22/08/2002:
Paris, the city of light!
After a six-hour train journey
from Rotterdam, the outline of the famous French capital started to show up. As
I was looking out the train window, the first buildings began to appear, lit by
the morning. There I was, in Paris, at 7 in the morning, without knowing where
to go. The feeling of arriving is always interesting. We are surrounded by many
doubts and uncertainties, and with a lot of new things to find out. The first
impressions were of an empty city, which was understandable taken into account
the time and the day – it was Sunday. I ended up watching Paris’ waking up,
the tourists beginning to gather, the shops opening their doors – all these
things happening while I walked about the city centre in search of the Tourist
Information Office, located at... guess! On Champs Elysees avenue, very close to
the Arc of Triumph. It looked like a dream! I did the most I could during
my three days in Paris, for it was a very short time to see all its features, of
which the Eiffel Tower was the most impressive one. It symbolises so much that
we sometimes think it doesn’t even exist. It was sensational when, at last, I
stood before that enormous and imposing tower. I just couldn’t believe it. It
started raining at that very time, but it didn’t bother at all and I kept
staring at the monument for a good while. Of course I was going to climb up the
tower. I went back the other day to enjoy the beautiful view from the top. It is
possible to take the lift or the stairs; I chose the second option and went up
the 700 stairs just to find a beautiful and broad view of Paris and its main
tourist spots. I saw a huge Paris, made up of old buildings in shades of brown,
a small “island” with modern buildings and a lot of historical monuments. A walk by the Seine River,
which divides the city, finished the typical Parisian tour. The beaches on its
banks are very interesting: sand beds where women go sunbathing and children
build sand castles. They even planted palm trees to give it a tropical touch. By
the Seine, there is the Hotel the Ville, Paris’ city hall, and, close to it,
there stands Notre Dame Cathedral. The celebrated temple is beautiful, with its
famous and legendary towers. Inside the church, a statue of Joanna d’Arc calls
one attention. The stained glass windows are also worth a look. There are two other tourist
spots in the same area: Pompidou Centre and the Pantheon. The former is the
biggest modern art museum, featuring exhibitions of the most contemporary works
of art and design. The building calls one’s attention because of its coloured
ducts and modern design, in contrast with the rest of the city. The Pantheon
used to be a church and nowadays stores the remains of famous people, such as
Victor Hugo, Voltaire and Rousseau. As for monuments, you can’t forget the Arc
of Triumph, raised in honour of Napoleon Bonaparte’s victories. The monument
aligns with Concorde Square, where more than a thousand people were guillotined,
including Louis XV. This square is located at the end of Champs Elysees, the
trendiest avenue in Paris. Featuring the second most expensive square metre in
Europe, the avenue has expensive restaurants and famous shops, such as Luis
Viton. Belgian beer costs around €8,
and the art galleries exhibit €10,000
paintings. Close to Concord Square’s wild flower gardens, you
can see the golden dome of Invalides Palace. At this place, old former war
combatants used to live, and the remains of Napoleon Bonaparte lie there. The Louvre museum is another
thing you should not miss. You need to seize a whole day to walk through it, and,
still, it may be not enough time to see everything. The museum is enormous and
features varied collections, for all tastes: Greek, Egyptian and Mesopotamian
antiques; French and Italian paintings; Renaissance sculptures; medieval
furniture; and even the Mona Lisa, which is, itself, worth the entry fee. Luis
XV crowns, with their diamonds, are also worth the while. However, visiting the
Louvre after going up the Eiffel Tower 700 stairs was a bad idea. A little walk
around the museum was enough for me to get tired and to have to go back. French cuisine is something
unique. The restaurants are expensive, and usually serve an entry, a salad, a
main dish and a dessert, besides a good bottle of wine (the Parisians just can’t
have cold drinks such as Coca-Cola with typical dishes). If you are into saving
money, the baguettes, crêpes and quiches are the best options: they’re simple
but can do the job. Paris is so touristy that, however unlikely as it may appear,
it is difficult to spot who is French and who is a foreigner. One thing is for
sure: few Parisians can speak English and I didn’t see any English school in
the city. This is a very interesting feature for such a touristy city. If you’re looking for glamour, famous brands and sophistication, Paris is your place. It is perfect to go accompanied, and enjoy a mix of romance, history and glamour. Have a bottle of good wine, walk about the Seine riverbanks, visit the Louvre and have fun in this magical and fascinating city. Pictures: - City hall: 1 - Artificial beaches on the banks of the Seine: 1 - Statue of Joan d'Arc, in the Notre Dame Cathedral: 1
- Notre Dame Cathedral: 1
-
Georges Pompidou Culture Centre: 1, 2
- View of northern Paris, from the top of the Eiffel Tower: 1 - View of eastern Paris, from the top of the Eiffel Tower: 1
- View of western Paris, from the top of the Eiffel Tower: 1
- View of southern Paris, from the top of the Eiffel Tower: 1
- Structures of the Louvre: 1 - Crown of Louis XV, in the Louvre: 1 - Venus de Milo, in the Louvre: 1 - David, by Michelangelo, in the Louvre: 1 - Mona Lisa, in the Louvre: 1 - Louvre Museum: 1 - Interior of the Louvre: 1 - Sacre-Coeur Basilica: 1 - Jim Morrison's grave, at Père Lachaise graveyard: 1 - Chopin's grave, at Père Lachaise graveyard: 1 - Panthéon: 1 Translated by Traduzca
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