What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think “Paris”? For me, it’s cherry blossom… I know right, unusually so. Most people think of “Romance and Love”, but I absolutely think cherry blossom trees definitely are a symbol of love and happiness. Which is exactly what the city of Paris is about. As soon as I entered the city, the first thing I recognized was how the cherry blossoms were lined along the streets so pink and fluffy truly giving me flashbacks of a certain movie scene that I clearly fell in love with a while back, I couldn’t recall which one it was. Could it be ‘Paris with love’, ‘Paris I love you’ or the all-time favorite ‘Ratatouille’? All I knew was that everything looked and felt so Deja vu, having imagined myself in Paris too many times my heart beamed with so much joy I couldn’t put it into words.
The Eiffel Tower
I entered the city Via Quai Saint-Bernard that drives so beautifully along the Seine River. The Seine River is an applauded 777km long river which holds Paris’ commercial waterway. It flows through Paris and is lined by ports of sightseeing boats as the river flows past the famous Cathedral Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and D’Orsay. The city is alive. Its 16:30 and traffic is moving slowly and just like in those movies there are motorcycles, bicycles, coaches and the famous European car brands, Peugeot, Renault, Citroen and many more, even though we do have these brands back home they are saturated here it definitely exudes all things European.
Louvre Museum
My hotel was all the way on 15th Arr. an electric residential area filled with quaint shops, restaurants and markets. Soon as I checked in, I stepped out, it was already 19h00 so I called the Uber and immediately headed to 8th Arr. to see the Arc de Triomphe as I had heard that it would be closed the next day due to protests. Arc de Triomphe was packed, tourists everywhere. From all over the world gathered here to see this beautiful monumental structure. The Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought and died for France in the French Napoleonic wars. It stands 50 meters above ground, 45 meters wide while 72 feet deep. Fortunately, it was still open for sky viewing at my arrival, I was ecstatic. For only 12 Euro and 280 stairs later I found myself right at the top.
D’Orsay
The views were so magical. Arc de Triomphe is located at the endpoint of the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. From the top I could see the far ends of Paris in 360 degree panorama and right there before it, also stood the miraculous Eiffel Tower that glowed bright as the Arc de Triomphe, flashing its blue light round like a light house would right in the middle of a monstrous ocean. I loved everything about it, so I decided to set out on foot which took me less than 30min to go watch the Eiffel Tower up close as it twinkled like a star. This took place after every hour for 5 minutes as I walked the streets I would pass by a number of restaurants and bars alive with laughter, music and French ascents in between glasses of fine wine. Feeling so blessed exploding with curiosity I came closer and closer to the tower until it stood so phenomenally before me. An ever so memorable sight, I was mesmerized. I couldn’t get enough of it even after tons of pictures, videos and boomerangs. Eventually three hours later and almost to midnight, my heart was full and I decided to head back to the hotel. Jet legged and fatigued, subconsciously I still couldn’t wait for it to be morning. My naughty feet were still very itchy.