Paris, Again, and All Over Again
I didn’t just want to visit Paris again, I wanted to live it this time.
When fashion, faith, and freedom align, magic happens, and sometimes that magic has a Paris address. In this reflective travel diary, I return to the City of Light for a month of rediscovery. What began as a romantic getaway evolved into a sister-friend adventure, equal parts culture, courage, and croissants.
A month felt bold, long enough for my husband to raise an eyebrow, but love said yes.
On our first trip, we played full-on tourists, guided by my extended-family-big-sister Aicha, who’s called Paris home for over 30 years. She led us everywhere: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, Champs-Élysées, and somehow still made it feel personal.
The pulse of Paris stirs my creativity; it hums with memory, beauty, and motion.
What caught me wasn’t just the landmarks, though. It was the architecture that whispered history, the cobblestone streets, the locals dining outdoors in brisk air as if time had no hold on them. There’s a pulse to Paris that stirs my creativity, and that first night, I knew I’d be back.
Every woman needs one friend who will say ‘OUI’ to adventure without asking for details.
Fast forward a year, and here I am, back in Paris, grateful and grounded, though the plan shifted a little. My husband couldn’t join this time and didn’t love the idea of me traveling solo. His question was simple: “Who can go with you?”
The answer came easy. My girl Luanna, free-spirited, spontaneous, and already in Phoenix for a quick visit. I asked if she wanted to hang out in Paris for a month. She laughed, said “OUI,” and the rest is a story still unfolding.
Returning isn’t about retracing steps, it’s about deepening roots.
It’s been a week now. We’re tucked away in the 15th arrondissement, walking among locals, ordering croissants in imperfect French, and finding our rhythm as two Black women soaking up Parisian life. Every day brings a small discovery, and every corner reminds me: sometimes returning isn’t about retracing steps, it’s about deepening roots.
