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Girls’ Trip!

By Lillian E. · Lillian Engel Archive

So many posts have been sitting in my drafts! I got so busy with the end of term and wrapping up my little Paris life, that I lost track of journaling. Here we are, mid-November 2024 checking back in.

“Paris is always a good idea” – me, to my family. Also Audrey Hepburn in the movie Sabrina.

Remember that one bad day I had n January where I called my mom because I felt like I didn’t understand French? It was like calling for reinforcements. On Tuesday, February 20th, she arrived in Paris with not one sister, but both of my sisters and my cousin! Yippee!!

They landed at 6am so that’s when I peeled myself out of bed and joined some early Parisian commuters in line for pastries at the local boulangerie so I could meet everybody at the rental apartment (Vrbo) with fresh croissants!

Taking full advantage of the opportunity, I also arrived with the entirety of my school uniform wardrobe and used their washing machine to clean it while we were out (then ironed everything and this is me shoving it all- folded- back into my bag).

And then in a grand attempt to fight off jet lag, we went for a walk- diving headfirst into the Marais (a classic choice for getting lost in skinny streets).

We popped into some shops here and there while we waited for restaurants to start serving lunch. I bought some “caramel” tea and honestly, as good as it tastes, it smells even better. Maybe I’ll just leave it in my car like an air freshener.

We also went back to the hotel that served as the first place the three of us ever stayed in Paris (minus one, which just means we’ll have to come back again, duh).

And we walked…

And walked…

Making frequent stops for food and a glass of wine, or two.

My host mother was so kind to invite us all over for tea in the afternoon, so I got to share my neighborhood with my family. They were very excited to see where I live.

Because you can never eat enough in Paris, we also went to dinner (much later), and much closer to the Eiffel Tower.

And we took a nighttime Seine cruise. Our favorite part was waving back at people on the banks of the river and on the bridges as we went under them. Some groups got really into it!

Unfortunately for me, jet lag ultimately won out and the family went to bed early. Fortunately, they pulled out their couch and let me stay with them! Every girl loves a big, giant, Paris sleepover 😉