Oui Had a Time in Paris!

After a dreamy solo moment in Malta, I landed in Paris to meet up with my bestie Deashia for the kickoff of our Euro summer — and let me tell you, it was 5 days of croissants, confusion, and convincing ourselves we were fluent in French

Night One: Pink Mamma & Eiffel Sparkles

We hit the ground running with a reservation at Pink Mamma, a super popular spot that’s totally worth the hype. The truffle pasta? Life-changing. Like...I’m still thinking about it. And the vibes were just as good as the food — the bartenders kept the espresso martinis coming (shoutout to Dominico), and we laughed with the waiters like we were regulars.

After dinner, we took a classic late-night stroll to the Eiffel Tower, just in time to catch it sparkling. Cheesy? Maybe. Magical? Absolutely.

Our Stay

We actually stayed just outside Paris near CDG Airport and I weirdly loved it. Less hustle, more calm, and we were right next to Aeroville Mall, which became our accidental hangout spot. If you’re ballin’ on a Parisian budget, don’t sleep on the outskirts. But fair warning, if you're planning to take the CDG metro, prepare yourself for confused Uber drivers and even more confusing airport signs. Getting around takes a little patience and a lot of guessing.

Disneyland Paris: Rollercoasters & Regrets

Next up: Disneyland Paris, aka the day Deashia revealed she doesn't do roller coasters. She swears she told me. I swear she didn’t. Either way, I spent the day riding solo - thank goodness for single rider lines. I was having so much fun, but the ride photos made it look like I was fighting for my life — which definitely didn’t help my case when I tried to convince her to get on more rides. I did reluctantly drag her onto It’s a Small World, which is basically her speed (and punishment for the betrayal).

A Day in Brussels:

On our technical third day, we took a day trip to Brussels, Belgium, which isn’t just a charming little city — it’s actually where me and Deashia first met back in first grade. Our parents were stationed overseas in the military, and somehow, after all these years, we’ve stayed friends (with a brief reunion in sixth grade back in Texas that sealed the deal). So this day felt full-circle in the best way with a mix of nostalgia and snacks, just how we like it.

We ate our way through the city with Belgian waffles, chocolate, and fries (which, fun fact, actually originated in Belgium — sorry to this French fry). And yes, I drowned everything in mayo without an ounce of shame because when you’re in Belgium, it’s a personality trait, not a red flag.

We also wandered into a somewhat random comic book museum, which was slightly underwhelming… until we found the photo booth, which absolutely delivered. Balance was restored.

Tower Views, Totes & Tacos

By Day 4, we were totally wiped but still managed to get up and hunt down the perfect daytime Eiffel Tower pics. While wandering around, I spotted the chicest Parisian woman carrying the cutest tote bag, and naturally, I had to know where it was from. After some quick searching online, I found out it was from this trendy little store called Merci — a bit on the pricey side, but honestly, I convinced myself that tote was an absolute must-have. Sometimes you just gotta treat yourself, right?

That evening, Deashia booked us a table at Tarantula, a Mexican-French fusion spot that I wasn’t sure about at first. As a Texan who’s spent time in Mexico City and LA, my taco standards are pretty high. But baby… those tacos blew me away. They serve each taco a la carte, and I kept ordering one after another like the true big back I am. No regrets at all.

We wrapped up the night with a classic boat cruise on the Seine, taking in all the Parisian lights and vibes. Later, we hit up a bar called Verde, where we ended up chatting and making friends with some locals. So much for the  “the French are rude.”

Montmartre Moments

Our last day was all about Montmartre. I was on a mission to find this portrait artist I discovered on TikTok. Did I track him down? Yes. Did he capture my soul? Mmm… If Julia Roberts and I had a baby, maybe. I’ll just say he hasn’t quite figured out Afro features yet, but he tried. Kinda.

We wrapped things up by waving at the Louvre from the outside (I’ve seen Mona once and that’s enough) and wandering the stunning Luxembourg Gardens. Sprinkle in a hundred cafés, endless scoops of gelato, and not speaking a lick of French, and that’s Paris.

Au Revoir

Seeing Paris as an adult is totally different from going as a kid. The city feels more alive and layered, and honestly, it’s easy to see why people hype it up so much. There’s this cool mix of history, beauty, and energy that keeps things interesting. No matter how many times you come, there’ll always be something new to discover or a quiet spot to just soak it all in. I know this won’t be my last trip because there’s still so much I want to see — yep, Moulin Rouge, I’m coming for you next! Paris, you’ve definitely stolen a piece of my heart. Can’t wait to be back.