PARIS!!!
I
think that the reasons to visit Paris are very obvious. It seems that no matter
who you are or where you've been already, you still feel the need to go to
France. It might be extremely cliché but I've dreamt of going to Paris ever
since I was a little girl. It's the city of love and what girl doesn't want to
be swept off her feet time and time again while visiting this beautiful city?
Here's why you should go! (there's so much more to do then what I will explain
but, you get the point!)
The
Eiffel Tower is an obvious sight to see. There is no clear way to describe the
feeling you get when you catch the first glimpse of the tower. For me, we were
turning a street corner on our way from Les Invalides. Which is an amazing
museum to visit, by the way. I caught sight of it through the tree branches. It
is almost essential that you go visit the tower at lunchtime because it gives
you an excuse to have a picnic beneath it. Grabbing a baguette sandwich from a
local café would do nicely. It is much bigger than you would expect it to be.
Standing in the Champs de Mars you can notice the symmetrical efforts.
Everything leads up to the towers in a square fashion; even the trees are trimmed.
It's almost as though they want to accentuate the towers curve. It works
beautifully.
I
wouldn't say that it is necessary to go to the top, especially on a student
budget. Its interesting but observing it from underneath can be just as
intriguing. I thought so anyway. The parks that surround the tower are
breathtaking. With ice cream trollies, blossoming flowers and huge sculptures,
you can't ask for better.
Taking
a stroll down La Seine is probably the most serene thing you can do. In the
middle of a busy city, you find yourself below the action and everything is
silent. Although the water isn't exactly sanitary, it’s still romantic.
Stopping at Notre Dame is also amazing. The thing that is so great about it is
that you can go up the towers and see the most amazing view of Paris. You
really feel like you've gone back in time and wish you were Esmeralda or
something. Just a few minutes away you will come accross Pont Neuf. It is a bridge where tourists leave their locks on the bridge. For some it allows them to show that they were there and for others it is a sign of love. You see, if you bring a lock that has a keys, as we did, you can lock it on the bridge and drop the key in The Seine. It symbolizes eternal love and that's exactly what we did.
Heading
down the streets of Paris, you will notice the unique architecture. The arches
and big windows, it's the definition of romance. You will need to visit the
Louvre. Heading there 30 minutes before it opens is the best idea because there
will already be a line. Everyone has the same goal: to see the Mona Lisa. I'm
convinced that they made a point of placing it on the other side of the museum.
The staff definitely watches the surveillance cameras and laugh at the silly
tourists breathless and wandering on a egg hunt for the painting. It’s pretty
funny because you are speed walking and you know that you look ridiculous. It's
all worth it though. Some people find themselves disappointed that the painting
itself is smaller than they thought. To those people I say: ''but it's
perfect''. So don't hate, Da Vinci is ma man! What surprised me is that the
Louvre is much more than just art. It's as if the museum of civilization, the
war museum and the national art museum was one. It's really interesting,
especially Napoleons apartment. That is just unfair.
My
last piece of advice is to take the trip to Versailles. It is the castle where
French Monarchy used to reside. It is one of the richest castles in Europe and
it is so clear why. The outside look like it was painted in gold and the inside
is pure elegance. Every detail was executed with such care that it seems like
it should be considered a work of art. The gardens in the back are the selling
point. With Georgian Era music echoing throughout, the fountains and paths are
something of a dream. Eating macaroons is necessary while over looking the
spectacular view. Yet again, it is a place that allows you to time travel. You
feel overwhelmed with the history that surrounds you that it feels as though it
never was. It's a mind game that I wouldn't mind experiencing every day.
The
thing about Paris is that it's not only there for the hopeless romantics, it's
for anyone who is willing to take a chance. To put themselves into a city full
of history and are willing to explore its dept. Staying in a cute apartment
allows you to take long walks to the sights, do some groceries and live the
true Parisian life. It's a simple one, but worth every penny.
Oh
and make it a point to visit l'Arc de Triomphe, Champ d'Élyser leads up to it
and that’s where all the shopping is at! (Yes, even affordable shopping! Just
avoid Louis Vuitton and Cartier at all costs!)
DD
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