p a s s i o n

i’ve been in Paris for just over a week now. it’s such a trip that this is my last month of travelling!! like where has the time gone, but also it feels like a million years since i’ve been home?? peeps always say you come home from a trip and it’s like nothing’s changed, but actually i feel like a lot has changed for me. what bums me out is the things that haven’t changed and they should, like if people are unhappy or in a dead end relationship or job. i wasn’t in either of those things - i actually loved my life - but this trip has just made me such a strong believer that if you aren’t genuinely happy with your life, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. you only have yourself to blame if you’re not livin a 10/10. my trip has been so incredible and it feels so good to be independently happy. i just want everyone to pick their passion (or their peace, or their play) and do that. NO SETTLING. OKAY??? okay.i’ve been to Paris 3x before but only for like 3 days each time. this leg is about soaking in these butterflies in the city that i love (as evidenced by my Eiffel Tower cheese grater, soap dispenser x2, pillows, etc) and learning it inside out. past the Eiffel Tower and Tuileries Garden (although still some classic faves) i want to explore every arrondissement, get to know the locals, eat a croissant every day (so far, success), brush up on my francais. i want to take my time and have cafés on terraces, and read my book in the park. when i first came in 2012 i saw a girl reading on those Parisian green chairs in the Tuileries Garden and i thought, i want her life.this was me yesterday - dreams do come true guys:

so far my Parisian life has been in 3 parts.1. the Ritz

Courtney and i met at Tara’s stagette a few years ago (which i randonly crashed in Vegas) and we’ve only hung out a couple times but we both love Paris and positivity. good vibes. i am so happy she reached out and was able to meet me in Paris. for various reasons lol but i can’t wait to reunite when i’m back in Van!!by some insane stroke of platonic luck we were treated to staying at the most gorgeous hotel in the freaking world. the Ritz Paris. i arrived after 24 hours (or 48, however you wanna look at it) at 1am, down $800, flight delayed, bag lost in Moscow, tears streaming down my face. walk into the Ritz like this. somehow i am in the Ritz, the Eiffel Tower is effing SPARKLING FROM OUR BALCONY and i put on the coziest peach robe because i have no clothes, and all will be okay.that was a lot.the Ritz has gold swans for faucets, a heated towel rack, everything is fluffy and peach (it was used to compliment their pale skin back in the day), a dreamy Parisian terrace, a bed that was fit for Marie Antoinette. THE STAFF IS INSANELY NICE. shout out to Greta for being an absolute doll on the phone and Johan for calling Air France every 15 mins to get my bag, and rolling his eyes and saying “The French”. i think we are bff but for some reason he didn’t invite me to stay longer.The history here is insane. Coco Chanel lived there for 33 years, as she started up Chanel just down the street. Hemingway lived here and frequented the bar at the back of the hotel. (if those walls could talk..) Emma Watson stays here, David Beckham.. as we were there so was the King of Morocco. casual. same.Court and i got coffee and croissants, had some good life talks (reminds me of my time with Christine in Rwanda), strolled through the Tuileries Garden and down the Seine, to Pont Alexandre iii, reemed out Air France lol, stopped at the Champs Elysses. had a nap because jet lag was killing me and the bed is essentially a cloud.woke up and drank wine and frolicked on the bed. that place is a fairytale. stopped by Hemingway Bar for a 30 euro cocktail (thats approx $47 cad. NOT in budge. not even close. but treat yoself, yolo, hemingway, free appies, the experience, etc etc.). pranced over to Place de la Concorde for the most magical sunset with the Eiffel Tower as backdrop. living in a dream.

2. hostel life

i literally almost shed a tear when i checked out of the Ritz and transitioned back to hostel life.but then i met my new gay best friend Levi from Indonesia/Colombia/Africa and our room was cute and we frolicked all over Paris together.bought 3 euro wine, dodged a bar owner whose wife is due in 2 days but apparently he loves me (Parisians i tell ya), met new friends in Montmartre and then went dancing at Corocan’s Irish Pub. were not let into Silencio - “you are not invited here” LOL - and topped the night off with a crepe obv.next day we had a gorg photoshoot with Levi’s gorg iphone (rip) lol was so fun/extra. croissant for breaky, crepe for din. banana drink at Dirty Dick, then to meet Steph and our new friend Matt at Harry’s. Steph Matt and i love life and love to yolo and we then went for a drink at Jefreys and Experimental Cocktail Bar. LOVE both those bars!!! here i discovered Love by Kendrick Lamar which may be my song of this leg.just really happy to be in Paris.3. reunion with Carmy!!Carmen kicked off ppp with me in New York and we had the best time frolicking and dancing and are replicating exactly that here in Paree.we are staying in a cute lil airbnb in Belleville (just up from Le Marais) and by lil i mean the ceiling is 3 inches above our heads and we have bonked our heads multiple times on the bathroom “doorway” (which is a curtain). “what is this an airbnb for ants?!” still cute though!!i have flagged about 200 places i want to visit on my google maps so we have been flying through them!! to sum up:- open mic jazz bar, hanging out with the band, Carmy plays the sax. then off to Baiser Salé which is the BEST jazz club, so fun!!

