Tis Me Michelle

This trip was meant for my cousin so she could have her ‘Emily in Paris’ moment. Otherwise, I was totally ‘planning’ to find myself in Paris every 5 years, since that has been the pattern. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to go, so it ended up being a last-minute solo trip. And it was a great lil weekend getaway. There’s no doubt I’ll end up in Paris… Again and again and again. Hopefully for the rest of my life.

There were a few things I kept from my original plans. My cousin hadn’t gone before, so we were going to hit up a lot of the bigger touristy things. But I scratched most of that and just went with the vibes of the day. I didn’t even walk anywhere near the Eiffel Tower, got plenty of views of it, though. Let’s get into Day 1!

Landed at CDG, smooth flight over. Usually, I fly super bare bones and only have a carry-on bag. But I wanted to go shopping this trip, so I went with Delta and made sure I had a checked-in bag as well. Then I went straight to my boutique hotel, Nuage, a bit early, hoping the room was ready. And luckily it was, so I could freshen up! I loved this little boutique hotel. The room was super cutesy. It was in a great little neighborhood with options close by and access to metros with a quick walk. The jet lag hit me, so I took a nap, then I got myself together to check out the Petit Palais. I hadn’t been before, and it was a super quick walk from where I stayed. Even better, it was free! Honestly, I wasn’t blown away, but it was nice to go somewhere different. It was one of the two museums I went to. There are a few others I still have on my list. It was a short weekend, so I wanted to have a good variety of activities and avoid museum fatigue. However, this area I stayed in had so many galleries, I wish I had checked some of them out! The highlight at the Petit Palais was a pastry I got at their cafe. A peach tart type situation. It was light, delicate, and delicious!

Then it was dinner time! I went to a small spot near my hotel called Pépins – Restaurant Bar à Vin Paris. It felt like an after-work hangout or low-key date night spot. Cozy place to grab a glass of wine and a light bite, very casual. I was actually pretty hungry by this point, and given that the menu was light, it didn’t hit the spot. I ended up ordering what was a plate of cut-up chicken filet that tasted frozen. The folks were nice, and I can see it being a good place to relax, but nothing that needs to be sought out. On the way back, I heard the music coming out of the jazz bar right next door to the hotel, Le Melville, so I decided to check it out. First night in Paris couldn’t be a complete bust.

I went in hoping I could grab a seat to listen to the music. It was packed, but luckily, there was one little table available. I was seated in a spot where I couldn’t see the musician, but figured I could still listen and enjoy. And it was a restaurant + bar. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this meal either, but at least I wasn’t hungry anymore. The couple next to me insisted on getting me seated so I could see the musicians, which was very sweet. Then they introduced themselves as the owners of the club. They were both so lovely. Chatted with me til they left and gave me some recommendations of things to do in the city. Finished out the set and a glass of wine, then took myself next door to have a great night’s sleep.

In all honesty, the overall day felt disheveled. Felt like I was striking out, and didn’t have things planned properly. I love a jazz club, having good conversations with interesting people, and a great glass of wine. So ultimately, I ended on a high note.

See you soon for the recap of Paris 2025 – Day 2!