Who wouldn't want to visit Paris? I believe a lot of people would like to see Paris and indulge in its romantic atmosphere?
I am very lucky to see this very famous city more than once. But to tell you frankly, each one is always like the first time. I can't help but become excited whenever I see the Eiffel Tower.
OK, if you wanna go to Paris, the most important thing for you to do is to plan ahead your activities because there so many landmarks to see in this city and they're not very close to one another. I also suggest that instead of riding a cab which can be very very expensive, you walk or take the Metro. For example, from the Eiffel Tower, you can walk along the Seine River and you get to see The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and Pont Alexandre III, which I consider to be the most beautiful bridge in Paris. This might take a day, so be sure you have a hearty breakfast and comfortable shoes.
There are other landmarks that are easily accessible to the Metro - Paris subway train, and I recommend that you use the Metro because it's very convenient and fast. What you need to do is to bring a Paris subway map and Paris map-in-one so you would know where to get off or where and how to change trains.
It happened to me once that I had to change train because the line which I was supposed to take was closed. It was close to midnight and there were very few people in the station and no one could speak English so I tried to study the map and found a way to reach my final destination. When it happens to you, do not panic. Study the map and I am sure you will find a way. Anyway, the ticket that you have is good until you completely exit the station, so as long you're in the subway, you can ride as many trains as you wish.
What to Remember While in Paris:
Well, always keep your belongings safe. If you're travelling alone, be very careful when exploring the city at night. Never ever entertain the "ring gangs". I call them the "ring gangs" because their modus operandi is to pretend that they found a ring in front, behind or near you and ask if that was yours. Well, it can be very tempting especially that the ring looks an expensive gold one. But in reality, it only costs a few euros. How will they get money? They would probably ask for a reward for finding the ring and if you refuse they will trouble you. So stay out of trouble and do not entertain them,
Authorities also warn about those street vendors. They remind tourists not to deal with them. Honestly, I bought some of my souvenirs from them and I must that they can be very demanding and annoying. Once you ask for the price, they won't stop and will follow you until you finally buy from them. My tip is to never deal with them if you're alone (especially female) and can not walk really fast.
Where and What to Eat in Paris
You will never go hungry in Paris! However, I must admit that for my budget and needing, the portion is very small and kinda pricey. So if you wanna save on budget, you settle for affordable food stalls that are scattered all over Paris. They offer delicious sandwiches and soda which can fill your empty tummy and provide you with the needed energy to stay up and energised. You can also prepare your own by buying cold cuts and fresh bread from this list of supermarkets in Paris.
Where to Stay in Paris
Paris has a lot of hotels and they are mostly strategically located near a Metro Station. Hotels in Paris can be fully-booked during peak season so you might end up going from one hotel to another looking for a room, so make sure to book your hotels on time. . Because we travel on a tight budget, we stay in a simple hotel and that is Ibis hotel. They are scattered all over Paris. Why do we like Ibis? Well, we know it. It's not a surprise anymore. We know what to expect and it's pretty affordable. The rooms might be small, but for Asian travellers like me, I guess it's not an issue. They have free wifi, paid parking and the buffet breakfast is good. However, I can say that breakfast buffet differs from one branch to another. For example the breakfast buffet in Ibis Porte d'Italie is amazing.
My Impressions and Tips
The Eiffel Tower
I would say that this is the most prominent symbol of Paris. It was specially constructed for the 1889 World's Fair, but unlike other structures from the past fairs, the Eiffel Tower was not demolished after the event. Hence, we still see its magnificence up to this time. By the way, in Manila, there's a bridge that was also designed by Gustave Eiffel, that's the Quezon Bridge connecting Lawton to Quiapo. Anyway, to get to the Eiffel Tower using the Metro, take the Trocadero station. For me, that station is the more convenient one especially if you wanna observe the Tower at night. The other station is Bir-Hakeim which is behind the Tower. Depending on the season, the Tower is illuminated with dazzling lights at around 22:00 (summer time). If you wanna go up the Tower, allot at least 45 minutes for the queue - I think there two separate lines for the entrance and for the ticket booth so you have to consider this also. To avoid wasting more time lining up, get there early. The view from above is amazing. What I enjoyed: Well, the mere view of the Eiffel Tower is something indescribable. It's like a fairytale-come-true. The trip by foot from Trocadero to the Tower passing through a bridge over the Seine is in itself very rewarding. Taking selfies from all sides of the Tower seems not enough to tell the world that you've to Paris. Looking at tourists as they pose for a souvenir shot is a site that I enjoy observing. Finally, going up the highest platform is simple exhilarating for me. The 360-degree view of the city is just breath-taking.
