City of Love <3

The most common phrase we hear nowadays from the youth- “Love is in the air”, I couldn’t co-relate to this until my recent visit to the City of Love. Yes, we are talking about Paris in this blog; as the French summer vacation came to an end (beginning of September), Parisian people were back to their abodes adding the nativity to the city.

Before we begin, a small heads up, there are pictures shown below which might not be relevant to the experience shared, but hang on before you leave a comment on it, all were shot by me during this visit.

Intriguing places and must visit:

Every monument built here is beautiful in its own way- Notre- Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre, The Iron Lady (Eiffel tower), Sacre Coeur, Saint Chapelle, Champs- Elysees and what not the city by itself is beautiful, these monuments/places just add-on to its beauty.

Da Vinci’s masterpiece and the ever famous Monalisa resides in the Louvre and is often visited by millions of people every year. The queues here get very long and it was worth the wait. People barge in to look at this masterpiece and will be thrilled to bits to notice the intricacies of the Monalisa, so was I, thrilled to bits to get a picture with this beauty.

Food culture:

Paris, the fashion capital is also blessed with a strong food culture. The typical French cuisine is available at its best here- Croissant, Bread, Macarons, Hot Chocolate, Orange juice, and the grilled Steak have thrilled my taste buds until my tummy gave up stuffing in the plethora of options.

The cost will slightly be on the higher side, but why not, you are in Paris! let’s be French.

Parisian People:

Most of the people here were friendly and easy-going, but as always where there is tourism there are some filthy muggers. Being careful about your belongings is recommended and going out alone in the nights and on the empty streets should be avoided at any cost. If you are on your solo travel, then these are mandatory.

I think I was almost targeted while I was on my way to Moulin Rouge from Sacre Coeur. The area by itself is a bit dreadful but adds on a different tinge to the Parisian flavor.

Connectivity:

Paris has shown me how to connect the various corners of the city, during the entire stay I just used the city’s metro, bus, tram and train services; the cost was reasonable. I trusted my legs and google maps, which gleefully respected and accepted me all throughout 😉

Love is in the air:

With all the hustle and bustle of the city, there was always a moment to express your love to your loved ones, the romance was in the air, the mood was perfectly set up for this by the picturesque landscapes and the gentle music running throughout. The couples were in their own world as the city swept them off their feet. Awwww ❤ was my expression most of the times looking at them as I was alone 😛 Thus, the architecture, the landscape, the people make this place the city of love, which is aptly said! ❤

One takeaway from this trip would be to carry a sunscreen- the Sun was burning fumes and as an Indian, I hate the tan after a level!

I would advise you to take the stairs (700 odd) to the second floor of the Eiffel tower as it gives you a different perspective of the city with each step. The river cruise will be an add-on to your charming trip to this city of love.

Just to reiterate, here are the places to visit in two days:

Day 1:

1. Notre-Dame Cathedral
2. Saint Chapelle
3. The Lourve
4. Arc de Triomphe
5. The Iron Lady- Eiffel tower
6. River Cruise- Seine river

Day 2:

1. Sacre Coeur
2. Moulin Rouge
3. Opera Garnier
4. Sunset at Tour Montparnasse
5. And a stroll across the entire city.

If you have one more day, then a visit to Versailles must be on your list.

This experience would stand at the top of all my traveling experiences as I was completely on my own, the challenges of how you tackle all the odds (navigation, language, food etc…) alone will be interesting to experience and give you the glimpses of what life is and what different people are all about.

I wish all the readers a happy and a safe traveling and also embark on a solo trip once in your life; do spread love and humanity.