The locks on the Pont de l’Archevêché are clinking. Je t’aime is spewing from every mouth. Girls on the metro carry bouquets of roses from their beaux. It’s Valentine’s weekend in la Ville de l’Amour.

A few weeks before, I was joking with the other American students about having a weekend getaway in Paris for V-day. Little did I know, everyone would like the idea and we would all end up in Paris for the weekend.

One of my friends has an apartment in Puteaux, just right outside Paris, so he let me and a few others crash there for the weekend. The inside of the flat was beautiful, and the view was even better: from the kitchen balcony you could see La Défense, the economic center of Paris, and from my bedroom, you got the most beautiful view of the Eiffel Tour.

The next three days were a perfect mix of visiting tourist attractions and casually strolling the Parisian streets. 

Of course, I visited the typical Paris hot spots: l’Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Moulin Rouge, and the love-lock bridge. There was even a full moon on the night I climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Everything was as awesome as you would expect it to be. Pictures don’t do my weekend justice, and neither do words.

As grand as these attractions were, I preferred just strolling the streets and experiencing everything on a whim.

We had three whole days so I wasn’t in any rush. As I made my way down Champs Élysées, I entered into every cute little store. On my way to the Sacré-Cœur, I’m pretty sure I went into five different patisseries.

That was probably the best part of Paris: the food. I tried the famous macaroons of Ladurée, cakes and truffles from Un Dimanche à Paris, bisquits from Montmarte, and Thai food in Chinatown.

If I had to do it again, though, I’d go back and just let the city lead me. Don’t get me wrong. If you’re ever in Paris, don’t miss out on the museums, churches, and architecture. If you have the time, though, spend a few days just aimlessly wandering. Stroll through Jardin des Tuileries. Read a book in the Jardin du Luxembourg. Eat a churro and watch the sunset from the Concorde. Take a detour down le Passage de Joeffroy.

That’s where the treasures of Paris lie: in the unsuspecting side streets and hole-in-the-wall bakeries.

 There is no wrong way to do Paris, but if I ever go back, I’ll know how to do it better.