I Heart Paris

It was a cold and raining when I arrived in Paris one day ahead of the scheduled 11-day tour of the city and surrounding areas. As I was unable to book this extra day at the hotel where the group would be staying, I looked and found another place close by for the night. It was a great find for history buffs. Before its conversion to a 3-star hotel, it used to be the living quarters of the folks who built the Eiffel Tower. Such being the case, it wouldn’t be unusual for somebody with a wild imagination to hear strange footsteps while lying in bed, trying to sleep.

It was raining again when I walked to the tour’s designated hotel to check in the following morning. In fact, it rained most of the time during our stay in Paris causing some members of the tour to get sick. Although I didn’t expect this kind of weather, Ii was glad I came prepared with a raincoat and a sweater.

On our first day, our tour guides met us at the hotel’s dining room for a short “Bienvenue à Paris” meeting. One of them was a Frenchman and the other was an American lady who has lived in the country for thirty years. Both proved to be wonderful guides.

The frenchman, who hailed from the South of France, told us that Paris is considered one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful city in the world. It has much to offer to anyone, but to fully experience it, you must take it slow like sipping a good wine. In other words, you must proceed with the intention that you’d be coming back.

After asking us to introduce ourselves, he taught us some French survival phrases and basic understanding of the culture.

In France, he said, finger counting starts with the thumb. When you raise your thumb, it means one. when you raise your forefinger, it means two. and so on. Bby contrast, in the States, when you start counting, you start with the forefinger.

What about if you raise your middle finger? I wanted to ask but didn’t at the last minute. I thought it was too early to try being funny.

At the restaurant, once you get a table, it’s yours for as long as you want or until closing time. You won’t get the bill unless you ask for it because it’s considered rude.

After the meeting, the guides led us to the nearby Metro (subway) station and oriented us on how to go about the city on our own.

The day ended with a get acquainted over dinner together at a nice restaurant.

On the second day, we went on a walking tour of the city. After a short drizzle, the sun finally came out.

eiffel tower – paris 2013

pedicabs – paris 2013

view by the seine river – paris 2013

mother and child – paris 2013

taking picture of people taking pictures – paris 2013

 

I found Paris magnificent in any kind of weather. Everywhere I marveled at what I saw. Even the most mundane could be captivating.

 
Wwe visited the famous notre-dame cathedral which construction dates back to the 1100s.

 
We also went to the Royal Medieval Sainte-Chapelle Chapel built in the 1200s.

 
On the way to Notre-Dame, I saw vendors selling prints and souvenirs. Our French guide said that it was ok to buy from them because they were not tourist traps. The prices of their goods were reasonable because they pay so little for space and taxes.

 
In the afternoon, the rain came back. We had lunch at the Latin Quarter which I’d consider the Berkeley of Paris. It’s dominated by university students and intellectuals with lots of places to eat and to hang out. It’s situated on the left side of the Seine river.

 
After lunch, we regrouped and headed to the nearby orsay Museum where the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces by renowned painters could be found. These included the works of Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin and Van Gogh. No photos were allowed at the museum but I saw a few people still taking pictures. It reminded me that this was France. the land of the free.

 
On the third day, we went to the famous Louvre Museum located on the right side of the Seine river. It’s one of the largest museums in the world with an area over 650,000 square feet. It contains 35,000 exhibits from prehistoric times to the 21st century. This is the place to find the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Code of Hummurabi, and Winged Victory.

 
The day ended taking pictures of the Arc de Triomphe from the distance and wandering down Champs-Elysées considered to be the most expensive real estate in the world with its overpriced eating establishments and luxury shops.

As we left Paris the following morning, I thought to myself that our French guide was right. Paris is much more than its gothic churches and famous museums and landmarks, and I had fallen in love. Right then and there, I had decided that someday I’d be coming back.

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