Paris- My Travelogue
It all started when I planned my first trip after moving to Switzerland. Being born in India, travelling to Europe was always a dream. It was the trip planned most religiously, going through various websites gathering as much information possible. Paris has been beautifully captured in a lot of Bollywood movies, and I was so excited for the much-awaited glimpse of this city.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDP6neOoSyQ
Eiffel Tower, an iconic monument has been the centrepiece of any image related to Paris. When you visit this tall monument, you will have a chance to ride the lift to the very top and enjoy the very beautiful Paris city. The astonishing views of the Eiffel on Trocadéro just took my breath away. The Eiffel Tower is open mostly, but access may vary. I recommend getting there as early as possible as the queues for this attraction get very long, preferably start by early morning.
Notre Dame. The cathedral is a French Gothic architectural masterpiece, which is unique of its own kind. It is good if you can go for a stroll around this cathedral to see its beautiful architecture. The towers are open to visitors from 10am-6.30pm.
Sacréd Coeur is on top of a hill in this district looking out over Paris. To reach this place you need to climb a lot of stairs or you could always take the funicular if you do not wish to climb the stairs. In case you are willing to climb 234 stairs through the inside of the church, you will get to the top of the dome. This church is little conservative, so make sure you are appropriately dressed.
Arc de Triomphe stands magnificently in the Place Charles de Gaulle. Opened in 1836 and honours those who died fighting in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. It strikingly resembles the India Gate in New Delhi, India. I decided to take a closer look at the architecture and realised it interestingly shares some similar facts with India Gate. Both honour the war martyrs and beneath their arches is an eternal flame which marks the Tomb of unknown soldier & on the wall inscribed are the names of the soldiers who sacrificed their life.
The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the city. It has the largest collections of art from over a long period and is home to some of the most famous pieces of artwork in the world, such as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. When you enter this grand building, through its famous glass pyramid, more than 25,000 pieces of magnificent artwork. The detail of these beautiful works of art is just stunning, make sure that you pick up an audio guide to understand the artwork better.
Paris is a very beautiful city, with most of the major sites in proximity. It is for this reason that it has always been a favourite city for many people and walking from place to place rather than taking the Metro will always bring many unexpected visual treats. Walking along and across the Seine, through the historic places on the left and right of the riverbank and edges is an essential part of Paris trip.
