Paris Famous Spots

So here I am, riding a bus with internet from Mexico City to Guadalajara and since I will be sitting down for the next 6 hours I thought writing in my blog was an excellent idea to pass time.   

Unless you were born in the European Union, Paris’ museums and attractions can be quite expensive so like I mentioned before, make sure to pick your must-sees before you leave for Paris.

Notre-Dame

According to the Cathedral’s website, “tradition has it that Notre-Dame’s first stone was laid in 1163 in the presence of Pope Alexander III.” Of course, throughout the years, many additions and restorations have been made to this gothic building but its essence is still the same as hundreds of years ago, which is why entering Notre-Dame is a must. Since Notre-Dame is a place of worship, there are no fees charged to enter the building (this is not the case with all cathedrals and churches though); with beautiful stained-glass windows, sculptures, and giant organs this place is art in itself.

Sacre-Coeur

This building is unlike any other in Paris, and yet this is perhaps one of the least known tourist spots; before going to Paris I had never heard of this place, but thankfully, a friend recommended this place and it was worth it. Although Romano-Byzantine in design the architecture of Sacre-Coeur seems Taj-Mahal like which makes hard to imagine this is a basilica. The contrast between the white basilica and the green hill where it stands makes the beauty of this building more dazzling--and a favorite resting spot for both locals and tourists.

Moulin Rouge

Close to Sacre-Coeur is in the world-known night-club theater of Moulin Rouge; unlike Sacre-Coeur, the Moulin Rouge is expensive with tickets starting at €114.00 to €216.00 depending on the menu. If you have the euros to spare then this show might be something you are interested in, but if you are like me, all about saving, then just take some pictures in it famous façade.

Jardin du Luxembourg Park

A beautiful park close to Notre-Dame, Luxembourg is ideal for a picnic or for an under-the-sky nap. During the afternoons the park is full of children playing with toy boats in the central fountain and with students reading and talking in the gardens. From time to time you can catch a free concert and amazing exhibitions.

The Louvre

Perhaps this is the most famous art museum in the world and this is no surprise considering it is the residence of some of the most famous art pieces by artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Jacques-Louis David, Raphael…

The Louvre is no small museum; seeing the entire collection might take as long as two days and getting close to the art might be an impossible feat with so many tourists walking through its corridors, so make sure to start your visit as soon as the doors open. The entrance is €12.00 but the first Sunday of every month entrance is free.

Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower

The question is not which one to see, but which one to go into; at around €8.00 the arc de Triomphe provides an excellent view of Paris’ beautiful streets and a perfect sight of Champs Elysees, Place de la Concorde, and The Louvre Museum. On the other hand, the Eiffel Tower charges €13.40 (lift to the top) for near aerial views of the entire city; take into account the tower is not apt for people with acrophopbia and the wait is rather long, but if you do not mind this then go ahead. In my case, I found the view from the arc much more worth it than the Eiffel Tower, but this all depends on your personal preference; if you have the money definitely go into both.

Versailles 

One of the most know palaces, Versailles is only a train ride outside of Paris. This is a place where you will need to spend your entire day since the Palace is divided in many parts and it gardens are simply breathtaking. The mirror room is one of its most famous rooms and the estate of Marie-Antoinette is a favorite amongst tourists. Entrance is around €18.00 for a one-day pass.

There are many other places that are just as beautiful as the ones previously mentioned and equally famous; the Catacombs, the Paris Opera, Champs de Mars, Centre Pompidou, and countless parks, museums, and churches make Paris one of the most magical cities in the world which makes Paris a destination like no other.

               

I Love Paris

We had a VERY WINDY week here in Southern California; power outages, bad wireless  connectivity, fallen trees, and destroyed roofs, sunny California looked more like a Hurricane state which is why I delayed my blog a couple of days, 1000 apologies.

In any case, I will continue where I last left of, Europe, and the entries for the next couple of weeks will be about Paris!

“I love Paris in the spring time, I love Paris in the fall, I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles, I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles,” those are the lyrics of one of my favorite songs by the one and only, Frank Sinatra, and how right those words are; everyday of the year, Paris has a charm that no other city in the world has. In the December 2011 issue of National Geographic, I found a small, yet interesting article about the most influential cities in the world; Paris ranked number four with its many cultural attractions and global organizations, high business activity, low level of censorship, and foreign-diversity. Paris is the city of fashion, romance, good food, art, and live entertainment and it is perhaps for these reasons that this beautiful city can be quite pricey. However, if you stay away from the expensive stores at Champs Elysees and opt for walking instead of riding the metro, then Paris can be easy on the pocket.

The city of Paris has one of the best public transportation systems in the world, but also one of the most expensive; last time I was there a week metro- pass was over € 50.00 which is why I recommend walking. To be able to walk around you need to book a hotel of hostel in the heart of Paris; although hostels are more expensive in the center of the city, you will definitely save more money than by staying in a cheap lodge in the middle of nowhere. Now, if walking it’s definitely not in your plans, then check out the Paris Metro and the Paris Pass site, where you can find attraction + metro packages that will save you some bucks.

Now, since there are so many tourists destinations in Paris, make sure to do some research about the places you want to see; The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Jardin du Luxemburg, Musée du Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Place de la Bastille, Panthéon, Les Invalides, Centre Pompidou, Notre-Dame, The Latin Quarter, Montmartre, Moulin Rouge, the list is infinite so try to have a set-up mind before arriving in Paris, because believe me, a couple of weeks won’t be enough to see it all.

Now, here is how I kind of managed my time while in Paris. Since me and my friend were staying at a friend’s house we would make a sandwich every morning in her kitchen before heading out to our respective destinations. My day #1 journey started at St. Michel Notre-Dame. After exploring the cathedral, I would head to the Jardin de Tuileries via the River Seine, check out the Place de la Concorde, walk the Avenue des Champs Elysees until  arriving to the Arc de Triomphe where I would sit to eat half of my delicious sandwich before starting for the Eiffel Tower through the beautiful, and very Parisian, Avenue Kleber. By the time I arrived at the Eiffel Tower 5 hours had passed since the start of my journey so I took a little nap in the Parc du Champ de Mars. After waking up I would head out to Les Invalides, and from there my final destination was Jardin du Luxemburg where a free concert, and the other half of my sandwich, would usually be waiting for me. Thank God I love walking and exercising otherwise there is no way I would have been able to walk over 9 hours in a day! By doing all this walk I discovered many things I wasn’t even planning on visiting like Jardin du Luxemburg and Les Invalides; also, the neighborhoods around the Eiffel Tower are beautiful and completely empty of tourists which was a nice break from the crowds and the excessive noise.

Walks like this one make you discover a city in a whole new way, all you need is a map, lots of water, snacks, and a good physical condition, believe me, you will end up knowing more about the city than the majority of tourists. During this first walk I did not go inside any buildings or attractions (with the exception of Notre-Dame). The walk was just to have an idea of the places where I wanted to spend a little more time at, which will be the topic of my next blog.

P.D. Next time I will be writing from Mexico, not known for its good wireless connectivity, so posting might take a little longer than usual, but do not fret, rain or shine the blog will come so please be patient, I will try my best.