By design, my good friends Jan, Julie and I, ended our fabulous France trip in the City of Lights. I’ve been to Paris before, and so there wasn’t a lot of research needed for this portion of our trip. While the Eiffel Tower, L’Arc de Triomphe, Sacré Coeur and the Louvre may all seem cliché; there is a reason for that. They are marvelous attractions, unique in their own way, and visiting them never disappoints.

We stayed in a lovely little boutique hotel in the Latin Quarter, just around the corner from the Pantheon. Originally a church built to replicate the Pantheon in Rome, it is now a mausoleum that houses the remains of distinguished French citizens and boasts one of the most spectacular views of the city. The Latin Quarter is also home to numerous artists and incredible cafés and restaurants. We didn’t go hungry!

The French are particular about their public places and most museums and tourist sites boast beautiful gardens, that were luckily still in bloom during our visit.

While it was sad to acknowledge the damage of the fire to Notre Dame Cathedral, first hand, the Parisians are a plucky group, and plans for rebuilding have already begun. Although we couldn’t go inside for obvious reasons, the exterior is a still beautiful and cherished place.

Needless to say, Paris still charms and remains much the same as when I first visited the city with my grandmother at the age of 17. As fabulous as our perfect trip was, returning home to this magical part of the world at Golden Hill, and of course my kitties, is always heartwarming!