From Paris, with love - Paris, France
Paris, France
Today has been by far our saddest day. After being spoilt in Holland for 10 days with Anita and Jonne we set track once again onto Paris. Unfortunately we were foolish and did not book our train reservation in advance. This cost us a little more money then expected and a hell of a lot more time travelling. None the less (trying to take it with a grain of salt) we eventually set journey to Paris via Lille for dinner. Our bags felt lighter after a relaxed time in the Netherlands but our hearts were heavy, we had forgotten the challenges of travelling and the sense of us against the world. It definitely didn't help with the sun setting just past five and the constant rain during the day.
Once we arrived in Paris (much later than we had hoped) we quickly made our way to our small one bed room apartment. It was such a long journey that we skipped dinner and crashed out that night. The next morning, eager to discover Paris, we woke up had breakfast and made our way to the Lourve. On the way there we walked to galleries Lafayette which was the most beautiful shopping complex I have ever seen. Golden accents and regal ornaments compliment the numerous floors of top designer labels. We walked around with me drooling over the beautiful products. Our next stop was Tuileries Garden which is located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde. The park is very large and we can imagine it being a Parisian haven in the warmer months. It was there were I spotted the Eiffel Tower for the first time, saying I was excited is an understatement.
After leisurely walking through the park we made it to the museum. Somehow we walked straight to the ticket office without any problems and were in very quickly. The louvre is an enormous museum one of the largest in the world and of course a French icon. Surprise, surprise our first stop was the Mona Lisa. We were so lucky that there were less than 10 people in the room, so we got to get as close as we could to the smaller than expected piece of art. We stayed in the museum for a few hours exploring most of the rooms and making sure we saw the more famous art pieces such as the Venus de milo, Egyptian artefacts and classical sculptures. After the museum we decided to take on Paris by foot. The weather was cold, wet and windy. After taking in the sights, shops and Parisian lifestyle we headed home for the night.
The next day after a little sleep in we headed out to the Arc de Triomphe which was much larger than I expected. Unfortunately it started to rain so after some touristy photos we kept moving. Resigned to the fact of getting wet we strolled down Champs Elysees which is the most expensive street in the world, holding beautiful cafes and luxurious stores. Again the famous street taught me a thing or two about beautiful style and fashion.
The metro system in Paris is efficient and quick. We made our way to the Eiffel Tower where the grandeur and symbolism of love is outstanding. Standing in front of it was surreal. Again, being low season, getting tickets was easy. We chose to walk up to the second floor and then catch the lift to the very top. Walking up the six hundred plus steps was challenging and a realisation of just how unfit Paul and I have become. Eventually we made it- the view was spectacular. You could see all of Paris, just breathtaking. We eventually made it to the summit of the Eiffel Tower were the winds were soooo strong it felt like it could literally blow me away. Despite it being cloudy and cold it was a wonderful experience- on the summit of the Eiffel Tower seeing the sun set over Paris with my fiancé. Perfect end to an afternoon! Just when I thought things couldn't get better we treated ourselves to a three course "date night" dinner at one of the top rated restaurants in Paris. Each dish was moorish and delicious, we had the best Foie gras ever!
After a heavy meal we slept in the next morning and had lunch at home- a light salad :) then we ventured out to see the last sights of Paris. We went to Notre dame cathedral, which surprisingly had no entry free. The line wasn't too bad so we got in relatively quickly. Upset with myself, I had forgotten my camera memory card so all the pictures of this day are from Paul's phone. The exterior of the cathedral is impressive, it is large and the detail is spectacular. Once you enter however you are in awe of its beauty, the stained glass windows and the statues were like nothing I had seen before. The cathedral glistens with the hundreds of candles that are lit by pilgrims very day. We then walked to the Laduree store where I indulged myself in the most beautiful macaroon treat I had ever seen.
Our last stop in Paris was to see the Eiffel Tower by night. We walked the streets, getting a little lost following the light show projecting off the tower. Once we arrived I couldn't help tear up, it looked magical and I felt overwhelmed with emotion. I guess I realised just how much we have seen and experienced- we are very lucky. We watched the tower glisten for about an hour, I didn't want to leave it. As we walked away I could not help look back every few metres. That night we ate out in a small restaurant with red and white table cloths. The food was average but the funny thing was when Paul told an old guy that he was an English teacher (to avoid questions about his real occupation) and the old man drilled him on his favourite Shakespeare quotes and Charles Dickens book. We ate quickly to avoid further embarrassment and questioning hahaha.
Overall our three full days in Paris were amazing. It definitely is the city of love, fashion and art. Unlike the stereotype, all the French people were kind and helpful. Our favourite dish was trying true fois gras with French wine, the Eiffel Tower by night was the best site and I would bring back the fashion and pastries back to Australia.