OK, this post is not about stalking Paris Hilton in the nation’s capital. Frankly, I’d rather be forced to eat stinky cheese (ugh, gag me with a spoon) for a year.

Today’s post is my mini love letter to the City of Lights. Ah yes, Paris. I was lucky enough to spend my junior year abroad there—from 1993 through 1994—and was smitten. It was a complete seduction: the food, language, people-watching, culture, shopping, architecture, fashion, style, history—the list is endless. Since I unfortunately haven’t been back for at least a decade, I set out this fall to find a taste of Paris in my current city, Washington, DC.

At the Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art a couple of months ago, I snapped this photo of the Art Nouveau entrance to the Paris métro.

Hector Guimard, An Entrance to the Paris Métropolitain, conceived 1902, fabricated 1902/1913, painted cast iron and bronze

On a misty, drizzly day in mid-November, I took these two photos along the Potomac. They remind me of the romantic quays along the Seine.

And last week, I took this shot of PAUL Bakery on Pennsylvania Avenue. They sell some delicious French pastries and quiches.

Bonus image: as I was returning to my office, I happened to walk by this new hair salon called Saint Germain.

So in the end, yes, I was able to experience a teensy bit of Paris in DC, but let’s face it, like butter, breasts and Baudelaire (all très French, right?), there ain’t nothin’ like the real thing.

Paris, January 1994

For tips on the top 20 free attractions in Paris, check out this recent list from Lonely Planet. I’m ready to book a plane ticket.