It's been a while since I've posted, and since I'm heading to Barcelona on Friday (^__^), I thought I should probably post my entry about Paris.
Last month, I went to Paris for the first time and it was sooo amazing! In order to get the biggest bang for our buck, the girls and I decided to book our trip through a company called UK Study Tours. This company offers low-cost trips for students to destinations like Paris, Amsterdam, etc. for around $230-250 which includes travel, lodging, and guided tours. I definitely recommend using the company to book a trip if you're ever in the UK and want to take a weekend trip to a nearby country.
Anyway, upon arrival in the city at about 8:00 AM local time, we dropped our bags off at the hotel, grabbed breakfast quickly, and hit the ground running. Within minutes, we were on the Metro headed to the heart of the city where we began our tour. First, the tour guide started us off on the Champs Elysees, the longest avenue in Paris, near the Ferris Wheel of Paris and the Obelisk. From there we walked to the "petit" Arc de Triomphe, the Inverted Pyramid located in the Louvre shopping mall in front of the world-famous Louvre Museum, and later the River Seine. We took a boat tour on the River Seine which allowed us to see a lot in a little bit of time. From the river, we were able to see the Eiffel Tower, the Love Bridge, the original Statue of Liberty, the Alexander III Bridge, the Louvre Museum, and much more.
After the river boat tour, the tour guide left us and we were on our own for a few hours to explore the city. Being in Paris was such an out-of-body type experience for me. Never before had I been in a country where I neither spoke nor understood the language! Besides the basics-- "bonjour", "au revoir", "merci", and "parlez-vous anglais?" (Can you speak English?)-- I practically knew nothing. I found myself just staring at people when they spoke French because I just couldn't grasp my mind around the fact that I wasn't able to understand anything that they were saying! Luckily though, we were able to find people who spoke some level of English whenever we needed assistance.
That afternoon, we walked to the Notre Dame, but decided not to go inside because the line was so long. Having worked up an appetite from walking and wanting to warm up, we stopped in a little cafe near Notre Dame to grab a bite to eat and un chocolat (a hot chocolate). Sitting in the cafe, wearing my beret, and sipping from a mug of hot chocolate, I definitely felt I was channeling my inner Carrie Bradshaw (see the "American Girl in Paris" episodes of Sex & the City if you're clueless). Although we planned to rent bikes and ride around the city, having no knowledge of either the French language or the streets of Paris, we couldn't figure out where we were, so we decided against renting the bikes and instead continued walking. From there, we walked to the other end of the the Champs Elysees in search of some macarons (the best pastry ever!), to check out the shopping, and to see the larger Arc de Triomph.
That night after dinner and taking a quick rest break at the hotel, we decided to check out Parisian nightlife. Having a Spelman-Morehouse connection in Paris (you know how global and well-traveled we are), K and I met up with a friend of mine who is currently studying in Paris. The bar was in the Moulin Rouge-area of Paris which reminded me New York City. There were drunk people everywhere, hanging out of bars, taxis, you name it. The area was so lively and diverse and not to mention, I got to see the Moulin Rouge!
The next day before heading back to Oxford, we visited the Eiffel Tower and Versailles. Although the Eiffel Tower is the "cliche" Parisian tourist attraction, it was still the site I wanted to see the most while in Paris. We took the elevator to the second floor and because I'm scared of heights, I was pretty much dying inside the entire ride up. The elevators are huge with glass floor-to-ceiling windows, an exposed system of pulleys and cables, and at least 30 people inside-- not my thing. Once we finally got off the elevator, the view was BEAUTIFUL. I could practically see all of Paris around me. Definitely one of the best memories I have ever made.
The Palace of Versailles was unforgettable as well, as it was HUMONGOUS and the single most gaudy structure I have ever seen. An entire hallway lined with mirrors, gold chandeliers, countless statutes, gold-plated door handles, feathered adornments, corner-to-corner murals on the ceilings, etc. The French royal family was definitely out of control. Touring the palace, it was pretty evident why the French people stormed the palace and overthrew the royal family.
All in all, Paris was an amazing and unforgettable experience. Just being able to observe the architecture, the people, and the culture reminded me of how blessed I am. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am so grateful that it was afforded to me.
Anyway, the next stops aboard the European Adventure Train are Barcelona and Mallorca, Spain! Estoy muy emocionada para viajar al país donde se originó el idioma español!
Stay tuned! =)
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On the Love Bridge over the River Seine |
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Le petit Arc de Triomphe |
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The Ferris Wheel of Paris and the Obelisk |
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Map of the Paris Metro |
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The Famous Avenue des Champs Elysees
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Me, in front of the Eiffel Tower |