.....That was 2 months ago.
Phew, I am not good at this keeping-up-with-blogging thing.
In the wake of the horrifying tragedy of the terrorism in Paris, I have decided to jump straight to my trip to Paris in September.
Before I get started, I would like to note that I took a tour called Expat Explore. We embarked on the Europe Escape package, which was a coach tour covering 7 countries in 12 days. I know it sounds exhausting, because it really was exhausting.
The meeting point was at Greenwich, London. We purchased the tour a few months before the date of departure, and compared to other tours, it was a good deal. Will review the overall tour in a later post (fingers crossed it won't be in two more months ;P)
So Paris was the first location, and boy was it the grand entrée.
Paris, in my dreams and in my imaginations from movies, books and song lyrics was even more beautiful and breathtaking in real life, the moment I stepped into the city.
We stayed at a pretty outskirt area of Paris (like we did throughout the tour, mind you) and had to take a very unpleasant ride using the metro. The Parisian metro, unlike anything above the ground, stinks from pee and rubbish, and can be petrifying (especially at night) with gypsies and people preying on the weak. Get in and get out as fast as you can.
We had dinner at a lovely little al fresco place called Au Cadet de Gascone.
It was one of the included meals of the tour, and we had the option to pick from chicken or beef. Being a lover of poultry, I opted for the chicken option, which I did not regret because it was really good!
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| First meal in Paris! |
At the summit of Montmatre, is the beautiful Sacré-Cœur. The Sacré-Cœur basilica is a popular landmark that is located in the highest point of the city and it had a lovely view of Paris from the top. This beautiful basilica really kicked off my fascination for cathedrals, churches and basilicas which were fulfilled throughout my entire trip (read: Vatican City, Rome..).
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| Lovely view from the top |
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| Beautiful |
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| Asians in Paris! |
The only setback we had on our first day in Paris was- true to all warnings of Paris, we almost got scammed! It was when we were on our way up to the Sacré-Cœur. We decided to separate from the tour pack to get souvenirs for friends and family back home, and it was a bad idea. When we walked up the steps, we saw a bunch of men harassing women, but we were already so near them so we decided to zoom pass them anyway. One of the big-sized men grabbed my boyfriend's arm and yes- tried to force a stupid bracelet on his arm.
Have you heard of the bracelet trick? They will forcefully grab your arm, tie the knot up really tight so you won't be able to remove it quick enough. They will then make you pay them, usually 20 euros.
We heard of a lot of these scams so we were aware and prepared for them, but it was still really unpleasant when they came really close to us and kept trying to talk to us. We managed to get away.
The second setback was when we took the metro. There were a lot of us, and the doors closed really quickly. A few of us almost got left behind because the doors closed (no pre-beeping sounds or any sort of warning at all). Good thing my boyfriend was strong enough to keep the doors open for the few of us to hop in before it left! Imagine being left behind at the Paris metro. At night. :(
The next morning, our first pit stop was the mystical Notre-Dame Cathedral. The cathedral is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and is one of the largest and most well-known cathedrals in the world.
The Cathedral started construction way back in 1160 and was completed around 1345. Talk about ancient.
It was beyond beautiful inside. It was humongous when we stepped in! I love the feeling of being inside a church. I am not a Catholic but that did not stop me from appreciating how beautiful it was inside, and how wonderful the Lord is.
Before we were left alone for our free day in Paris, our tour guide pointed us to "an absolutely amaaaazing bookshop" around the corner. She had me at bookshop, so my boyfriend and I set out to find it, and we did. Boy, was I thankful for that little tip from our tour guide.
The bookshop was the Shakespeare and Company. It had a wide array of English books, from literature to modern teen fiction, and consisted of two storeys. I wish I had more time, more money and much more luggage space for me to lug back more books (that I never read, ha).
Books fascinate me!
I ended up getting just one book, "Down and Out in Paris and London" by George Orwell. The book made great company on my remaining long coach rides.
It is widely known that you do not leave Paris without trying a local macaron. They're the real deal.
This macaron I had at a random cafe by the River Seine was so good! It wasn't sweet at all like those that I've had, which made me dislike macarons in general.
We also randomly walked into a store which I thought was a pharmacy and bought these yummy yummy macarons from Pierre Hermé.
He's been dubbed the "Picasso of pastry" by French Vogue, okay! They were pretty pricey too, at a few euros per macaron.
He's been dubbed the "Picasso of pastry" by French Vogue, okay! They were pretty pricey too, at a few euros per macaron.
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| My wonderful travel companion |
My boyfriend and I had the most amazing time taking in Paris air by walking almost everywhere from the Notre Dame to the lovely stretch of Champs-Elysées (like 3-4 rounds at least) to the Arc de Triomphe and to the Eiffel Tower. The stroll alongside the River Seine looking at the carts selling post cards and souvenirs was probably one of the biggest highlights of Paris for me. I went to one selling vinyls and was so happy to strike conversation with the sweet Parisian old man, who defied the French odds of being unfriendly. Ended up getting two 7 inch records as gifts for my boss and friend. Note to self: I must have a record player in my house in the future!
I also absolutely loved the Champs-Elysées and its wide arrays of stores! Besides having had to wait 15-20 mins to get into Longchamp and leaving in less than 10 minutes (take and go!) and having the classier-than-thou French staff at the counter telling me I looked really tired, it was really amazing. We also had champagne at YSL ;)
We ended up having lunch at an Italian restaurant in Champs-Elysées. I know, Italian cuisine in France? :X
In June 2015, the Pont des Arts (Lovelock Bridge) became just a bridge when all the love locks were removed. However, there seems to be a new one because we came across another bridge along the River Seine with love locks padlocked to the bridge. Naturally, we bought one (at 4 euros!) and padlocked it. Ah, when in Rome ;)
Lets hope its at least a few years til they remove it (or til it collapses :/)
What is Paris without its Iron Lady, the Eiffel Tower?
Forget movies you've seen of the Eiffel.
Forget photos you have seen of the Eiffel.
Forget books you've read and comments you've heard from your friends about the Eiffel.
The Eiffel, once you step near it; under it, is an experience like no other; nothing that a movie, a photo, a book or a comment can even come a centimeter close to. It is so marvelous, so breathtaking and so surreal, that I simply cannot define in words. You simply must, in your lifetime, have this experience of seeing it in real life.
That evening, we took a cruise on the River Seine, going pass the important landmarks of Paris such as the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay as well as going below the many bridges across the Seine (37 in total, 5 pedestrian and 2 rail). We also got to see the moment the Eiffel lit up, 20,000 lights flashed the Eiffel into the Parisian night; truly a sight like no other..
And as you know, due to the deadly attacks on Paris recently, the lights were switched off.
Well, au revoir and hope to see you next in Italy! x
