La Vie en rose

Next step after the wedding--the honeymoon! Nic and I were so lucky to be able to go to one of the most romantic cities in the world--Paris--for our honeymoon, and it was incredible. It was my first time in Europe and I fell in the love with the architecture, the little shops and markets, the pastries...so much. We were able to see and do several things while we were in the City of Light (as well as some much-needed relaxing after the wedding festivities), so the pictures posted here are just a taste of what we did. "La Vie en rose" is a popular French song meaning "life through rose-coloured glasses" and that is pretty much
how the whole week went...:) (by the way, there is a version of this song by Madeleine Peyroux that Nic and I love--very Billy Holiday-esque, if you like that type of thing). So, on to the pics--through rose-coloured glasses. Up top, my first time on European soil--in the Paris airport--so exciting! The picture on the left is mine and Nic's first night in the city--you can capture a bit of the architecture behind us, but a picture really just can't capture it...










Silly Nic...we liked to play the "standing on the median in the middle of the street" game and take pictures, so it looked like we were in speeding traffic (yes, there are many more of these pictures--I spared you).






Eating ham and cheese baguettes on the steps of the Paris Opera House (Palais Garnier) at night. Very cool; the people just hang out on the steps at night, and you get a great view of the buildings downtown and get to people watch. Also, I could eat bread and cheese my whole life if it always came from France.









The Louvre! This shot is inside in the entryway, next to the downward pointing inverse pyramid, one of several of the lovely glass pyramids around/in the Louvre. They are all so huge and amazing to look at.









At the tip-top of the Eiffel Tower--GORGEOUS view, but very windy! From the top, you are able to see the whole city and it is amazing at night--the lights of the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, boats on the Seine river...so great.








Nic is at the top too, although getting a better view than I was:) So cute..







Back to the Louvre--this is more of the inside, which blew me away. I knew there were amazing things inside the museum, but I didn't realize the architecture of the museum itself was going to be so grand--although, since it was a palace first, I guess that makes sense...






Outside the Louvre--another shot of the grand architecture, from the outside, and the largest pyramid, which also serves as the entryway.







In Montmartre, an area in the north of Paris where the Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart) cathedral is. Another amazing and beautiful building and cathedral...










The view at the top of the Sacre Coeur--the hill is so high that you can see so much of the city from the top. More beauty.






A true moment of happiness--eating an amazing French pastry (pain au chocolat--a pastry with chocolate in the center, and powdered sugar and shaved almonds on the top) in front of the Arc de Triomphe--another beautiful architectural feat.

Me and Nic in front of the Arc de Triomphe--a better view.

Standing on the Champs Elysees--probably the most famous street in Paris, which has tons of great shopping, cafes, etc., not to mention beautifully layed out and lined with trees.

In front of the Notre Dame--doesn't Nic make such a cute Quasimodo? The Notre Dame may actually have been my favorite place to visit though. The Gothic architecture was beautiful, and we were there during Mass to hear an amazing choir in one of the most famous cathedrals in the world. Blew me away.

In short, we had an amazing time--great way to start our marriage:)