A Long Weekend in Paris, August 2019

We arrived in Paris in mid-August and immediately went out to explore the streets. It was late afternoon, and the city was bustling with traffic on the cobblestone roads. It was warm enough to walk around in a dress, just taking in the grand old buildings and the general atmosphere.

The classic view of the Eiffel Tower was from a distance, over the Parisian rooftops. The sky was overcast that day, making the tower's dark metal frame stand out. I spotted a hot air balloon drifting in the distance, a small white dot against the gray clouds.

The next day was bright and sunny, and we made our way to the Louvre. The main courtyard was packed with people from all over the world, all gathered around the iconic glass pyramid. The scale of the old palace wings surrounding the modern entrance is something you can't really grasp from photos. We walked around the exterior, past the crowds and the equestrian statues, before joining the long queue to get inside. It was a classic, busy, European summer tourist experience.