15 May A Walk in Paris

Assia A. recalls her trip to Paris through this blog that will give you more reasons to fall in love with the City of Lights all over again. Take a journey to her favorite spots in the city.

I went to Paris with my parents five years ago and I could say that it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I live in the South of France and Paris is in the north but it only takes 3-hour train ride to go there. All the way from our home, I couldn’t help but feel the excitement because I could finally be in the city I only see on TV and movies. When I arrived at Gare de Lyon station, I was impressed by the number of people coming and going, imagining where they could be from.

First stop: Eiffel Tower. I took the metro to get there. The moment I stepped out of the train, I immediately saw it. I felt an enormous joy as I got closer. At last, I’m here! Trocadéro is known to have the best view of the Eiffel Tower. Once at the square, the view of the Eiffel Tower is juste magnifique! While admiring it from where I stood, I had the impression that we were already in the center of Paris. The garden landscapes located at the feet of the Eiffel Tower looked like they came straight from Alice in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts.

When I reached the feet of the tower, I realized the intricate work of this architectural masterpiece. The Eiffel Tower is a puddled iron structure shaped like an elongated pyramid with curved sides. It measures 300 meters high and is divided into 4 parts separated by floors. This made me feel so small. You can access each floor by an elevator. Each floor offers a different scenery: restaurants, boutiques, museums and even a skating rink during winter.

To admire the view a little longer, I dined at the garden of Champs de Mars. Under the beautiful spring sun, it was splendid. The lawn was bright green; the weather was perfect.

After eating, we went to one of the most famous avenues in the world – Les Champs-Élysées. At the end of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées stands the mighty Arc de Triomphe. The arch is also in the center of a massive square. It is located in Paris’ large road junction accurately named the Place de l’Étoile or “Square of the Star”.

While admiring the landmark, I am moved because it is part of the French history. Beneath the arch, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Soldat Inconnu) of the First World War is buried. The national monument commemorates soldiers who gave their lives in different wars.

The Arc de Triomphe is made of very beautiful engraved murals showing historical facts about France. It is said that at the end of every year, Les Champs-Élysées are bathed in lights and decorations. It looks stunning just thinking about it. I am already planning to come back during that time of the year.

After seeing the Arc de Triomphe, I went to the Louvre. It is a place no visitor should miss when visiting Paris. Also known as the Palace of the Kings and Queens of France, the Louvre is one of the world’s most visited museums.

In the gardens of the museum, the first thing that caught my attention was the impressive glass pyramid, surrounded by three small pyramids. What is even more incredible is that a part of the museum is underground. The huge glass pyramid is also surrounded by fountains and lights that give life when the night falls, reflecting a fantastic 3D view in the water.

The museum is a modern mix of old and new art and architecture, and I felt that I was travelling back in time. The exhibits showed the lifestyle of royal people who lived in castles with extravagant chandeliers, beautiful tapestries, gilded paintings, carpets and frescoes.

Paris is magical. One of my dreams came true when I went there. Paris will always be dear to my heart – a walk in my life that I will never forget and will always treasure.

What could make your Paris trip even better? Knowing the beautiful French language. Add some ouh-la-la to your learning journey.