An Evening in Paris

There are so many dreams that are still waiting to see a sunrise, while one of mine saw it coming after yearning for years. For the heart that always desired to see sunrises in offbeat places, I aspired to help it out a bit and keep the heart and mind at peace.

I think I've found my super-symmetric friend years ago, who always made it a point to ensure my untold words are apprehended and put a smile on my face no matter what. Let's call her "Ssh". Who wants 50 odd friends when you and your BFF can exchange 100 texts and decide where to meet next? This is exactly what chanced the last September and our dream of 5 years to meet outside India was a thing for real. 

BFF Goals!

Life is good you know. So I infer you get one. The soul comforting experience when you see a new place that includes new people, food, tradition and a new you is amazing. This year I had no desire to do anything but to focus on my serenity and contentment. I like real conversations, I like places, I like genuine people, I like vacations and I like fantasies. For the Universe has perfect timings for everything, I guess things take their own sweet time to reach you. 

Ssh asked me "Where do you wanna go and what do you wanna see?" It is bad manners to keep a vacation waiting, consequently, the first thing I uttered was "Paris". That's how the planning began. I live in Bengaluru and my journey started from here. My first destination on arrival at Europe was Amsterdam. Europe tour started from there. We went places before reaching France. From our previous destiny Belgium we made our way to Paris. This was by road with Euro Line.

I stayed at Hotel Campanile, Porte de Bagnolet. We reached Paris by evening, For we were enough tired to hit the bed, we chose to explore the city. Paris is a very well connected network when it comes to public transport. The subway system looks like a mystery to me, yet I felt home using the public transport. All that you have to do is, pick a map from the hotel and look for the metro connections. Best thing is even to ask the hotel reception for a rough idea to cover the places in a logical sequence. There are around 15-16 metro lines. All that you have to do is either follow a color code or a numbering system, not even once we waited for more than 2 minutes in any station. We freshened up and took our first metro ride to Trocadero. The best thing as soon as you walk out of it is one of the wonders of the world. 

The Eiffel Tower

I don't know, since when was I dreaming of Eiffel Tower. To even an extent I had multiple Eiffel Tower themes on my phone back then when I had the first smartphone. I even don't know what about it made me go crazy over it, definitely not Raani from the movie Queen. It was even before that I had a fancy dream of witnessing a sunrise and a sunset at Paris. And I could successfully make it with her around, who is my favorite person. 

There I am!

While I was there, much before it was a beautiful sunset, I made only a couple of calls to the ones who are dear to me. I still remember my mum's face when she was proud of me and was watching the Eiffel with the help of technology. My brothers and a friend were also equally delighted when they saw it. Even though people say, Paris isn't a safe place, we were careful and alert all the while. Our entire stay was a pleasant one. 

Namaste India brings in a smile!

Do not panic if some random men approach you and say "Namaste India", just keep walking. It's just that anywhere and everywhere we are recognized as Indians and no big deal about it. Just be alright and walk. When we ended our day 1, we found an Indian Restaurant run by a Srilankan. A full meal after starving for veg food in Belgium. 

The next day, we took a metro ride again to begin our excursion in Paris. From Galliene we headed towards Montmartre. Montmartre is a dream in itself. A small village in a town. A beautiful dome on a hill. A narrow street with daunting cafes and shops on either side. A village with aging apartments. A walk to the top and A majestic view of the city from there. Brightly painted buildings, Bougainvillea and the glass lamps greet you here. All that you want is, the time to stop and stay there for a long time. 

Streets of Mont Martre

City view from the hilltop

Once a little medieval village in the country, Montmartre has an old-fashioned charm with an avant-garde edge. As you walk through the streets there are plenty of stores to shop and eat. The hanging flower pots from the building are colorful and warm. Once you climb up the hill is the Basilica of Sacre Coeur. This majestic structure is also called as a wedding cake for its very appearance from any distance. It was built as a symbol of hope after a Franco-Prussian war. Montmartre usually houses musicians near the basilica. It's a bliss to get oneself lost in. A perfect weather, on top of a hill, a cake like a monument and a magical view the city. What more could one ask for? 

The musicians engaging the tourists!

Montmartre!

Our next destination was a war memorial. As we see The India Gate, a war memorial to 82000 soldiers of the undivided Indian Army who died in the period 1914-21 during the First World War. The Arch de Triomphe is dedicated to the victorious French armies of the Revolution and the First Empire. The mighty building was built in 1806 by the orders of Napoleon but he who did not live to see its completion in 1836. At the foot of the Arch de Triomphe is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated in 1921 as a memorial to the dead of World War I. Every evening at 6:30 pm, a small delegation of soldiers rekindle the flame at the tomb. The feeling I guess would be the same, as you stand at an unknown soldier's tomb. The structure is iconic with war figures bigger than life-size structures carved on it. When I stood in front of it, it was nerve chilling experience realizing what a havoc World Wars have been in the history. For anyone, death is a pain, while the tomb of a soldier is even more painful to watch. We can as well climb up a 250+stairway up and view the exemplary architectural structures that are encircled at Arch de Triomphe. There are so many ways that lead to the other part of the city from here. The boulevards are just beautiful for a walk. 

Arch de Triomphe

Champs-Elysées? Sounds familiar? Kangana from Queen struggling to get there? We Indians I tell you, we get the Bollywood references quicker than anything else. Champs-Elysées Avenue is beautiful. Because Paris is a place of public squares and parks, the public squares look amazingly breathtaking here. It is a wonderful place to stroll, eat and shop (provided you are rich :)). The Champs-Elysées houses beautiful French cafes and the brand stores. The main shopping attraction here is Louis Vuitton, Zara, Boss and other elite brands. No, no, I'm not rich and just window shopped there. For all the very obvious reasons it is one of the most famous streets in Paris. This street connects the monumental Arch de Triomphe, Grand Palais, Petit Palais, Invalides, Air France museum, Alexandar Port, Invalides Port, Eiffel Tower and The Louvre Museum. We walked for about 6 km to cover this stretch. 

