Let me start this post by stating that before I left, I had some preconceived notions on what Paris and the trip overall would be like. I was wrong. It was far better that anything I could’ve ever imagined!
Somehow, I still can’t believe I wasn’t dreaming and that I have actually visited the city I’ve dreamed of visiting ever since, as a child, I could pronounce the name “Tour Eiffel”.
We arrived at” Charles de Gaulle airport” at about 12 pm and the weather was not all that great. It was not raining but it was only about 9 to 11 degrees Celsius. But hey, it was much better than the hot weather we had left behind in Doha. I have to say it right away…my impression of the Charles de Gaulle airport was very positive. We directly got our suitcases but I think it was getting out of the airport and to Paris that were our main “concern”.
Paris is a big city and it is of course great to walk around the entire city looking at famous monuments, museums, gardens, churches etc. But eventually you’ll get worn out from all the walking and then you need a good and fast way to get around. In Paris the best option is the metro, in most of the parisien opinions. Yet , the bus was very useful also. I tried the metro once during my whole stay and didn’t repeat it again ;)) . There are stations everywhere and it is easy to figure out how to use it ( for sure with my sister’s help )
Talking about the Sightseeing , Paris is big, there is so much to see and do and I’m not really sure where to start. Once again I have to recommend getting a guidebook so that you can plan ahead if you don't have a good local company. Remember that you can’t cover all of Paris in a couple of days so you have to make sacrifices I’m afraid, if you are there on a short stay. Here is some few stuff we did while we were in Paris.
The symbol of Paris – the Eiffel Tower
I don’t think there are many monuments that are as famous as the Eiffel Tower. You can see it on postcards, T-shirts, souvenirs keychains ,etc…and in every movie where the action takes place in Paris it always seems like the flat has a view to the Tower :-). The Tower must be one of the most visited tourist attractions in Paris ! it didn’t take us long after we had arrived before my sister took us to it and to the park in front of the Tower (Parc du Champs de Mars) where we stood admiring this “aging” beauty. At night it is illuminated and every hour the Tower comes alive when it is illuminated by sparkling lights for 10 minutes. The Eiffel Tower is a must see in Paris but be prepared for long lines to get in.
Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Elysées
The Arc de Triomphe is another Parisian symbol that most people are familiar with. If you stand in the Jardin des Tuileries outside the Louvre you can see the monument behind the obelisk at Place de la Concorde. We think it is a great place as you get a very good view from the 50 meter rooftop terrace but I haven’t been there because of the kids and trolleys ;)). We walked down the avenue of Champs-Elysées as we left the arch. There are lots to see as you walk down the street by the way. Major car brands like Peugeot, Renault, Mercedes etc have their show case stores here where they display current models, Formula1 cars, future cars etc. But there are also brand name clothing stores like Gucci , Elie Saab, Burberry, Valentino.. and lots of restaurants and cinemas.
The White church on the hill - Sacré-Coeur
The Sacré-Coeur basilica is located in the Montmartre area and it is a great place to visit on a nice clear day. The church is located on a hill and the view from this point is spectacular.
It is a short walk up to the church itself but there is even a short “train service” there. The white church is beautiful against the blue sky and it is nice to sit down in the stairs and relax and look at the view of Paris. We wanted to get a bit higher but we couldn’t again because of the baby’s trolleys .
We also walked the short distance to the Montmartre area. We didn’t get very far from the church before we were surrounded by artists that draw tourists portrait. the streets in the area are quite nice…narrow and laid with cobblestone, full of cafeshops where you can taste the best choco-crepe in the world .
We didn’t really do that much shopping in Paris…well,we did stop by Galeries Lafayette which it is a huge department store that has a lot of stuff. But a lot of it is up marked stuff so I guess it depends on how much you are willing to cough up for certain items :-). As well, we went to some malls as place d’italie and others where you can find shops like Mango, Zara, KOOKAÏ , C&A etc..
So was it magical being Paris ? I couldn’t have wished for better trip and I have to say that Paris still has a special place in my heart knowning that my sister family are living there.
