Como se dice...?: How to see Paris in 42 hours

Weekend trips are great, but limiting and when you have less than two days in a gigantic city your only thought is to see as much as you possibly can. So if you ever go to Paris and you only have 42 hours to spend there, here's what you do:

Arrive at nine at night. Pick a direction to walk and hope that its the way to the hotel. Walk. Peek down a street, see the Arc de triomphe, walk that way. Marvel at it and take pictures. Keep walking. The Eiffel Tower comes into view. Take a hundred pictures. Watch it sparkle. Walk. Make it to the hotel somehow without a map, basing your directions off of your boyfriend's account of a video game set in Paris. Sleep.

Wake up early. Get breakfast (at Starbucks, guiltily, because you miss their coffee). Get bread to pack sandwiches and bottles of water. Walk back to the Eiffel Tower. Take more pictures. Think about going to the top but reject the thought out of not wanting to wait in line. Go to gift shops instead. Buy souvenirs for friends and family. Cross the bridge over the river to get a better view, and picture. Get annoyed at all the men walking around jingling a ring of miniature Eiffel Tower figuirines trying to sell them to you for a euro. Walk down the river towards the Louvre. Stop in the park in front and watch a bunch of adorable pups play. Pick out the one you want and tell your boyfriend to get it for you some day. Decide to see Notre Dame before the museum. Walk more. Cross the bridge. Take pictures of the cathedral. Go inside. Say a prayer. Admire the gothic architecture. More souvenirs. Walk back over to the Louvre and have lunch sitting at a table looking at the huge glass pyramid. Realize you want something sweet. Go to a small cafe and order creme brulee and a crepe. Gorge yourself. Realize you love French culture. Walk back to the museum. Hesitate to buy tickets because its 4 and the museum closes at 5:30. Buy them. Get lost trying to find the Mona Lisa because the museum is massive. Push past the crowds to see the tiny painting. Walk around and look at the Italian art because the museum is about to close. Go to the gift shop. Figure out how to use the metro to get to the Sacred Heart Cathedral because you're too exhausted to walk. Arrive just in time for sunset. Walk into the cathedral while a bunch of nuns are singing. Watch the sunset and enjoy the beautiful views of the city. Walk around near the church and do some shopping. Eat at a small restaurant. Buy a bottle of champagne. Walk to the Moulin Rouge because you're obsessed with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Head back to the hotel. Sleep.

Wake up semi-early, already exhausted. Go to a little bakery and make some grunting noises and point to the things you want because you can't speak French. Eat the delicious treats and drink coffee. Make sandwiches at the hotel and pack up. Walk to the Museum d'Orsay. Look at the pretty art for a few hours and take frequent breaks because your feet hurt. Go into the gift shop. Eat lunch. Go into a bookstore. Do more shopping. Take the metro towards the bus station. Go into the mall across the street and gawk at the expensive jewelry and watches. Hop on the bus to the airport. Fly back.

And that's how we did it. We conquered Paris in 42 hours and had a great time. I wish we had more time there but I didn't think I would ever see Paris so I am more than a happy camper right now. Even better, there is going to be sunshine and upper 60 degree temperatures all week in Bilbao. Que suerte!

Hasta luego