Paris - The City of Lights

And here I am in Paris, the city of lights! I normally do not like big busy cities, but Paris is super unique, and that's why I will definitely come back.

Paris reminded me a lot of Down town Cairo, so busy, same architectural styles, loud people on the street … and many more. Also, like Cairo, the metro is very common to take because it passes by the major points in Paris like the Tour Eiffel, Champ Elysees and Notre Dame Cathedral. The metro and buses run everywhere which made it easier for us, Hongyu and I, to go everywhere we want. By the way, Hongyu is a Semester at Sea student from China and we stayed together in Paris.

Avec Hongyu

First night in Paris, we had Mousakka au gratin, Salmon steak and French pastry for dinner, and they were all yummy. Many French can speak English which was helpful, but of course that did not stop me from practising my French :D The following day, we took the metro to catch Big Bus (Hop on Hop off) from Tour Eiffel. Big bus is a super cool way to explore Paris, you get free coupons for some shops, and you listen to an audio about every site you pass by. It's also convenient because it almost runs by all major sites beside Tour Eiffel and the Louvre like Grand Palais and Palace de Concordes.

We started out tour from Tour Eiffel, this place just makes you happy. We fed some pigeons and met a Chinese lady who wanted to take pictures with us. She thought we are cute locals! Haha, why not? At the end of the tour, we went back to Tour Eiffel at night, and oh my Gosh, it's totally something else. Simply more magical and way more fantastic.

                    

Paris is full of street vendors, mainly Africans and Asians. They would sell you cheap souvenirs and avoid police not to arrest them. However, you find them everywhere. Homeless people can also be found everywhere! You would find them in metro stations beside a guitarist or a pianist.

French buildings are beautiful and many of their windows are decorated with red flowers. I mean no need to say anything about French architecture!! You would be walking around and see a beautiful building, a museum or even the French National Assembly on your way. And any of those would make your eyes smile from their beauty.

                 

We visited Notre Dame Cathedral which is really populated with visitors. We lit some candles and wrote in the life book "Le Livre de la vie." We went to the Grand Palais and saw the bridges close by. Even bridges are amazingly designed! We've also been to the Champ Elysees and saw the Arc de Triomphe. All over Paris, you would find many newly-weds who came to take pictures especially by the Arc de Triomphe and Tour Eiffel.

Le Livre de la vie

The Champ Elysees would remind you of Times Square but on a nicer level. Very fancy and French! Need to say more?! It's good to walk there by day and night, it's a must visit. On our way back to the hotel, I met three Kuwaitis and they asked me to help them buy their metro tickets. How ironic! If they knew that we missed our metro stop in the morning, they would have thought twice!

       

What made me love Paris more is that Egypt is highly appreciated there. Next day, we went to the Louvre and the way Egyptian antiquities are presented there is so much better than they are in the Egyptian museum! Speaking of Egypt's appreciation, I met a Moroccan and an Ethiopian who both told me how amazing Egypt is once they knew I come from there.

Going back to Paris, the Louvre is gorgeous. I loved its interior and exterior designs more than the Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities themselves. No offence! And of course, the most seen painting there is the Mona Lisa. You would have to wait in lines to closely see it. There are many wonderful paintings there that are unfortunately not as popular as the Mona Lisa, so they don't get the same attention. If you want to enter the Louvre, it's easier and faster to go from the shopping mall under or from one of the sides. Entering from the Pyramid would take hours. By the way, a lady asked me to translate for her in the Louvre, so I felt happy about my French. :D

That day it was raining, and luckily it stopped when we finished touring the Louvre. We then went on a Seine River Cruise, (thanks teta Laila for recommending it) and we loved it. You experience Paris from a very different angle. You cruise in the river known as that between two bookshelves since there are many second hand books vendors and painters on both sides.

Last day while taking the metro, we crossed a bridge and saw the Tour Eiffel. There were two people playing music on the metro. What an experience! Music while passing by the Tour Eiffel, so charming :D Paris is a very cultured city, everywhere you go, you feel the fragrant history and the beauty appreciation. Love you Paris :D

P.S. Paris is one of the most lively cities in the world but it's expensive, so be prepared.