Paris is one of my favorite places, after living there for a year I discovered so many amazing things about the city of lights! I found some great restaurants and bars while exploring with friends and learned a lot about the architecture and history of the city in my classes at l'Institut Catholique. So here are some of my favorite things from Paris! (Not my photos)

it seems that everywhere you go in Paris there is an amazing church or cathedral! They all have so much history and intricate detail. Some of my favorite churches are Notre Dame (of course), the Sacre Coeur, Saint Severin , Saint Sulpice, the Pantheon and La Sainte Chappelle. 

Paris is the fashion capital of the world, and parisians feel responsible for showing this to the world by dressing in their most fashionable clothes even to go grocery shopping. This means that flip flops, sweat pants and frumpy sweaters are a difinite no-no! Luckily I had my french sidekick and roommate, Lise, to warn me of this evertime I almost mistakenly slipped out of the house wearing my comfy Ugg boots or leggings with a shirt just long enough to cover my butt. By the end of my time living in France, my American-ness practically completely faded and I had become obsessed with shopping for the latest trend! Luckily I got out of there before I spent all of my money on leather boots and scarves. Beware! Fashion in Paris is like fast food in America...

P.S. My all time favorite clothing store is Zara! It's way too expensive in America but somewhat reasonable in France. Oh and Mango is also awesome!  

If you go to Paris, expect to gain a lot of weight, because the food here is amazing! With boulangeries and patisseries on virtually every corner in Paris, it is impossible to resist buying a pain au chocolat, tarte au framboise or an opera at each one! These pastries are so unique and delicious, varying from chocolatey layered cakes to fruity glazed tartes. There are so many choices!! My advice is to try everything at least once and work it off when you get home. Trust me, it's worth it!
If you dont know what macarons are, you have not lived. I hadn't until I lived in Paris. I first heard of La Duree in a song called "Ca m'ennerve" by Helmut Fritz, talking about how people wait in line for hours at La Duree just for a macaron. So one day I decided to check it out, and I fell in love with these tiny colorful treats. Although they might not look as apetizing as chocolate cake, looks can be deceiving. Macarons have a very unique texture and flavor unlike any other sweet treat around. A trip to La Duree is an absolute must while in Paris! 
Crepes are a whole different story! I could literally eat a crepe for every meal, everyday for the rest of my life. Crepes are the reason that I gained twenty pounds while I lived in Paris. But this is also because I found the most amazing little creperie right near the bar that I worked at in St. Michel called La Creperie St. Andre. Definitely go for the crepe au nutella! 

P.S. If your a coffee fan, try an espresso with your treat; bold and delicious!

I was 18 when I first moved to Paris, and coming from a small city in New York I was pleasantly surprised by all the fun things to do at every hour in this big city, especially at night. There are so many fun bars and clubs in paris, where a good time is garaunteed. I never thought I could stay at a club until 7 o'clock in the morning until went to a club in Paris. The music is amazing, usually some form of David Guetta techno remixes, and it's always fun to meet new people. The best nights to go out are thursdays, where most clubs have Erasmus nights for foreign students. 
My favorite area for the best bars with the best ambiance is St. Michel, although I may be a little bias. This is the home of the infamous Latin Corner, where beefy male servers strip down to their underwear to create a classy strip club like atmosphere. 
Some of my favorite bars in St. Michel are Ze bar (of course), Latin Corner, Pub St. Michel, Hideout, and Georges Cafe. 
The best clubs for an all night long dance party are Mix, Palais Maillot, Duplex, Showcase and 1515.
Make sure to dress to impress, otherwise you might not make it inside.