- brunch at Passeger - bagel sandwiches yummm. “is this dressing made of water?!” :D- strolling through St Germain, my fave cafe is Mabillion. cutest mint chairs

- Jardin du Luxembourg, Eiffel Tower- French onion soup on a terrace- Le Mauri 7, le Syndicat (speakeasy) and Chez Jeanette for drinks. then over to Hotel Bourbon to dance with some weirdos. weird vibes lol- went to the ballet at Palais Garnier which is STUNNINGGG. if you go to the box office 1 hr before showtime you can get tix for 10 euros. view wasnt great but neither are our bank accounts. we paid a fraction of the price so got to view a fraction of the stage. so worth it just to see the venue.

- dancing at O’Sullivans Irish Bar - good vibes!!! chill people, fun bartenders, amaze dj who actually plays your requests :):)- on our sunny day we strolled and read our books in the Tuileries Gardens (my fave place in Paris), got hot chocolate and macarons at Angelina’s (very rich but cute)- went to a Parisian rave at Rex Club but it just so happens we werent tripping out on ecstacy so not sure i could fully appreciate the experience lol. everyone arrives at like 2-3 and the party ends at 7. cant really make friends cause everyone is bouncing to the beat like zombies. defs an experience though!! lol- currently writing this in Parc des Buttes-Chaumont which is soooo lovely and reminds me of Central Park. it’s big and hilly and everyone is out running and playing.… couple days later, Carmy just left today and here’s the rest of the recap!!- a very French evening: Seine-side wine with some trendy Parisians, sparkling Eiffel from the bridge, escargot in St German.- Chez Georges for an interesting playlist including the Beatles, Hebrew anthems, old school Britney, then some Ed Sheeran (.. ED?!) a wee bit more dancing at Frog & Princess- Sacre Coeur, strolling/eclair in Montmartre, Moulin Rouge, Aperol Spritzes on a terrace with an excessive waiter from Barbados. he likes to party.- our fave night: speakeasy hopping and new friends!!! met Robbie and Evan at Little Red Door, who didnt not not meet on Grinder, then to Candelaria. then off to our fave O’Sullivans for dancing till 4am, on the stairs, all the best moves. a HILARIOUS night. we are all doppelgangers: i am Molly, Robbie is Conor, Evan is Nick Jonas, Carmen is Marisa Tomei or maybe the Mona Lisa- brunch at Benedict, shopping and lattes in Le Marais. meet our Content Crew at another speakeasy Ballroom, then to Experimental Cocktail Club and Braiser Sale for more jazz. another amazing night, friends are fun!! Carmen heads straight to her flight at 4:30am because you can sleep when you’re dead.

Paris really is a dream. the entire city is a work of art. like you have the Arc de Triomph and then directly down the Champs Elysses is the mini arc. in the Place de la Concorde there are mirrored buildings with identical pillars from actoss the bridge. like thought and artistry was put into every single part of this city. the history is crazy here - like name me a square in Vancouver where kings and queens were guillotined and is now a beautiful oasis - i’ll wait. the architecture is SO grand and the little balconies are SO cute. i love it all. also the people are so classic Parisian. you see them dressed to the nines just strolling down the sidewalk and you’re like, yep this is Paris. French girls are broody and chic. everyone should read this book i’m reading called How to be Parisienne Wherever You Are. it makes me want to embody everything that the mysterious yet passionate Parisian women are. French guys are either super stand offish or super forward. (“can i get your number?” “i dont have a number” “whatsapp?” “nope dont have that either”) the clubs dont get busy till 2am and will close at like 6 even on a Sunday. before 2 Carmy and i are uuusually the only girls on the dance floor. i dont think they’re super used to people having fun?? lol. like one security guard at the ballet was like “you’re not from here. do you know how i can tell?” i was expecting him to say something pretentious like “your accent sucks” or “you’re not dressed up enough”. what he said was, “because you’re smiling”. fave things to do: speakeasy hop. stroll through St Germain or Le Marais, pop into stores to sample perfume or hand lotion, to smell candles. go into books and read the backs of Parisian novels. eat a croissant for breakfast. soak in the Tuileries Garden and see the Eiffel Tower sparkle. popping out for a bit but will be back to finish passion. <3 <3