Paris

Exploring the fabled rues of Paris is a thing of my dreams. To be able to do it with my sisters was just the cherry on top. We biked in the rain to gaze at the spectacle of the Eiffel Tower glittering in the downpour. We gorged ourselves on Lauduree macarons and lazed on blankets by Montmatre at sunset. I practiced my french and got us some rollerblades. We zoomed along the cobbled streets and stored the blades while we entered museums housing Van Gogh and Monet and modern artists like Balincourte and Buren.

Picking through flea markets and holding my awe in while we meandered the fresh food markets sticks in my memory from this trip. I'd been told Parisians and the French in general are utterly unwelcoming and visibly snooty. I was met with courteous strangers and helpful shop owners. They seemed absolutely tickled as I used my broken French to asked when they closed and how much was it for the croissant. Take this opportunity to learn a few phrases and show the locals you're interested in communicating with them in their mother tongue.