My first Christmas in France was an unforgettable experience. The three day celebration began with an extra fancy aperitif with the whole french family including endless glasses of champagne, smoked salmon and eel. This of course lasted for at least an hour as the french would never dare to hurry with their celebrations and present opening. The next course  was the famous homemade Pate de Lapin, which everyone had been raving about for months before. I wasn't too sure how to feel about this; before going to France I was disgusted by the idea of rabbit liver being turned into a spread to eat at only the fanciest of meals. But after learning more about the french culture and forcing down out of good manners, I aquired a taste for pate and foie gras and was also quite excited for the Christmas appetizer. It turned out to be delicious (in small quantities). Next came the main course which consisted of some sort of game drenched in a delicious sauce and lots of potatoes. By this time my stomach was already started to bulge, little did I know there were still three more courses! As much as I love some high quality french cheese, I could only manage to have a small piece of delicious roblochon before moving on to the Buche de Noel, the dessert that I had been waiting for since I first learned what it was. This traditional ice cream cake is eaten on Christmas by families across France. It comes in many different flavors and there are usually more than one at the table. I could probably eat a whole one. Once you think the whole thing is over, the family sat around the table talking over coffee for another hour before dispersing to play with new gifts, nap or clean up. Although this all took place on Christmas eve and few celebrations occured on the actual holiday, it was an amazing cultural experience that I look forward to each year.

Paris is filled with parks and promenades where most parisians spend their sunday afternoons. I spent alot of my time in Paris exploring the parks of each arrondisement, soaking up the afternoon sun with my camera and a baguette. If you have alot of time to spare, try to check out as many parks as possible (they're great for picnics!). If not, stick to the Luxombourg Gardens and Les Tuileries. 
Each year, the city of lights holds tons of annual events. Here are a few big ones:
La Nuit Blanche (October): Get ready to stay up all night and explore the city lit up with abstract art and performances.
La Fete de la Musique (June): Another all nighter, Paris turns into one giant night club as musicians of all kinds fill the streets and perform for free.
New Years Eve: Gather at the Eiffel Tower for a crazy night and a beatiful firework display.
Paris Plage (July): The Quais of the seine transform into sandy beaches for those who decided to spend their summer vacation at home.
Bastille Day (July): France's independance day is celebrated with parades and fireworks.
Marche au Chocolats/Salon de Chocolat (November): Free Chocolate!!!

After moving from one of Europe's biggest and brightest cities to Potsdam, New York, I realized how many amazing things there are to do in Paris, and how little there are here in Potsdam! Even after living in Paris for a year I still have an enormous to do list for each time I go. One of my favorite things to do is shop, but I usually dont have much money (as in never); however, there is a period of about 3 weeks in February and June when everything is on sale everywhere! It's amazing, but beware of the crowds! Some other fun things to do include holiday festivities such as ice skating, seeing the window decorations and the grands magasins and going to holiday markets. If there is no holiday coming up, look up salons, expositions at museums or concerts. There is always something going on and the museums have some amazing artwork that is a must see when in Paris.

If you are planning a trip to Paris, or any other big city in Europe for that matter, be prepared to spend a lot of money. You usually lose some already when exchanging to euros, but be sure to check the exchange rate before you leave so you know how much your actually spending. Expect things to be more expensive, from water bottles to apartments. 
Tip: if you are planning to move to Paris and are low on cash, look for a live-in nanny position or student Foyers. If your good with kids, you could babysit for a few hours a week in exchange for a nice place to live with a family (they love english speakers). Although foyers may not be the nicest place to live, its with other students and usually in a nice area.
Tip: if you are planning a night out with friends, buy a cheap bottle of wine to share along the quais before going to the bars. This way, you wont buy as many overpriced drinks at the bars and clubs afterwords. 

I saved the best for last! Lets start with monuments because there are so many! The Eiffel Tower, L'Arc de Triomphe, Le Louvre, Les Invalides, Place des Vosges, Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur, Place de La Concorde and many more, (including the multiple hotels of the Marais) are all breath taking and unique monuments that add to the romantique Parisian ambiance.  Another thing that adds to this is the beautiful Haussmannian architecture making almost every building and street of Paris feel like a piece of history. The Bridges are another amazing addition to the city, each one having its own style and story. 
The museums in Paris alone are reason enough to take a trip there. If you are a fan of Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh and Dali like me, you have found your paradise. I am not particularly fond of the Louvre, but there are many other fantastic museums to check out such as the Musee d'Orsay, Pompidou, the Grand and Petit Palais, L'Orangerie, Musee Moderne de Paris, Musee Rodin, Versailles and try the aquarium or Musee Grevin for something a little more exciting.
Tip: Alot of museums give discounts or free passes to foreign students

P.S. if your up for a day trip to Giverny, check out Monet's garden, where he painted his famous waterlillies and weeping willows. The best time to go is a spring or fall morning when the flowers are still in bloom and there aren't too many tourists.