A wonderful weekend in Paris

Paris- ooh la la! What can I say? Like the cliché goes, it has that certain "je ne sais quoi." It is such a romantic, beautiful city! To get there from London, it's only a quick journey on the Eurostar. I booked a tour and was off for the weekend.

After arriving at around 3pm, the tour guide took us on a short bus tour. I fell in love with the city at first sight! Later, I did some shopping around my hotel, and found some really nice clothes at a reasonable price. People there are so stylish! I'm sure upon some further exploration, I would have come across even nicer stores.

That night I went to see a Cabaret show with some others from the tour group. The show was called Paradis Latin. It was quite pricey, (50 euros) but the show was spectacular! I would have loved to go to the Moulin Rouge, but that one was over 100 euros, and apparently you need to book well in advance. Some others from our group turned up and tried to see it, but it was fully booked.

The People

I wasn't sure what to expect given the stereotypes of French people are; rude, impatient and arrogant. I was pleasantly surprised when I found them kind, warm and friendly. This could have been because I attempted to speak French to them. I was quite excited that I was able to understand and read some of what was being said/written. The only problem with that is that I would start off a conversation in French, but then was unable to finish it, because the person would be jabbering away fluently, which was way beyond my level of understanding. I have always wanted to become fluent in French. Others in my tour group seemed to have a different opinion than mine. Some found the French to be unhelpful and rude. People should keep in mind that there are around 16 million tourist visiting Paris each year, so I believe that excuses the residents from being friendly and patient each time someone asks them for directions. That many visitors must be trying on the Parisians' patience. To sum up my views on French men and women; they are glamourous, sexy, beautiful and nice. I would love to spend some time in France to learn to speak fluent French.

The Food

While in Paris, I got extremely sick due to the horrible weather. There would be 15 minute intervals of sun, followed by downpours of rain. It was quite cold, considering it was the end of March. Because of this, my appetite wasn't great. I didn't get to sample much of the cuisine. I did have a chance to sample some French onion soup, which was quite good, though a bit too oniony for me. I also got to try a crepe with chocolate form a stand near the Louvre. They sell crepes everywhere with every type of topping you can imagine. The baguettes were delicious. I think that most of my meals were of baguettes and cheese. While waiting for the train (Metro) I spotted a woman eating a baguette almost longer than her! She bit into it like an apple. It was quite an amusing sight. You can even buy loaves of bread at McDonald's. (Also beer!)

Cruising the Seine

The river running through Paris, the Seine is very picturesque. It takes you around the main attractions around the city. I took a river tour at night. Though it was freezing cold, it was the experience of a life time. It was the most beautiful river cruise I have been on. The tour culminates near the Eiffel tower, which burst into sparkling lights. It was probably one the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

The Louvre

Having visited numerous museums in London, visiting the Louvre wasn't high on my list of priorities. I am so glad I went. It was incredible! The outside of the museum is imposing and spectacular. The architecture was stunning inside and out, with intricate carvings on the ceiling., and the Monna Lisa stands up to ALL the hype! A must-see for fans of the Da Vinci code.

Cathedrals

Notre Dame is a magnificent cathedral with beautiful architechture and stained glass windows. I have yet to read the hunchback of Notre Dame which is set here, and is even said to be the main character of the book, since detailed descriptions are written about the cathedral. If you go up the staircases (which I missed) you will see lovely deigns of gargoyles carved in stone…incredible!

St. Chapelle is a gorgeous cathedral full of stained glass windows and Sacred Heart cathedral is beautifully situated on a hill with a stunning view of the city.

Random Thoughts

The cafes in Paris are exactly what I pictured. I saw the famous hangouts of Ernest Hemingway, Victor Hugo and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The place is a literature lover's dream come true! This is not only because of the famous authors who have hung out and even written here, but also because it the architecture and atmosphere are so inspiring.

There are small dogs everywhere. You will see grown men walking around with Paris Hilton-like dogs; some in little doggy outfits!

I can definitely see why so many people are intrigued with Paris. It has a great atmosphere, which gave me such a special type of feeling. I will make it one of my goals in life to go back to Paris. It would be a wonderful place for a girl's trip, or a romantic couple's holiday.