family holiday, we landed in Paris, France, all the way from Australia.

To begin our 2019 family holiday, we landed in Paris, France after a long journey from Australia.

One of our first places to sightsee in Paris, was a charming, outdoor shopping centre, known as Bercy Village (28 Rue François Truffaut, Paris, France). This village is such a cute place to visit, especially if you love shopping.

Fun fact: this is a pedestrian only village.

After walking around this beautiful complex, we stopped at an Italian restaurant called “Vapiano”, for a hearty lunch [see pizza to the right] to fuel us for more exploring.

Bercy Village in Paris, France.
A pizza with cheese, tomato slices, ham, and arugula on a white plate, a glass of red wine, and a potted basil plant on a wooden table.

When we were planning our trip to Paris, one of the places I really wanted to visit was this sweet, pastel street, located in the centre of the city. Rue Crémieux is a popular tourist attraction due to its aesthetically pleasing colour scheme. If you love colour, architecture and photography, these adorable houses will be right up your alley (pun intended ;) ).

  • A woman standing on the steps of a pink building with white window frames and black railing details. The building has three floors and the woman is smiling, wearing a black coat, jeans, and white sneakers. There are potted plants on either side of the steps, and a street with cobblestones in front.
  • The image shows a light green building with a brown door and window shutters. There is a small front entrance with a step, some plants on either side, a bicycle on the left, and a blue house number sign with the number 6 above the door.
  • A person with long hair, wearing a black coat, jeans, and sneakers, standing on the sidewalk in front of a pink building with green shutters and a wooden door, number 26.
  • Colorful European row houses with potted plants along the sidewalk and people walking on cobblestone street.
City street scene during autumn with fallen leaves on cobblestone sidewalk, trees with orange and yellow leaves, modern buildings, and people walking, some with backpacks and bags.

Exploring the citY of Paris

We decided to go for a long walk and explore what Paris had to offer. It was so fascinating to see what the Parisian culture was like, as it is quite different to where we come from.

Eventually, we found a large, outdoor market, called “Marché Bastille" or “Bastille Market”, that mainly sold fresh produce and food. Here, we ate our first Parisian baguette… wow! Everything at the market seemed so fresh and vibrant in colour. My favourite booths were the ones that sold gorgeous flowers, fresh breads and tasty cheeses.

Since we visited in December, it was a quite gloomy day, so after strolling around the market, we stopped at a small, corner café for a warm drink.

  • Carton of brown eggs stacked in a basket, with several sections overflowing.
  • A market stall displaying various fresh vegetables including sweet potatoes, garlic, shallots, turnips, carrots, onions, and parsnips. Handwritten signs with prices are visible. The background shows a person in a red jacket and some green signage.
  • Display of various types of bread in a market stall, including baguettes, rustic loaves, and flatbreads with handwritten price signs in French.
  • A woman in a blue jacket and gray hat standing on a cobblestone street in Paris, France, surrounded by people walking and shopping under a cloudy sky.
  • A flower market display with various colorful flowers, including pink, white, and red roses in boxes, and other flowers with price signs in euros.
  • Assorted bowls of different types of olives with black, green, and red colors, each labeled with their names and prices in euros at a market stall.

Iconic Places in Paris

Eiffel Tower in Paris with trees and a clear sky in the foreground.

Of course, we had to visit some of Paris’ iconic monuments, such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Arc de Triomphe.

While exploring we also stopped in the popular shopping street, Champs-Élysées, in the 8th arrondissement, which happens to be 1.9km long, filled with cafés and many luxury stores. This was where I had my first Starbucks drink ever - a chocolate frappuccino.

View of the Seine River in Paris at sunset, with boats docked along the sides and a bridge in the distance. Buildings and trees line the riverbank, and the sky is mostly clear with a few contrails.
The Louvre Museum in Paris with its glass pyramid entrance in the foreground and historic building behind, under a cloudy sky.
Front of an ornate, historic building with arched entrances on the ground floor and statues on the upper levels, under a partly cloudy sky.
Starbucks beverages: a caramel frappuccino with whipped cream and caramel drizzle, and a mocha frappuccino with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle, on a wooden table.
  • A large decorative holiday figure with sunglasses and a hat, made of metal and mirrors, posed in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
  • View of the Eiffel Tower with love locks attached to a bridge railing in the foreground, river in front, and the sunrise in the background.
  • A girl with red hair wearing a white knit hat and blue jacket, smiling in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
  • A woman wearing a pink knit hat looking at the Eiffel Tower during sunset in Paris.
  • View of the Eiffel Tower framed by Parisian apartment buildings on a sunny day with parked cars in the foreground.
  • People line up outside the Louis Vuitton store on a city street. The store has a large glass entrance and gold signage. Some people are waiting in line, while others are walking by.
  • A Parisian building with a large billboard advertising Chanel jewelry, featuring a woman in black with dark hair and makeup, in front of a cloudy sky.
  • A woman standing on a cube-shaped pedestal in front of the Louvre Museum in Paris, with the glass pyramid entrance behind her. She is smiling, wearing a blue jacket, jeans, and beige boots, and is holding onto the glass pyramid.
Christmas-themed outdoor beverage stand decorated with green garland, red poinsettia flowers, and red ribbons, with a wooden counter and a background of a festive market setting.