The Louvre
Probably the best museum in the world. I specially enjoyed The Louvre because of my Humanities and Mythology classes. I can appreciate not only the aesthetic side of the masterpieces, but also the historical facts associated to it. In Louvre, you can take pictures (with flash though) of most of the exhibits, unlike in Prado for example. And the Mona Lisa? Yes, it's there, but I was disappointed when i saw it. It was very small and I could not even get very close to it because it's enclosed in a glass and because of its prominence, hundreds of tourist-photographers were already ahead of me, taking their chance of having a selfie with her. My Tip: If you wanna visit The Louvre, allot at least 45 minutes and as I suggested earlier, get there early. There is a general-entrance ticket which entitles you to visit almost all the exhibits, but that doesn't cover entrance to special halls. Those who want to plan their visit ahead may purchase ticket online. If you really wanna maximise your time in the museum, allot one day so you can visit all the exhibit halls and appreciate all those masterpieces. Anyway, you will never go hungry inside.
Arc de Triomphe
Arc de Triomphe in the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle is probably the other landmark that best symbolises Paris next to the Eiffel Tower. The arc is not only impressive; it is also very historic. The tower reminds everyone of the heroism of those who fought during the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. I was surprised to know that this 50-meter high monument has a museum inside. People can get to the top through a narrow stairwell. There is no lift therefore you need to endure the force of gravity as you ascend, but the vWhat struck me: The history behind the monument is something striking for me. Those names and events carved on the wall of the monument would remind the visitors of the fallen heroes and the past events that shaped the city.
iew on top is very rewarding. From there, you will see the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysee of course and the Sacred Heart Basilica from a distance.
Sacred Heart Basilica
This gothic church is another landmark in the Montmartre area that I never fail to visit whenever I go to Paris. You can get there using the Metro (Montmartre Station). First, I wanna remind you that you must be fit if you wanna reach the basilica because you have to endure hundreds of steps before you can reach the Basilica itself. But the reward is a breath-taking view of Paris and of course, the Basilica itself. However, if you think you can not attain it, you may use the funicular for a fee. What else to do: Well, aside from visiting the Basilica, I realised that souvenirs are cheaper in this area. So you can shop for souvenirs here. Beside the church is an area where Bohemian artists converge. Please strictly no photography. That's how serious they are about copyrights of their work and why not? They create excellent and original art pieces at a very affordable price. You can even have your portrait and yourself immortalised on a canvas while waiting for a sumptuous lunch or snacks. Speaking of dining, be sure to strategise your time. Lunch time can be very crowded in restaurants here which would mean waiting for several minutes to be served or find a seat. So consider modifying your lunch time.
Notre Dame de Paris
If you know Quasimodo and his adventures, then Notre Dame surely rings a bell. A piece of advice, if you wanna have a solo shot in front of the cathedral, get there very early before the tourists start flocking in. I must say the latest is 7:00. The entrance to the Cathedral is free, but you must queue up which is very typical in most popular tourist attractions in Paris. My Other Tips: Walk around the perimeter of the Cathedral. The sides and its rear are as architecturally magnificent as its facade. A few meters away from its garden (behind the church) are "love" bridges. I call them "love" bridges because they are studded with locks bearing the names of persons that I presume to be lovers or very close friends. What they do is that they get a lock with their names on it, hook it to the bridge and throw the key into the Seine River to symbolise their eternal bond. That's indeed very sweet. From those bridges, you will have a postcard-perfect view of the cathedral.
Well, I can write more about the other places in Paris that I visited, but I guess, I leave the rest up to you, my avid readers. If this excited you, go, pack your bag and fly to Paris.
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| The Seine River |
I am very lucky to see this very famous city more than once. But to tell you frankly, each one is always like the first time. I can't help but become excited whenever I see the Eiffel Tower.
OK, if you wanna go to Paris, the most important thing for you to do is to plan ahead your activities because there so many landmarks to see in this city and they're not very close to one another. I also suggest that instead of riding a cab which can be very very expensive, you walk or take the Metro. For example, from the Eiffel Tower, you can walk along the Seine River and you get to see The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and Pont Alexandre III, which I consider to be the most beautiful bridge in Paris. This might take a day, so be sure you have a hearty breakfast and comfortable shoes.
