A Dream Come True: Paris
- Scott Linwell
- 58 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Paris was a dream come true in so many ways. First, just the city itself—its history, its energy, everything about it. It’s an incredible place to visit, a full immersion into so many things at once. Overwhelming in the best possible way. Whatever you come for, it surrounds you: architecture, art, style and fashion, food. The history alone is staggering; the city celebrated its 2,000th birthday just a few years ago, having been settled even before the Romans arrived.
When we competed on What’s in the Box? last year, we knew there would be life-changing prizes, and we suspected many would involve travel. We love to travel, we want to see the world, and we were hoping to walk away with something that scratched that itch. Safe to say, that worked out.
This trip to Paris was one of the prizes we won, the “Style Guide”, and it became a pivotal point of change for so many things in our lives. Not just the trip itself, but a realization that dreams can come true… but you might have to fight for them.
This prize was a dream for Joey—and just as quickly as we won it, it was taken away.
Up to that point, we’d been playing the game for fun. Of course we wanted to win, but we weren’t as locked in, we were just enjoying the ride. Losing that prize changed everything. In an instant, it went from a game to a mission. We knew there was only one way to get it back: win it all. We'd seen that we could win, but we'd have to really focus.
From that moment on, we were all in.
And that mindset hasn’t left us. If you want something, really want it, you have to go after it. Dreams don’t just show up. You chase them, you fight for them, and if you’re lucky… you catch them.
The prize centered around a shopping spree, which meant something deeper than it might for most. Joey has always been passionate about fashion: following designers, studying the history of fashion houses, and overall the art of clothing and design. He watches every red carpet and can easily name the designer of a piece at a glance.
Below - a visit to the Christian Dior museum
Paris sits at the very top of the fashion world. Being there meant walking into flagship stores, seeing haute couture pieces up close that he’d only ever seen in magazines or on screen, and even trying some on. For him, these spaces felt as much like art galleries as retail stores. Maybe even more.
But Paris isn’t just about high-end fashion. The city itself is effortlessly stylish. It’s not a jeans-n-T-shirt kind of place. While we occasionally saw someone dressed down, most people carried a clear sense of personal style. Whether streetwear, high fashion, or something in between. And the shops reflected that same intention and creativity.
Visiting the flea market: Les Puces de Saint-Ouen
And it’s not just about the new. The vintage scene was incredible. Entire blocks were lined with resale shops, many focused on specific labels, one dedicated to Burberry, another to Coach. We visited a sprawling flea market filled with dozens of vintage vendors. We strolled blocks lined with shops hosting local designers, pop-ups, and major retail—all catering to a city that truly values style.
While shopping was the focus, we made sure to experience everything else Paris is known for. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, long walks along the Seine. We walked miles and miles, because that’s how you really see the city. If we’d relied on cabs or Ubers, we would have missed so much: the Picasso Museum, a tiny oyster pop-up, and countless small, unexpected shops and cafés.
Paris is filled with museums, many requiring advance planning and tickets weeks ahead. But one afternoon, we happened upon a sign for the Picasso Museum and decided to try our luck. It had just opened for the day, it was a Sunday, and a nearby marathon had closed off the neighborhood—so there was no line. We walked right in and found ourselves in the largest public collection of Picasso’s work. Paintings, sculptures, personal notebooks, sketches, all housed in a stunning 1600s mansion. Truly incredible.
That same day, we stumbled onto one of our favorite surprises of the trip: an oyster pop-up. Just a table, an iced box of oysters in the shell, a few scattered chairs, and a lively crowd gathered on a sidewalk near a park. We were on our way somewhere else, but the moment we saw it, we stopped. One euro per oyster and some of the best we’ve ever had.
Which brings us to the food, another reason Paris sits at the top of so many travel lists. French cuisine has long set the standard, and the city absolutely lives up to that reputation. The cafés and bistros were everything you’d hope for, and we happily occupied sidewalk tables, watching the city walk by, whenever we could. But Paris is also incredibly international. Japanese, Chinese, Lebanese, Indian—you’ll find amazing options everywhere.
One standout for us was Keko Momo, an authentic Chinese noodle house. The flavors were rich and layered, warm, smoky spice rather than just heat, with perfectly chewy, house-made noodles. One of my favorite meals of the trip.
Beyond restaurants, one of the most memorable parts of the Paris food scene happens outside. Picnic culture is everywhere. On our first day, the concierge suggested we pick up a few items and head to the river. We thought it was just a casual suggestion, but it was really an invitation to live like a Parisian. We stopped by a couple specialty shops, grabbed cheese, a baguette, fruit, and water, and headed to the Seine. There, we joined hundreds of people lining the riverbanks, relaxing with snacks, wine, and good conversation on a bright afternoon.
We’d heard so much about Paris over the years—how romantic it is, how much there is to see, how deeply people fall in love with it. It absolutely lived up to the hype. I try not to travel with too many expectations, preferring to let a place reveal itself as we go, but Paris exceeded anything we could have imagined.
We fell for Paris from the very first day. And while we tend to enjoy everywhere we visit, not every place makes the list of somewhere you know you’ll return to again and again.
Paris does.
We’ll be back—without a doubt, and sooner rather than later.
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