parcels from paris.

there's no question about it: my sister knows me.

a coffee cup from the louvre.

a french copy of dracula.

an inky navy & cream summer scarf.

she couldn't have brought better gifts back over the atlantic with her.

as i settle into my shreveport summer routine, 

kara will be drafting a post reflecting on her 

parisian travels, which i am excited to share!

read more about kara's adventures in paris:

kara in paris + my random european wishlist.

kara in paris: the grand mosque + saint eustache.

travel notes: a smattering of likes & dislikes.

photos: european pressies from kara \ iphone

travel notes: a smattering of likes & dislikes.

as i've learned through kara's experience, when traveling abroad, there are perks upon perks upon perks. hopping the pond does have its setbacks, however. today i am sharing kara's likes & dislikes of overseas travel in paris, france. i will definitely consult this list when i get the opportunity to travel abroad!

'things i love:

- macaroons [i've had caramel & chocolate so far]

- le marais area

- people-watching everywhere

- kinder candy [tastes like nutella in a chocolate candy bar]

- the monoprix [the one in my neighborhood is like brookshires to me]

- parisian style [this mainy consists of conservative dress. neutral colors, cigarette pants, hi-tops or boots, wide-rimmed glasses, & messy hair]

- how it stays light here until 10:30 p.m.

- the graffiti [it is everywhere - that's why i'm writing my research paper about it. it's obviously important to the people here]

things i don't like:

- getting lost on the metro [realizing you're going the wrong direction as the doors close]

- tripping up the stairs in promod and two french girls laughing at me

- having trouble ordering food at restaurants

- not having access to a dryer

- completely unpredictable weather'

i love that we have been able to communicate while she's overseas. for some reason, i had this idea that we weren't going to be able to be in contact at all. silly me, it is the twenty-first century, after all.

read more about kara's adventures in paris:

kara in paris + my random european wishlist.

kara in paris: the grand mosque + saint eustache.

photos: le petit palais, graffiti, & new kicks, paris, france \ courtesy of kara

kara in paris: the grand mosque + saint eustache.

in recent days, i've taken to firing up facebook in the early afternoon & checking out the photos my sister has uploaded, chronicling her adventures in paris that day. the photo above was captured at the grand mosque, where there is beautiful mosaic tiling. yesterday, she featured some breathtaking photos of saint eustache, which have me jonesing for a paris trip of my own, if only to tour this beautiful church.

a note from kara about saint eustache:

'there were hardly any people in there. when we went to notre dame, it was practically wall-to-wall people. the fact that saint eustache is so beautiful (even more beautiful in my opinion than notre dame) and it was practically empty in there was astounding. i enjoyed it because i got to admire it in peace and quiet without people pushing past me. it's definitely a place that everyone should go.'

i find that the sheer size of saint eustache is amazing. as my mom pointed out regarding the photo above, 'the people look so small.' as i spoke with my mom on the phone about these photos, we marveled at how long ago this structure was built, as well as the lack of modern machinery - you've got to give the builders credit for creating something so large, without modern-day conveniences. the whole idea of it is immense.

read more about kara's adventures in paris:

kara in paris + my random european wishlist.

photos: the grand mosque & saint eustache, paris, france \ courtesy of kara

kara in paris + my random european wish list.

my sister is in paris, france! i am extremely jealous of her, but also extremely excited. luckily, she has been able to upload some photos to facebook, so i thought i would share some of them here. while she's there, i plan to share little updates here & there about what she's doing & where she's going.

above she can be viewed jet-laggedly posing in front of the fontaine de saint michel. not only is this kara's first trip overseas, it was also her first experience flying. ever. she describes the jet lag as follows:

'hopefully i will feel normal again soon & not like 

some monster who feels like they're constantly swaying.'

from what she told me, it sounds like she has quite the picturesque paris experience mapped out. i can't wait to write more about her adventures, & of course, share her photos [and let the jealousy continue].

that's right. when my sister asked me what i wanted her to pick up 

for me while she was off galavanting in paris, i responded:

'a light, floral print summer scarf... or a chic, vintage cross body bag.'

photo: fontaine de saint michel, paris, france \ courtesy of kara