So, I decided I’d take a side trip to Paris while I was in Germany and I rented a car which proved to be much easier than I’d anticipated. Fortunately, I had an international driver’s license which probably didn’t hurt and used a company I have a membership with and have used before. I was going to fly or use some sort of public transportation like a train or bus but at the last minute thought I’d drive for a change and take a winding path to my destination.
I wasn’t in a terrible hurry and stopped in Metz for the night to get a bit to eat, look around and enjoy some scenery. I stayed at the first small, local hotel I saw and it turned out to be just fine, within walking distance to a pub so I didn’t have to drive to return to the room. I ended up having a decent time, had some interesting conversations with the locals, the food was good and I was in at a reasonable hour.
I was up early and off to Paris in the morning and had a nice drive on E50 into the heart of the city. I ended up renting a place one street off the Champs-Elysees, a short walk to the local Mc Donalds. When I travel I do on occasion stop by American restaurants to compare the food to the version back home. I did stop while I was in Paris and it wasn’t bad actually. An interesting side note I noticed when in McDonalds was how the French eat compared to Americans. We Americans have a tendency to grab our food, eat and get on to the next item of the day and this is definitely not the case in France. I ordered a Big Mac meal, (supersized of course), sat down and began to eat. There was a French family seated near me and I realized they were staring at me because the family of 4 was sharing the same meal I ordered for myself. They had cut the Big Mac into four pieces and divided the other items in a similar fashion. I thought this was quite interesting and also noted that instead of merely consuming the meal they were engaged in a conversation as they leisurely ate. This is a stark difference as you can imagine between the two cultures and I must admit I ended up trying it while I was there and rather enjoyed it. A good learning experience for me.
So, after the meal I headed down the street to the Arc de Triomphe, window shopping along the way and taking in the sights of the city. Paris is alive with pedestrian and motor traffic, a lively and thriving city. Well, I finally made it to my destination and found myself standing on the top of it looking out over the city or at least what I could see at that level. I actually saw both of them as there is a smaller version by the Louvre. I’ve become sort of an amateur history buff as I travel and spent some time reading and learning about the monument.
F.Y.I. the Arc de Triomphe honors those who fought and died for france in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, beneath it is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel commemorated Napoleon's military victories prior to 1808.
I just loved my time in Paris and continued on to the Eiffel Tower which was easy to locate as you can appreciate. I love to walk around when I travel, enjoying the sights and sounds of the places I visit and Paris was no different. I ended up a the base of the tower and noticed a payphone so I walked over. Seeing the phone I thought, “what the heck, I’ll call home”. The receiver was a bit surprised when I told where I was calling from and the novelty of the whole thing was a bit fun.
Next step was purchasing a ticket and heading to the top, or at least far as I was allowed. It required some stairs and an elevator but I managed to make it up and the view was incredible. You can look out over Paris as it was the tallest structure in the city and it may still be, I’m not sure. I learned that when it was built artists and intellectuals sort of ridiculed it and it turns out their opinions were meaningless as this thing is a globally recognized icon. If you’re ever in Paris, I suggest you get over there and climb up. I had a great time and can check it off my to do list.
Afterwards I decided to walk up and down the Seine river as there were artists and vendors along the way selling hand made goods. I ended up having a local artist do a caricature of me in chalk which I have hanging up on my wall, a great addition to my souvenirs. I spent several hours meandering up one side and down the other, stopping for a bite, talking to the artists or anyone who would stop for a minute. There were quite a few tourists as you can appreciate and I ended up meeting people from various parts of Europe and the world, one of the things I absolutely love about traveling.
So, as I’m walking around Paris, what do I see but an enormous cathedral … Notre Dame, actually Notre-Dam de Paris. Construction began some time around 1163 and took around 200 years to complete if you can say that as these things are never really complete due to the maintenance required. It is an enormous building, gothic in construction and filled with history and is a must see if you’re in Paris .. I was amazed by the building. I took a load of pictures, and even lit a candle while I was there and said a prayer. I’m not catholic but it is an impressive structure.
Where else did I go, let’s see … oh, yes, the Louvre. What an amazing place, over 35,000 items and at 60,600 sq meters it's the world’s most visited museum. Talk about a treasure trove of history. I saw mummies, centuries old paintings, carvings, Egyptian and Roman antiques, Islamic art and sculptures .. wow. I think I’ve indicated I’m not much of a museum tourist but this thing is incredible. There are guards everywhere to ensure nothing is touched or probably stolen and I learned this as I approached a famous painting with my camera, Leonardo Davinci’s Mona Lisa. Even I’ve heard of this painting and I headed in for a close inspection only to be stopped by the guard. He was nice about it as I was just a dumb tourist but I did get quite close nevertheless. I bet I spent an entire day walking around the place as it is absolutely enormous and the quantity of antiquities is just far greater than anyone can see in a day. If you love art and history, this is the place for you.
Oh, I rode the subway around while I was there as well as I normally test out the public transportation if it is available. It was clean, the trains punctual and easy to navigate. I just love public transportation and generally use it whenever possible.
Well, I found the French to be quite friendly, the food great and the history incredible. Paris is definitely one of my favorite cities and I would love to return if the opportunity presents itself. I forgot to mention a lucky coincidence was the room I rented was next to a bakery and every morning I stopped by for fresh baguettes and coffee. The bread is excellent, made fresh every day and the coffee was ground and brewed by the cup when you ask.
One of my favorite things about traveling is enjoying the local cuisine and luck placed me next to a bakery which amplified my great time. If you get the chance, go to Paris … why wait.
Oh one more thing I discovered is the French will force you to try and speak a little French even if they are fluent in English.
Wizard of Where