Paris: Top 5 Things
- Coffee Lovers Dream Come True!!
Cafes are all around you from the morning you wake up to the evening when you're ready to go home. Every morning, Chhimi and I would cross the street to our new favorite boulangerie and I'm set with my cafe and croissant or some other sort of venoisories. Mmm!
- Eiffel Tower
I went to the infamous Tour Eiffel on the first day when we landed in Paris. It was our first landmark to see! As we criss-cross on the Parisien streets, the Eiffel Tower hit us right in the face as we turned the corner and see it for our own eyes. It is truly amazing! The photos or sketches in the books does not do its justice. It was just as Chhimi said "C'est Magnifique!".
- Notre Dame
This gothic style church built in the early 1100s and took over 2 centuries to complete is another eye opening piece. From the outside, it was already grand in its structural details where the columns were sculpted to be Kings of Judah and all 3 arches that lead into the church tells a different story of Jesus. From a non-religious person like myself, it still moves me to see this in person. From the inside, I was completely at awed. The stained glass windows were just amazing pieces of arts! Then there was the climb to the towers of Notre Dame, all 387 narrow steps; however, the sight was another wonder for me, this was where I could see all of Paris!
- Chateau de Versailles
I've read this in my history books many times and how the famous French Revolution took place because of one key phrase "let them eat cake". Stepping into this chateau was an another eye-opener for me. To see how the Kings of France have lived and so royalily and rich. We stepped into the Garden first and were just amazed at the gigantic size with its own "Grand Canal" where Louis XIV held his boat parties. As if it a castle was not enough, Louis XIV built a small palace with pink marble known as as the Grand Trianon so he can "get away" from royal court and enjoy the company of his mistress! Then, the next king, Louis XV built a Petit Trianon for Marie Antionette as a small retreat! My goodness! Every single room I've roamed in was filled with paintings of the royal families themselves, in god-like portraits. Two things came into my mind, one, the history books did not do this palace justice at all and two, these French royal families were really wasteful with their wealth! Chhimi and I thoroughly enjoyed this extravagant day-trip though.
- Musee de Louvre
One thing I've learned on this trip is that Paris is a city of culture and history and coming from the States, I know how very young and naive our nation is in comparison. This is the home of the infamous Mona Lisa by Da Vinci. The Louvre was originally built as a fortress in 1190 to protect Paris by Viking raids. Centuries after centuries, French kings built upon it one wing at a time. We first stepped into the Denon Wing where Chhimi could view the vast Egyption exhibition, including a mummy (Eek!). This was definitely history and art overload for me. There were so many pieces, so much art, so much information to absorb. We hit all three wings including the Sully and Richelieu wing. Afterwards, we were sooo tired but definitely well worth the one-day exhibition.
