A Tale of Two Capitals - Paris & London

The Grand Finale: Parisian Lights and London Calling (Sep 28 – Oct 6)

Bonjour, Paris! Tiny Rooms, Big Adventures (Sep 28 - Oct 2)

We hopped on a quick flight from Barcelona and landed in Paris—cue the nostalgia! For Meghann, it was a throwback to exactly 24 years, 1 month, and 17 days ago (yes, we’re counting). Back then, you’d hand over your passport for a hotel key and basically never leave the building. This time, we eagerly checked into what might be the tiniest room in Paris—but hey, it was cute, and that’s what counts! For the next five nights, the Marais neighborhood in the 3rd arrondissement was our home base, and we were ready to conquer Paris one step at a time.

Previous trips? All about the Metro. This trip? We decided to walk everywhere for a fresh perspective. Naturally, our first “cultural” stop was a Parisian bar broadcasting the Vikings game. Priorities, right? We missed the first couple of games because apparently, VPNs aren’t just for tech nerds—they’re for football fans abroad. Lesson learned.

Day 1: The Accidental Marathon

Meghann planned a scenic stroll past the Pompidou, through the Louvre (yes, the one with the recent heist—lots of construction, perfect cover-up), down the Champs-Élysées, and ending at the Arc de Triomphe. Chris didn’t get the memo and decided this was his running route. So he did it twice. Because why not? We climbed to the top of the Arc for the first time—Meghann swore there was an elevator. Spoiler: there wasn’t. Vertical cardio, anyone?

Day 2: Fire, Bridges, and Laundry Magic

We revisited Notre Dame for the first time since the fire—haunting and beautiful. Scored sunset tickets for the tower (double win!). Then we wandered to Pont Neuf, the “new” bridge that’s actually the oldest, as it’s where we got engaged 24 years ago. Of course, Meghann made Chris fake-propose again. Romantic… and slightly awkward for passersby.

Then came the laundromat adventure. A kind Frenchman saw us struggling with instructions and swooped in like a detergent superhero. He even gave us soap because “the machine soap doesn’t work.” Refused payment. So much for the rude French stereotype—Meghann’s never met a rude Parisian, and Chris agrees.

Clean clothes in hand, we hopped on the Batobus for a river tour before dinner near the Eiffel Tower. Picture-perfect planning: on 9/30, the tower lit up pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and did its sparkly thing. We waited 15 minutes after sunset and—bam!—magic. One hour, once a year. Nailed it.

Day 3: Catacombs and Fashion Week

Next day: the catacombs. Creepy, fascinating, and a must-see. Then our Notre Dame tower climb at sunset—new spire, old staircases, and views that make you forget your legs are jelly. Wrapped up with Marais nightlife during Fashion Week—pop-up shops, parties, and more chic than we could handle.

Final Day: Street Art, Hats, and Protests

Final day: Belleville street art scavenger hunt. Found fresh graffiti and plenty of political statements. Then zipped back to the Eiffel Tower because Chris needed a hat. Metro ride, café stop, and surprise—military everywhere. Turns out the tower was shut down due to protests. We hustled back to Le République, which is basically protest HQ. Calm vibes, but the statue got a graffiti makeover overnight. Our concierge shrugged: “Happens all the time.” Paris, you never disappoint.

The Sites: Notre Dame, Pompidou, Catacombes, The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, Laverie Libre Service, Parthenon, Belleville Street Art, Forum Des Halles, Champs Elysee

The Tastes: The Moose, The Great Canadian, Café Au Pere Tranquille, Temple and Chapon, Café Berry, Brasserie Des Champs, Batuo Bus, Point Neuf – Engagement Location, Lock Bridge, Chez Aiewy, Le Amourettes, Coffee Specialty Coffee, Le Café du Rendez Vous, McDonalds, Café de la poste, La Terrasse, Arena Cafe

The Chunnel & London (Oct 3-5)

Paris to London in style—via the Chunnel! 186 miles per hour and 35 minutes of pitch-black tunnel under the sea. Sounds like a horror movie, but really, it’s just a bucket-list item we finally checked off. Neither of us had done the Chunnel before, so Meghann went full travel-strategist: booked a four-seater, snagged both forward-facing seats, and—bonus—no strangers across from us. Motion sickness avoided, dignity intact.

We rolled into London and checked into the Shangri-La, where we were greeted with welcome drinks supporting breast cancer awareness. Cheers to that! Then it was straight across the street to Borough Market for what might be the best sandwich in existence. No, really—it’s called “The Best One.” And yes, it lives up to the hype. We discovered this gem last year during the Vikings game and have been sending family there ever since. If you go, trust us: get the sandwich.

Purple Pride Takes Over London

The rest of the night and the next day? All Vikings, all the time. We met up with fellow fans and friends from Minnesota to gear up for Sunday’s game. Game day delivered: amazing seats right behind the Vikings bench, a win for the team, and even a wave from Ziggy Wilf. (We’re counting that as a personal victory.)

Six Weeks, Countless Memories

And just like that, our six-week adventure wrapped up with a bang. We came home with a deeper love for travel—and a crystal-clear realization: we are cruise people. Crystal Cruises, you’ve spoiled us, and yes, we’ll be back. Maybe even for that world cruise we keep whispering about. Stay tuned.

The Sites: The Power Station, Borough Market, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium