In 2018, I was so grateful to be able to travel to these amazing cities. I was able to experience European culture and see awe inspiring scenery firsthand. In this Blog, I will share my favorite aspects from Paris and Milan.
FOOD
The food in Milan was amazing. I had so many different traditional Italian meals from Pasta to Gelato to Risotto. There wasn’t one meal that I was disappointed with while I was there.
As far as Paris, I was shocked when I went due to the significantly smaller portions that were served. In the time that I was there, I had a lot of different breads like Baguettes, French Sourdough, and Croissants. I even indulged in the sweet side of it with macaroons and eclairs that were delicious. But as far as meals and main courses, the selection was limited. And from that selection, it was not as up to par as the food I had in Milan.
TOURISM
One of the main reasons I was excited to go to Paris and Milan is because each are known as Fashion Capitals of the world. While in Paris, I was fortunate enough to go to a fashion museum and a fashion show. I was also very excited to go shopping and I did just that. I shopped everywhere from vintage boutiques to exclusive fashion designers. But aside from the shopping, the people were extremely welcoming. They understood that it’s a very big tourist city so they tried to be welcoming and make me feel as comfortable as possible. Their willingness to do this was exemplified through compliments, common courtesy, and even helping me navigate through the city. I was very appreciative of their kind gestures as it enhanced my overall experience. As far as accommodations, the hotel I stayed at was very nice. The only downside was that the breakfast was not as good as I’d hoped, and the rooms were very different from American hotels. This isn’t atypical considering I was in a different country, but it was definitely an adjustment.
In Milan, I was also excited to do a lot of shopping. We visited Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark of Milan. Not only did I get purchase a real Italian leather purse here but I also got to buy it from the country that it was manufactured in! In regards to the hotel we stayed at, the aesthetic was beautiful, especially the rooftop that overlooked the entire city of Milan. Additionally, the people were also very understanding and helped in any way possible. Some even took it upon themselves to give us a little tour of the city. It was funny, heartwarming, and definitely entertaining. Alternatively, a major downfall of the trip was learning that while in foreign countries you have to be SUPER cautious with your belongings or they will get stolen. Unfortunately, one of the girls with me on the trip got her phone stolen while it was right next to her. So that was certainly a learning lesson not just for her, but for everyone. But otherwise, Milan did not disappoint!
SCENERY
In Paris, I toured many different museums and exhibits. I visited the Notré-Dame Cathedral, The Louvre Museum( the world’s largest museum and home to the Mona Lisa), Île de la Cité (an island in within the city of Paris), Palais Galleria (a Fashion Museum), The Champs-Élysées, and Pont des Arts bridge (the Love Lock bridge). I soaked in the experience of every place I visited in Paris and was especially amazed by the museums and exhibits. From the scenery, to the places, to the overall lifestyle embodied in Paris, it was a place that captured my heart, instantly! These aspects of my trip are ultimately what made me fall in love and made my Parisian excursion unforgettable.
The city of Milan was very beautiful as well. I got to visit The Teatro alla Scala (an opera house), The Milan Cathedral, Quadrilatero della Moda (an upscale shopping area), and Lake Como. The structure of the places I visited were so uniquely built and breathtaking, especially the surrounding areas of Lake Como. I genuinely appreciated the city of Milan, its incredible buildings, echoing art, and it’s one of a kind culture. These aspects of the trip certainly made my experience wonderful as well. But I will have to say that Paris bumped it up just a notch.
Overall, my takeaway from both cities were unforgettable and I was so blessed to be able to go. But, I will have to say that my pick goes to Paris. It truly surpassed anything I could’ve imaged. Nonetheless, Milan was still an undoubtedly beautiful city that I would encourage everyone to go!
