We've just had Christmas for another year and it got me reminiscing about my very first white Christmas in Paris, France. Christmas in Australia is quite different to what you see in the movies –no beanies, no scarves, no hot chocolate, and most definitely no snow. Growing up I loved to watch Christmas movies around this time of year and I always dreamt of having a “white Christmas”, to experience a cold, wet holiday where I can walk the streets in a beanie, scarf, sipping a hot chocolate in the snow. In 2010 I got to experience my very first white Christmas with my family in the city of love, Paris France.

2010 was the year I began my travelling experience.

I was 23 years old when I was diagnosed with cancer where I promised myself that I would go overseas after I kicked cancers butt. So I saved my money and put a plan together to go to Europe for my Christmas break to explore Germany (and a bit of Belgium) and France when I was 24 years old.

This post I’ll be looking at my Christmas experience in Paris, France.

I boarded a train from Aachen, Germany and made my way throughout the countryside to Paris.

My parents and twin sister met me at train station in the Latin Quarter located in the 5th district. The 5th district you can find Jardin des Plantes, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Musee de Cluny, The Pantheon, Quartier Latin, Universites, La Sorbonne, Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve, Eglise, Saint-Severin, La Grande Mosquee, Le Musee de l’AP-HP.

We stayed in a cute boutique apartment that overlooked a cobbled alley way. The apartment was actually quite small with only one bedroom, so my twin sister and I slept in the living room on a day bed.

Our apartment was a short walk to the Lourve, the Eifel Tour and Notre Dame Cathedral. Prime location if you ask me.

The Lourve

Admission: €15

Whether you choose to do a group tour, a guided tour, or go on your own and do an audio tour, visiting The Lourve while you're in Paris is a must, even if it's just to live out your very own Da Vinci Code adventure. Although the main attraction tends to be the Mona Lisa (which isn't as big as what you would expect),don't be too quick to walk by the other pieces of art that don the walls. If you get bored of looking at a lot naked cherubs, downstairs you will be pleasantly surprised to find statutes and remnants of civilizations from long ago - and maybe a naked statue or several.

The Eiffel Tower

No trip to Paris would be complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower up close and personal. Now Christmas time might not be the best time to go to the Eiffel Tower if you're wanting to actually go inside and take the elevator ride up. The lines are long and it's a bit too cold to be standing and waiting around BUT do go over the road to the park where you can still take in the view of this iconic tower.

Arc de Triomphe

If you're visiting the western end of the Champs-Élysées you MUST go and see The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, after all it is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. What's the significance of this arc? The triumphal arch is in honor of those who fought for France, in particular, those who fought during the Napoleonic Wars. And it looks pretty freaking awesome too!

But if you're not into monuments or museums, don't stress

Simply walk around the streets of Paris and you will stumble upon some amazing cafes, crepe stalls on nearly every corner and some of the best shopping ever! I even found a discount DVD store (yep, 7 years ago we had DVD's and not this thing called Netflix ha!).

It may have been 7 years ago that I went to Paris but going back is definitely a goal of mine. I fell in love with that city, the people, the uniqueness, the shopping and most of all the memories I made with my family!

Stay Outdoors,

L x