I'm starting to annoy myself with how much I talk about this, so I'll keep it sweet. Here's some tips, however helpful they may be and some of my experiences from my trip in Paris.
My (more or less) week begins on the 4th of September and ends on the 10th.
So like I said in a previous post, I suggested making a plan before you go if you're like me and plan on seeing the entire city in such a short period of time.
There's just a quick photo of the torture that I had planned for my poor poor feet, most of which I managed to tick off. I brought this book literally every time we left the apartment because I didn't want to miss a single thing. Before I go on, I'll shamefully admit that maybe I planned to see a little too much and overestimated the durability of my legs.
An abandoned railway that lies just under the streets in the 14th arrondissement. It's completely hidden and looks entirely illegal to enter, but sure enough no one bothered us. I would definitely suggest going here, because it's so unlike any other place in Paris.
Butte-Aux-Cailles
Located in the the 13th arrondissement, is a really trendy neighborhood littered with street art that's entirely popular with the locals and the few tourists that ventured this far from the typical, well, tourist spots.
The neighborhood is called Butte-Aux-Cailles, and if you're into anything creative, like I am, then you'll love this place. There's a handful of contemporary bars that fit in perfectly among the street art, that looked particularly inviting.
Le Jairdin du Luxembourg
These gardens are amazing and entirely overwhelming. Every few
meters, there's a statue to see and a game of bowls or tennis to watch. Bring some lunch with you, sit down and take it all in. It's huge, but not to be mistaken for just a park, every corner is different; ranging from orchards to miniature sailing in it's huge pond.
Saint Sulpice
My most anticipated place to visit. Literally one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Unfortunately for us, there was a huge marquee sitting between the fontaine Saint Sulpice and the
actual Church, so if you're planning on visiting, make sure nothing's going on. The sheer size of this construction is more than enough to satisfy you, but climb the steps and have a closer look at the pillars and the statues alongside the main door.
Panthéon
Architecturally, probably the most aesthetic thing that I saw on my trip. Adjacent to the Panthéon itself is a University of Law and the Townhall of the 5th arrondissement, and between those buildings you have a view of the Eiffel Tower. If you're into symmetrics, this place will make you cry (happy tears). I was happy enough to see the outside of this building, but was otherwise persuaded to go inside, which may have been the best idea of all. In the crypts below the Panthéon, you'll find the tombs of Marie Curie and her husband Pierre, Louis Braille, and a number of other people that the French regard spectacular.
St. Étienne du Mont
St. Genevieve is the patron saint of Paris, and almost all of the
religious edifices we visited praised her. So naturally she was put onto our list. Her gold sarcophagus resides in the rightmost part of the St. Étienne du Mont, where a shrine is set up for the public to visit. It is located towards the back of the Panthéon and so I feel it doesn't get as much attention as it should. By far the most ethereal place I have ever visited.
The Louvre
Outside the Louvre, there is constant bustle. Hoards of people taking in the scenery and lines and lines of people anxious to get through security and inside this monument. Inside however, it may be one of the most serene and calm places I've ever been, that is until you near the Mona Lisa. Also something I want to touch on, yes she's amazing but she's not the only amazing thing in there. My favourite part of the Louvre had to be the abundance of French and European sculptures that was on exhibition. Nothing in the museum took my breath away quite like these huge phenomenal statues.
Ladurée
If the walk from the Louvre all the way down the Champs-Élysées didn't nearly get you hospitalized, then I applaud you. However there is a light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time in my life and hopefully not the last, I had a real 'Blair Waldorf' moment. I sat in Ladurée - one of France's most luxurious bakeries, sipped on a
Kir and ate the most amazing macaroons. Do it, if not for the love of delicious little pink cakes or alcohol, then for the Blair Waldorf moment.
Arc de Triomphe
For something so painful, I figured it had to be worth it. Never in my life, had I ever thought that one day I would be begging for a double leg amputation. In Paris, it occurred to me a lot that I presumed things to be a lot smaller than they actually were. As a matter of fact, they're all huge. The Arc de Triomphe near enough killed me. The worst calf pain I have ever felt in my life. My lungs felt like they were about to burst and the whole walking around in circles certainly didn't help. With buckling legs, I managed to make it to the top to find the most amazing view of Paris. Definitely worth the suffering.
Parc de Zoologique
Never before had it occurred to me to visit a zoo while I'm abroad. Once again, I was persuaded by the tales of a mystical monkey mountain and a dome full of exotic birds that could roam free (as free as a zoo can get). I certainly wasn't disappointed. However, none of the above were the highlight of this trip. I have never interacted with sea life as much as I did in this park. I was coaxed
by penguins, whereby I was in touching distance. By far, the best thing there though was definitely the Manatees. I had only ever seen these animals in videos or photos, and to see two of these seacows breach right in front of me was amazing.
The Eiffel Tower at night
It goes without saying that the Eiffel Tower is sensational, but it is unparalleled to anything else I've ever seen. Once again, as ridiculous as it sounds, I did not expect this superstructure to be as humongous as it was in person. Even more impressive though, is the orange glow that is cast upon the iron frames as the evening closes. I distinctly remember an American shouting to her friend to take photos if the Eiffel Tower starts to twinkle, because that was kind of rare. Sure enough, as we ascended to the first floor and got out onto the platform, the tower did start to flash and twinkle. It was amazing. Plus, if you really want to see the city of lights, don't you want to see it from the top of the Eiffel Tower?
Comme d'habitude, je vous remercie de lire,
As always, thank you for reading
Lauren