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| Pont Alexandre III |
There are other landmarks that are easily accessible to the Metro - Paris subway train, and I recommend that you use the Metro because it's very convenient and fast. What you need to do is to bring a Paris subway map and Paris map-in-one so you would know where to get off or where and how to change trains.
It happened to me once that I had to change train because the line which I was supposed to take was closed. It was close to midnight and there were very few people in the station and no one could speak English so I tried to study the map and found a way to reach my final destination. When it happens to you, do not panic. Study the map and I am sure you will find a way. Anyway, the ticket that you have is good until you completely exit the station, so as long you're in the subway, you can ride as many trains as you wish.
What to Remember While in Paris:
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| Souvenir Items from Paris |
Well, always keep your belongings safe. If you're travelling alone, be very careful when exploring the city at night. Never ever entertain the "ring gangs". I call them the "ring gangs" because their modus operandi is to pretend that they found a ring in front, behind or near you and ask if that was yours. Well, it can be very tempting especially that the ring looks an expensive gold one. But in reality, it only costs a few euros. How will they get money? They would probably ask for a reward for finding the ring and if you refuse they will trouble you. So stay out of trouble and do not entertain them,
Authorities also warn about those street vendors. They remind tourists not to deal with them. Honestly, I bought some of my souvenirs from them and I must that they can be very demanding and annoying. Once you ask for the price, they won't stop and will follow you until you finally buy from them. My tip is to never deal with them if you're alone (especially female) and can not walk really fast.
Where and What to Eat in Paris
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| Ready-to-Eat Sandwiches |
Where to Stay in Paris
Paris has a lot of hotels and they are mostly strategically located near a Metro Station. Hotels in Paris can be fully-booked during peak season so you might end up going from one hotel to another looking for a room, so make sure to book your hotels on time. . Because we travel on a tight budget, we stay in a simple hotel and that is Ibis hotel. They are scattered all over Paris. Why do we like Ibis? Well, we know it. It's not a surprise anymore. We know what to expect and it's pretty affordable. The rooms might be small, but for Asian travellers like me, I guess it's not an issue. They have free wifi, paid parking and the buffet breakfast is good. However, I can say that breakfast buffet differs from one branch to another. For example the breakfast buffet in Ibis Porte d'Italie is amazing.
My Impressions and Tips
The Eiffel Tower
I would say that this is the most prominent symbol of Paris. It was specially constructed for the 1889 World's Fair, but unlike other structures from the past fairs, the Eiffel Tower was not demolished after the event. Hence, we still see its magnificence up to this time. By the way, in Manila, there's a bridge that was also designed by Gustave Eiffel, that's the Quezon Bridge connecting Lawton to Quiapo. Anyway, to get to the Eiffel Tower using the Metro, take the Trocadero station. For me, that station is the more convenient one especially if you wanna observe the Tower at night. The other station is Bir-Hakeim which is behind the Tower. Depending on the season, the Tower is illuminated with dazzling lights at around 22:00 (summer time). If you wanna go up the Tower, allot at least 45 minutes for the queue - I think there two separate lines for the entrance and for the ticket booth so you have to consider this also. To avoid wasting more time lining up, get there early. The view from above is amazing. What I enjoyed: Well, the mere view of the Eiffel Tower is something indescribable. It's like a fairytale-come-true. The trip by foot from Trocadero to the Tower passing through a bridge over the Seine is in itself very rewarding. Taking selfies from all sides of the Tower seems not enough to tell the world that you've to Paris. Looking at tourists as they pose for a souvenir shot is a site that I enjoy observing. Finally, going up the highest platform is simple exhilarating for me. The 360-degree view of the city is just breath-taking.The Louvre
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| Entrance to The Louvre |
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| A close picture of Mona Lisa using a telephoto lens |
Arc de Triomphe
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| Arc D'Triomphe |
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| View from the Top of the Arc D'Triomphe |
iew on top is very rewarding. From there, you will see the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysee of course and the Sacred Heart Basilica from a distance.
Sacred Heart Basilica
Notre Dame de Paris
Well, I can write more about the other places in Paris that I visited, but I guess, I leave the rest up to you, my avid readers. If this excited you, go, pack your bag and fly to Paris.
1 comment:
When I read your blog I feel so "homesick" to Paris ... really miss this wonderful city with it's unique atmosphere! I think that your advices will be pretty helpful to Paris visitors, especially when going there for the first time.
Patrick
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