I think we’ve gotten into the groove of the time change pretty quickly – both of us woke up naturally at a fairly normal time this morning (Craig a bit earlier than me, but that’s standard for him).

We had breakfast at our hotel since it’s included – and the pastries are delicious, of course! It’s such a gorgeous boutique-style place, and the dining area is no exception when it comes to aesthetics.

Rain, Umbrellas & Champs-Élysées

It was pouring again, so I asked the hotel staff if we could borrow umbrellas. The woman at reception smiled and said:

“Oui, you can take them… and you should!”

She wasn’t wrong—it would drizzle for a while, then suddenly pour, and just as quickly clear up again. Very tropical vibes. But it didn’t stop us from getting out and about.

We started the day walking down the Champs-Élysées—Paris’s iconic shopping street that stretches from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde (yep, the site of those infamous French Revolution executions). Both ends are stunning.

We figured out the metro (so easy—there’s a station right by our hotel) and took the train straight there. The designer store window displays were amazing—especially the giant bag façade at Louis Vuitton.

We also popped into Monoprix and fell in love. Gorgeous, wearable pieces everywhere. We were obsessed with Uniqlo in Japan, and this might be our European Uniqlo. We’re hooked.

Hot Chocolate Heaven

Eventually we reached the Arc de Triomphe end of the avenue and, after taking some pics by the Arc, stopped for a hot drink at a cute spot called Le Drugstore, attached to a quirky little boutique.

The hot chocolate? Divine.

Think: rich, thick, proper hot chocolate—like She Chocolat back home.

Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur & Linen Drama

Next up was Montmartre to visit Sacré-Cœur. I remembered from a past trip that it’s a bit of a pickpocket hotspot, so after we climbed what felt like a million steps to the basilica, I gripped my handbag like it was gold.

Backstory:

• Got pickpocketed in Rome

• Had my handbag cut off me in Argentina (no idea how long I walked around with one shoulder mysteriously lighter)

Was irrationally convinced someone was going to snatch my bag from the basket of the Lime bike last night too.

So yes. Paranoid? Maybe. Prepared? Absolutely.

Luckily, everything went smoothly. No scammers with dodgy friendship bracelets in sight either—maybe they’ve cracked down.

We wandered Montmartre’s gorgeous streets—so many cute cafés and boutique stores—and stopped by the Moulin Rouge (was tempted to book a show but didn’t). We circled back to a charming café we’d spotted earlier…

…where I had my first tarte Tatin.

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

Heaven on a plate.

…and also where I spilled an entire coffee all over my beige linen pants.

Very Laus of me.

Thankfully, I’d bought a pair of shorts earlier and made a dash to the bathroom to get changed.

RIP linen pants. That stain is not coming out.

Language Mix-Ups & Metro Rides

Our waiter was absolutely lovely—super friendly to everyone, including the British couple next to us who were having a bit of a laugh. I’m not sure he quite got the joke, though… nor what they meant when they asked for the bill with:

“May we?”

…which he probably heard as “Mais oui” (French for “but yes”). One of those classic language collision moments.

After that, we metro’d back to Saint-Michel and had a bit of a rest before heading out for dinner—at a much more French-approved time.

Yesterday’s taxi driver had given us a hilarious rundown of a typical French food schedule while mocking our “early” 6:30pm dinner. According to him:

• Breakfast: 7am

• Lunch: 12–2pm

• Afternoon snack: “A croissant and a chocolate,” he said

• Aperitif: 6–8pm

• Dinner: 9pm (“Which is still too early,” he added. But… when do you sleep?)

Et voilà!

Dinner was at Le Reminet, a tiny gastronomical bistro just a short walk from our hotel, tucked down the prettiest little streets.

The waitress completely sold us on the chef’s special:

“Lots of butter, because we French.”

And she wasn’t lying—it was phenomenal.

Tomorrow: Saint-Germain!

Day two in Paris: done and dusted.

Tomorrow, we’re off to explore Saint-Germain—can’t wait.

Bonne nuit, mes amis!

❤ Laus