My Healthy Obsession for Paris

I believe for anyone who has not yet experienced walking along the streets in Paris, or exploring the villages in Southern France, it’s impossible to understand the passion the rest of us have for this amazing country.

For me, it began in my teens while an exchange student in Germany. I was fortunate to visit a friend just outside of Paris, who led me on an express visit to learn and appreciate everything about French life.

My first morning consisted of French pastries and coffee… I was immediately hooked. The adventure just got better by the minute: a local’s guide to Paris followed by a 4-day drive through the country and to the coast.

As cliché as it may sound, walking along the Seine for the first time, glancing up to see Notre-Dame, dining at a café by the Arc de Triomphe and then having yet another pastry at night looking up at the Eiffel Tower all had a very large impact on me.

Never have I experienced a more awe-inspiring city that made me only want to spend more time getting to know this country. Being both a ‘foodie’ and ‘shopaholic’, I found Paris to offer more indulgences that I could properly appreciate and enjoy.

My following days exploring the small villages and seaside towns furthered my obsession with the country, learning more of the love of life they possess and learning from the surprisingly friendly and kind people I met along the way.

Since that first visit to France, I always get excited at the opportunity to spend more time in this fantastic country, or even find a way to experience their rich culture and zest for life through festivals, activities and the arts while in the US, or to simply indulge in a delicious French meal with a glass of red wine.

So, while my love for the French life borders obsession, for anyone who has not been able to spend a day walking the streets of Paris, I encourage you to add this to your “bucket list” – you will not be disappointed.