We were packed like an excited bunch of sardines in the van, which provided transportation from the airport to the youth hostel in Paris. However, not only did our driver arrive late, but his “van” had the cargo space of a Smart Car. Ten large suitcases plus ten carry on bags and the occasional personal item were crammed into the van, along with the ten passengers and driver. The trip from the Charles de Gaul Airport, just outside of Paris, to the Adventiat Catholic Youth Hostel in the heart of Paris took about 40 minutes.

The lanes are small and the cars are smaller. Even the “big” cars could not compare to a Chevrolet Suburban. Motorcyclists zip in between lanes and the traffic moved at turtle pace even with the constant honking of horns.

The hostel lobby was cozy and chic, and the room shared by all five girls was light and airy with a great view of the street. However, the hostel does not provide amenities. So that means we make our own beds and bring our own soap and towels. Having no hand soap was a gross obstacle!

Right after we dropped off our luggage, it was time to hit the town. We walked down the Seine River and enjoyed amazing views of the architecture and we could start to see the Eiffel Tower in the distance through the fog.

Our first stop was at a tiny boulangerie, called Le Pain Boulanger. Our mouths watered over glass displays of fresh tartes, sandwiches, wraps, cheeses and a multitude of beautiful desserts. Freshly pressed juices sat cooling in the corner.

After being rushed through the counter by a hungry crowd of people behind us, we sat down at the cafe tables just outside the restaurant. My tarte fromage (cheese soufflé) was so delicious I practically melted with my first bite and the dessert was so pretty I didn’t want to eat it.

Cafe culture is religiously practiced by Parisians and it is easy to understand why. We sat and “people-watched” and couldn’t take our eyes off of the surrounding architecture.

There was a slight hiccup involving a passport, but it did not stand in the way of our packed itinerary. Making our way through the streets and avoiding bustling traffic and people was a challenge with our group, but our view of the Eiffel Tower increased with each step.

The Eiffel Tower cuts through the Paris landscape and looms over the surrounding areas, each of its bases were roughly the size of a house. I could not stop looking up and I have about 200 pictures, but there were so many angles and features I could have taken 200 more.

Our elevator ride to the top was not kind to those with a fear of heights. Au Sommet, the third level with an observation deck, is the highest you can go at 180 meters. Equipped with a champagne station and mounted binoculars, it has the best view of Paris.

After descending, we took a stroll to the Seine and enjoyed a water tour on the Bateaux Mouche. The wind was brutally cold but the sights were worth the frozen fingers and toes.

An hour break and we were off to the metro, our destinations: dinner and the Louvre. We ate at Chez Claude, a typical French restaurant with a menu to match. For appetizers, we had a jambon (ham) salad and escargot. The escargot came in the shells with fancy tongs used to help you steadily scoop out the meat. After working up the bravery to try it, it tasted more like salt than anything else.

Our dinner was capped off with an assortment of desserts including apple tarte and tiramisu. All of the meals and desserts looked and tasted like culinary masterpieces.

It was a short walk from Chez Claude to the Louvre. The night visit was worth the fatigue; the building was lit from bottom to top and the Louvre Pyramid glowed in the center of the courtyard.

We glided through enormous rooms of marble in the sculpture wing and viewed 17th century paintings, observing the artwork like Ferris Bueler. Most of my camera roll storage is devoted to this experience. We could have spent hours in the Louvre and still not have seen everything.

It was a short trip on the metro and a quick walk through Paris to the hostel. After we said good night to parents and friends, it was a collective rush to the room where we were more than ready to climb into our bunk beds and sleep.