Boulevards of Champs-Elysées!

Champs-Elysées shopping square!

The Petit Palais!

Grand Palais

Pont de Alexandre III at night!

Pont de Alexandre III

Also, the Luxembourg Gardens are just around the Alexandar Port (Pont de Alexandre III). 

Petit Palais gardens

Luxembourg Gardens!

 The next thing was to be on the terrace of one of the wonders of the World. Eiffel Tower terrace gives an astonishing 360 degrees view of the city. A river so calm, serene and beautiful - Seine River flows just across the sides of Eiffel. Apart from being famous around the world, it is the most emblematic of Paris. The Eiffel Tower was designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel and built for the Paris Exhibition of 1889, which marked the centenary of the French Revolution. The tower consists of 15,000 steel sections held together by 2.5 million rivets. The terrace still has an apartment where Gustave Eiffel hosted prestigious guests. There is a depiction of Mr. Eiffel, his daughter Claire and Thomas Edison seated showcased with lifelike statues. There is a wine stall and then there is a place to Kiss.

Just around the tower!

Panoramic view from the terrace!

An apartment at the Terrace of Eiffel Tower, where Mr Eiffel hosted his guests!

 An evening in Paris is incomplete if you do not walk crossing Seine river and witness the night lights on the tower. 

Paris Lights by the river side!

Cruises at River Seine!

By the river Seine!

An exceptional coincidence on the day of my visit was Paris Fashion Show at Trocadero. Just opposite to the tower on the other side of the tower. Though I'm not a very fashion enthusiast types, the show appeared elite and marvelous to me. To be honest all I could see was supermodels walking on the grand ramp with a prompt that looked like a mere pillow to me. Then there were 1000 of delegates and fashion industry that is all gathered and all delighted. The tourists make no move until the show is over. It's funny how people were glued at the ramp, while I thought they are walking expressionless with a pillow thingy. Individual perspectives you see. 

Paris Fashion Week!

The last thing to do before the night was getting longer was to visit Madam Mona Lisa or Mona darling. Musée de Louvre is where she stays with many other from her societal class. The Museum in itself is a maze to me, while I was also amazed. All we were interested in was Mona darling. It's customary ritual kinda thing to meet her if you are in Paris. Yes, we quickly took a metro towards the Louvre.  One of the world’s largest repositories of priceless art and antiquities. As the title suggests, the Louvre is like a city unto itself, a termite compound of bustling human activity. 

Rings a bell? The Da Vinci Code?

The Musée de Louvre wasn't originally a museum but was a fortress built in 1190. In the 16th century, it was turned from a fortress into a royal palace. It was only in 1793, after the French Monarchy moved to the Palace of Versailles, that the first Louvre museum was opened to the public, and offered just 537 paintings. 

So we are going to her home! 

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is undoubtedly one of the most famous pieces of art in the Louvre, with people from all walks of life traveling to the museum to catch a glimpse of the world-famous painting. What you may not know about the Mona Lisa is that it isn’t as big as everyone thinks, as the dimension of the painting is actually just a little bit larger than an A2 piece of paper. The Mona Lisa also has its own bodyguards and is protected by the bulletproof glass; however, it was stolen in 1911 before being returned to the Louvre just two years later.

There she is! All safe and secure, confusing everyone with her smile!

My laugh at myself moment at Louvre is undoubted - One where people from all the walks of life just stand there in awe and look at the masterpiece as if it were to be God and granting everyone their wishes. The mad hatter, that I'm, stood there wondering what are they actually wishing for? I wondered if she could come alive and just fulfill their wishes. Jokes apart, it is a masterpiece and I do not have that thing in me to analyze those expressions on her face. Mona Lisa is a mystery where none could ever think why is she smiling the way she is doing it. 

Duh! Selfie with Mona Lisa!

The Louvre’s galleries are displayed across 652,300 square feet – which is nearly 15 acres! The galleries contain approximately 7,500 paintings, and 66% of them were created by French artists. The galleries are also divided into eight departments: Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek-Etruscan-Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculptures,  Decorative Arts, Paintings; and Prints and Drawings. 

Another course of Indian meal for dinner and that calls for an end of the day 2.

Today, when I sit sick and pen down my experience in Paris- I almost overlooked my sickness as tons of memories flashed back like a cinema. If you only saw Eiffel on the fabrics, books, blogs, phone covers, coffee shops and craved to be at the boulevards of Paris - Go for it. Everything aside and an experience like this last a lifetime. A best friend and a backpack are the best companions while you walk on a different piece of land somewhere else on Earth.

Quick Tips:
1. Paris Ticket - To use the hassle-free public transport. And a ticket to go to the Tower Terrace. 
2. Eat something different while you are in a new place, simply a struggle if you are vegetarian like me.  
3. There are too many migrants that try to trick you at Mont Martre, just escape from the trick.
4. Be like 100% sure to walk safely in a new place, anything fishy - hop onto a public transport and reach your destination.
5. Shopping - Almost what we get here unless very different and special turn down the plan. Expensive place.
6. Carry a map wherever you go. English reading and speaking ability are enough to manage.
7. Wear like the weather permits. 
8. Buy scarfs, books, posters, and postcards. Bargain if you are buying Souvenirs.  Go to the coolest bookstores in the world. 
9. Plan your shopping list and area in advance if you are a shopaholic and it fancies you to buy expensive brands outside.
10. Be Safe. 

With yet another promise to come back with another piece of my blah blah! 

Love,
V (Nutty Wordsmith)