Paris Trip Day 1 | English Speaking Photographer in Paris, France

Yes that’s me the playful strawberry blonde English Speaking Photographer in Paris!

Ever dreamed of a place you never thought in your WILDEST dreams you would actually make it to?! That was Paris, France for me…Always in my dreams, but just a little too high in the sky to reach before this year. That’s right this past March I arrived in PARIS!!

It may not come as a surprise to most that ever since I was a little girl I have dreamed about gallivanting around the streets of Paris! This year an old friend, Lauren, was pursuing her dreams in fashion at the Fashion Institute of Paris. A light bulb flickered, it couldn’t have been better timing to reunite and visit my dream city thanks to the always sweet Lauren for having me and showing me around the city!!

I took over 4000 images…Yes Gasp. Thank god for digital. I wish most of these were film, but I won’t get on my rant or soap box about traveling with film. Since I loved this trip and these images so much I wanted to really take this blog around Paris. So I decided to split my travels as an english speaking photographer in Paris up into a few posts! I do hope you don’t mind 🙂 English is a great language however it’s pretty difficult to learn! My friend recommended for me to read this guide to learn English, howsoever I haven’t got round to using it yet. I tend to just listen to people speaking English and pick it up that way!!

Day 1:

My trip began at the Dulles airport at 5pm, yes that’s a red eye folks but it’s one of my best decisions! I had a little trouble falling asleep but thanks to a few kind Parisians I arrived in Paris at 8am and was ready for the day! One great big lesson I learned on this trip was to keep my mind open and my heart even more open…You never know who or what you will meet along your journey, so keep yourself open.

I knew only a bit more then the address I was heading to and that there was a blue door on the Rue du Croissant…A funny frenchman was a bit nervous for me, an American girl going to Paris alone, looking for a blue door on the rue du Croissant…He had never heard of it, but it did exist! Lauren promised me haha.

So the taxi pulls up and I’m there….I was absolutely exhausted but couldn’t help but walk around the city for a few hours before taking a cat nap…I kept just reminding myself, you are only here for 7 days Carly. Take. It. In. NOW! I went and got lost (the best way to learn your way around a new city in my opinion). I found a Starbucks and enjoyed my first Parisian Starbucks. Another tidbit, the coffee in Paris was not what I expected and all milk was condensed milk…very odd but worked for my caffeine boost…Just don’t go to Paris expecting a real Latte or Americano like Bean Rush Cafe brews, you will be let down. However I did find one little cafe up near Montmartre that filled that void, a 10 minute metro ride but worth the stop also! You’ll see the Kooka Boora later in my posts! They can be found on facebook too (https://www.facebook.com/CafeShopSouthPigalle/info) Look back for my trek to Montmartre.

Lauren in Paris - Blue Door - Rue du Croissant - Paris Photograph

Lauren at work in paris with her amazing leopard shoes! Paris Street Scene - Blue Smart Car - Paris Photograph Paris Street Scene - Photographer Reflection - Paris Photograph

My reflection in the first few hours in paris! Loved this city so much Paris Street Scene - Pastries in a window - Paris Photograph Paris Street Scene - Bistro in downtown Paris- Paris Photograph Paris Street Scene - Passageway - Paris Photograph

Passageways were like hidden treasures I found in the first hour. They seemed almost like tunnels through the busy streets of Paris. Photo studios, pastry shops, shoe polishing, and so many other unique boutiques were hidden here. Paris Street Scene - Passageway Art Gallery - Paris Photograph Paris Street Scene at Bistro Cafe - Paris Photograph Paris Street Scene - Paris Photograph - Local Parisian painter Parisian Architecture - Paris Photograph - Architecture Photographs

The Parisian people seem to be so used to the small beauties that are EVERYWHERE in their city! Amazing details on every building. Crazy Paris Street Scene - black and white photograph - Paris Photograph Paris Street Scene - Paris Photograph - Metro Station Paris Starbucks - english speaking photographer in Paris

To keep myself going I found a Starbucks to feel a bit of comfort in a city I couldn’t communicate in…A latte is a still a latte! 🙂 Paris Starbucks - english speaking photographer in Paris

It had just snowed the night before I arrived and there were still chairs and tables setup in the 40 degree weather for all those smokers in Paris. Pastry shop - english speaking photographer in Paris

Michael Jackson the King of Pop - english speaking photographer in Paris

Yes it seem that Michael Jackson is still idolized in Paris Paris Bike Share - english speaking photographer in Paris Paris snowy streets reflection - english speaking photographer in Paris

The snow was melting, boy this city stops for just an inch. Almost seemed worse than how Marylanders deal with snow and rain! Paris street crossing sign - english speaking photographer in Paris Rue du croissant - english speaking photographer in Paris Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris UPS Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris The Bourse Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris Paris Metropolitan transportation - english speaking photographer in Paris Turqouise bike - english speaking photographer in Paris

Gotta love this turquoise bike! Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris

The Rue du Croissant where Lauren lived!! Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris Graffiti Mural Paris photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris

Awesome graffiti that was down the street from Lauren’s flat…LOVE Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris

Inside the gates of Lauren’s blue doors was a small paradise in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Parisian culture Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris

This may seem like an odd photo but it’s an Emergency Vehicle or Fire Truck in Paris! How different looking right?! Night Photograph of Parisian bistro - Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris

I think my favorite time in Paris is at night…The lights are unreal and the streets and shops seem as though they were designed for the swanky evening crowd… Wish I could’ve watched these people for hours until the wee hours of the morning, but I was trying to rise and shine early to see as MUCH as I could! Night Photograph of Parisian boutique - Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris Night Photograph of Parisian children's boutique - Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris

Little Children’s boutique. Parisians realllllllly value their style especially for their children. These kids are better dressed than I could dream of dressing! Night Photograph of Lauren in the street - english speaking photographer in Paris

Night Photograph - Paris Architecture photograph - english speaking photographer in Paris

Paris Trip Day 1 | English Speaking Photographer in Paris, France

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