Someone is still in love with Paris, that someone is moi

After a really adventurous goodbye from Uganda (sleeping on the floor of a hospital my last night in Mbale, Holly's wallet getting stolen on the way to the airport, getting pulled over by cops on the way to the airport so they were giving us all kinds of crap and we were sure their unattractive corruption was going to make us miss our flight....etc etc etc  It was hard to process that I was really leaving a country that became my home this summer.  Two flights later, I landed in Paris.  My mind has struggled understanding what to think about what's happening.  One thing I'm positive about:  I have so greatly missed Paris.  It was good to be home.  Here is Kelsey and I at Notre Dame.

Le Centre Pompidou is one of my favorite spots in all of Paris. It's right where I used to go to school so it was one of our hangouts.  There's just something so energetic and lively about Paris.  It just gets under my skin in the very best way.

It was Kelseys first time going to Paris so I got to take her to all of the sites...well, the ones that we had time for.  Naturally we were not leaving Paris without seeing this beauty:

This is one of those photos that the only thing I can think to say is, "One thing led to another..."

Kels saw a sign for soft serve.  We have missed ice cream so much.  It's been 4 months since we've had soft serve and this stuff was incredible!  The fact that we were just chilling under the Eiffel Tower made everything even better.  Op, also we went shopping at H&M earlier that day.  I was hoping to degrungify the next day because I was a dirty mess coming straight from Africa. haha

Meandering around we decided to find a cute cafe and have ourselves some french food.  I got some delicious Onion soup that blew my mind.  Kels and I were both making audible sounds of satisfaction while eating our dinners.  The food contrast from Uganda to Paris is substantial.  haha Both are great in their own way, of course. :)

Aaaannnddd we obviously had to share a creme brule.  You guessed it, not gross.  Gosh Paris, just keep being wonderful.  Never fails.

Day 2:  Start things off with Sacre Coeur.  Sacre Coeur is quite possibly my favorite place in all of Paris.  The view is just absolutely incredible.  I walk down every street in awe.  I can't stop starring at the beautiful building, the sweet families, I notice smiles creep up on my face because I heard a something darling in french, etc.  It's definitely sensory overload, but it's lovely.

Here we are.  The beautiful cathedral. I literally could and did sit and stare at it for a while.  It's captivating.  We started walking past the cathedral on our way to see the street painters and we passed some street musicians that were incredible!

We both pulled up a curb and were sufficiently swooned.  I will post a video later but my goodness.  Ciccio on the left got up for part and started walking over to the curb.  I know my emotions and brain is everywhere right now with what I'm trying to process, but ....maybe my eyes started watering. haha I'm trying to get through reverse culture shock right now, I clearly can't handle attractive men and their beautiful voices.  There's a line! haha

Oh my heart I just love every detail of this zip code.  Including the random graffiti walking around town.

Back in flats!  Can you tell I've worn the same pair of shoes every single day for the past 4 months?  I have tiger stripe tan lines and I think it's hilarious. haha  And seriously, I even think the ground with freshly crushed leaves is beautiful scenery--the ground!  Swooned.  This must be what love feels like. haha

I told Kels that she should probably go to l'Opera Garnier.  It's the opera house that inspired the Phantom of the Opera.  It's so majestic and incredible ornate.

So....naturally when we're in one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, we have photo shoots and act hilarious.  What else would we do?

When I lived here in 2007, I had a roommate named Macrae.  I'm fortunate enough to still consider her a dear friend--she's amazing.  Well back in 2007 her dad came over to Paris and invited me to go out to dinner with them.  He was so welcoming and it was fun to have a father figure, of sorts, when I was in Paris.

Fast forward 5 years and he had another business trip in Paris.  We somehow got in contact and he asked if I'd like to go to dinner again.  He is genuinely one of the kindest human beings I've ever met or heard of.  We met once, five years ago, but upon learning we were in the same city, we both met up for belated second meeting.  He took us to a darling french restaurant.  It was the cutest thing.  And he insisted Kelsey and his friend Johno try escargot.  Johnos face is classic.  He was dreading the french snail experience. haha I actually think they're really good.  Kelsey tried one but it wasn't her favorite thing in all the land.

Trying to get the snail out of his shell.  Is this real life?!?  I can't handle this.

They took us out to gelato afterward at probably the best gelateria in Paris.  They're both so funny and it was nice to have company introduce me to a new cute place.  They loaded us in a taxi afterward and Kelsey and I went home for the night with dopey grins on our face.  We fell asleep in Paris, had the most fun with a dear friend that I've only met once, were swooned to death by attractive musicians, and are clean for the first time in 4 months. haha

I'm still working on processing leaving Uganda.  But I will be honest, being in Paris again has been an absolute dream.  There is something about this place that does something to me.  I am completely in love with it.  My steps take a different beat, I sit on the metro fascinated and happy with all of the diversity and culture, something just comes alive in me when I'm here.  I am genuinely the luckiest girl in the world.  I can't believe I've called Paris home at one point in my life.  It still is, for me, in a lot of ways.  I can't believe I lived in Africa!!  It's been my dream since I was in 7th grade.  And I can't believe I got to see Paris again.  I'm so happy.  I can't believe any of this is real.  I have more Paris and obviously Uganda to post about but my flight is going to leave soon so I should probably go.  I love my life.  Holy smokes!  haha  See you guys soon,  Mals