Pink in Paris

My first winter abroad in Europe, it is really cold. But, for the France aesthetic, I decided to ignore it for my longing for the color pink. I miss pink so much, but now she’s just not a part of my life anymore.  No pink flowers in the bushes. No pink clothing. No pink Maybelline matted lipstick since 2015. But, when I think of Paris, I think of pink because pink is the color of love and reflects the girliest of fashions. For this four day trip, I decided to act like I was on my way to the Fashion Week I will never be invited to while wandering around the city like Carrie Bradshaw, contemplating her relationship with the Russian.

Fashion

This coat saved my LIFE I’m not even fashionable, and most of my outfits were either bought in Madrid or brought from home (I’m 22 years old, a journalism graduate, STILL have to double check that I use those two words correctly). Believe it or not, I bought this coat for only 20 euros in kids’ sizes because I’m poor. Yet, it is easily passable as those colored fur coats that literally every European woman seems to be wearing  this winter except for me. Shout out to Primark, for making it look like I follow trends. It was my best friend on my trip, especially since it was very, very freezing.

Christmas

I didn’t do anything of substance on Christmas except take this picture in front of the giant Dior tree! This was my first Christmas abroad, and to be honest it felt weird being without my mom, but I ended the night at a bar, so it was cool I guess. The best part about Christmas in Paris were the near-empty streets. Actually, my Christmas was a giant blur after 10 PM, but the Latin Quarter area has a ton of cool bars and restaurants.

Pink Places

M 36 Cafe

This is one of the cutest coffee shops s/l/a/s/h bakeries I’ve been to in a while. The walls were completely pink and purple, the deserts were enjoyable to look at, and the decorations were super nice. I didn’t even plan on going here, but ended up stumbling here after a few hours of trying to find La Maison Rose.

La Maison Rose

I got yelled at for taking pictures of myself for over thirty minutes by one of the restaurant workers, but go off I guess. This is located in Montmartre, so it is not as crowded as the center. I really wanted to eat inside, but again, poor.

Rue Crémieux

These really colorful and cute walls are in a more suburban, quieter area of Paris. Whatever colorful aesthetic you’re trying to achieve, this is the place.

Moulin Rouge

Technically the Moulin Rouge is red, but in the evening it looks somewhat pink. Blanche, the area, is actually really cool and reminds me of the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Tons of topless bars and seedy tourists. At one point I walked into a bar and the lady was like, “You tryna work?” and I was like NOOOO, I just want a margarita, girl. But it made me happy that if I ever decide to become a stripper, I will be welcomed with open arms in Blanche, even as a foreigner. (I’m totally kidding, FYI).

Pink Mama

Also located in Blanche, this restaurant is beautiful, but a bit on the pretentious side. All of the basic girls make it a priority to come here, including me. I did not know that you had to be there at least two hours in advance in order to get a table on the top floor until this nice girl at a cafe I met earlier told me that you have to be there at least two hours earlier in advance in order to get a table on the top floor. I was a bit confused because I’ve waited in line at Olive Garden for around the same time, so I was like this restaurant had better be the best restaurant I will ever eat at in Paris. I will say, go just to say you did because the garden decorations are beautiful, but the food… ehhhh. The portions are absolutely bullshit for the prices and after two minutes of eating my truffle pasta, I regret not hitting up one of those Kebab places because at least I would have gotten full. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but come on now. This is toddler food.

Other pretty places in Paris

The Eiffel Tower

I mean this is kind of a duh. This is probably the first attraction you should see in Paris, but I made sure to visit when the weather wasn’t complete shit. I wish I had a nice ass DSLR camera, but instead I have my crappy iPhone 7, so my photos did not come out as high quality as I wanted them too, but for the best shot, go 228 Rue de l’Université street and you will see the Eiffel Tower in the very background.

The Eiffel tower was absolutely beautiful at sunset, so around 5 PM the sky was purple and pretty and perfect.

Palais du Luxembourg

I was actually disappointed with my pictures here because it was cold and I wanted to be indoors. If the skies were bluer, it would have been a lot more enjoyable for a picnic or any other activity that’s awkward to do by yourself, but alas it was grey, rainy and cold. Royal palaces are not that interesting to me anymore, but I know this place would have been gorgeous in the Spring/Summer.

Galerie Vivienne

All of the blogs said to go here. Built in 1823, it is the most famous covered arcade in Paris. It holds an array of shops and restaurants. I was here during Christmas, so everything was (extra festive).

Notre-Dame

It’s Quasimodo.

What she order?

Fish filet. Nah, besides Pink Mama, all I ate were kebobs and 20 euro boxes of macarons from Ladurée because Blair Waldorf season 4 episode 8 told me to and m o o d .

If you escaped what I escaped you’d be in Paris getting fucked up too.

I didn’t explore the city as much as I wanted to since I only had three full days, but the city itself is as charming as everyone says. People who I’ve talked to, they either said that Paris is the most gorgeous place they’ve ever been to in their entire existence or that it is a completely overrated shithole filled with terrifying French people and ginormous rats. I’m leaning more towards the first, but I think everyone romanticizes Paris to an extent, so you’ll either force yourself to love it or hate it. The next time I come, it will be in the summer and with a cute boy to take pictures with me in front of the Eiffel tower.