On our way back from the Louvre, we stumbled across our first ever European Christmas market, which was a pleasant surprise! Here we got to taste a few French foods, such as nougat and croque monsieur (a grilled ham & cheese sandwich, with melted cheese on top).

A Christmas tree decorated with red ornaments and small lights in front of a large Ferris wheel with enclosed cabins.
Christmas market stand decorated with garlands, baubles, and a sign reading 'LA BOÎTE À FROMAGE' in a park with trees in the background.
Street food stall with spiral-cut potatoes on skewers and bottles of mayonnaise.
Display of assorted pretzels hanging on a wooden stand at a market stall, with variations including classic, chocolate, and sesame seed coated pretzels, under warm string lights.
A festive outdoor market with Christmas decorations, wooden stalls, and people walking. A large sign reads 'VIN CHAUD,' indicating mulled wine is sold. The scene is set against a backdrop of Parisian-style buildings under a cloudy sky.
A large wooden Christmas-themed tower with a windmill on top, decorated with bows and lights, next to a Ferris wheel against a partly cloudy sky.
Display of colorful Christmas ornaments and nesting dolls on a table at a market stall, with various decorative and figurine items for sale.

My Disneyland surprise!

Since I was very little, I have always loved Disney and have wanted to go to a Disney theme park. So, when I found out that we were going to visit Disneyland Paris AND stay at one of their themed hotels (we stayed at the wonderful Disney Newport Bay Club - a nautical themed hotel) for a few days, I was absolutely thrilled! Amazing memories were made here… it truly is the “happiest place on earth”.

Even though it was extremely cold (for us), we enjoyed every bit of our time there. Their Christmas decorations were so beautiful and made the park feel even more magical.

One of my favourite rides was the Pirates of the Caribbean one and the Slinky Dog. So fun!

A three-story riverboat docked at a pier during sunset with visitors onboard, historic-style buildings in the background, and a wooden post with hanging lanterns in the foreground.
Wild West-themed roller coaster with wooden tracks and a train, set against rocky formations and trees with some colorful foliage, over a body of water.
Pink sequined Minnie Mouse ears headband with bow held up in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, with cloudy sky and visitors in line in the background.
Colorful carousel with blue curtains and ornate decoration at an amusement park under a clear blue sky.
A large yellow and white multi-story building with many windows and small balconies, and a rounded glass entrance at the bottom. The sky above is clear with a bird flying.
  • A bedroom with a nautical theme featuring a white bed with pillows, a navy decorative pillow with ship steering wheels and ropes, and wall-mounted lamps on a striped wallpapered wall. Two framed nautical pictures are located above the lamps.
  • A foggy park scene with leafless trees, grass, and a red brick walkway.
  • A hot air balloon with red and yellow stripes floats above a park with trees and a lawn, with buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.
  • Crowd of people lining up in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.
  • Pink and white Disneyland hotel with towers and a clock, front entrance with people, a flower bed resembling Mickey Mouse face, fountain and pond in foreground, protest clear blue sky.
  • People outside the entrance of Disneyland Paris decorated for the holidays, with a large holiday wreath and festive banners, crowd of visitors, and a young woman smiling in the foreground.
  • Castle at Disneyland with people walking in front on a bright, sunny day.
  • A vintage paddle boat named Molly Brown docked on a river with illuminated lights, surrounded by buildings and trees at sunset.
  • Overcast sky at an amusement park with colorful string lights overhead and a paved walkway where people are gathered in the distance.
  • A young woman with pink Mickey Mouse ears smiling at a Christmas decorated Disney park in front of a tall Christmas tree, with visitors and theme park buildings around on a cloudy day.
  • Christmas display with decorated trees, wrapped gift boxes, and colorful ornaments.
  • A young woman wearing a blue jacket, gray scarf, and brown boots poses next to Pluto, the Disney cartoon dog, at an amusement park or theme park. Pluto is in a mascot costume with a tag around his neck, and they are standing behind a safety barrier under a green umbrella.
Watch Paris Reel
Things To Do in Paris
Netherlands (next stop)