Paris

Paris holds the key to your heart…

When we woke up the next morning and had showered off the grime of travel, it was time to explore. Wandering the streets we passed lines of brasseries and around every corner was a quaint courtyard. The streets reminded me very much of Rome with the shambled cobblestones, and the way the buildings rise up on either side of you. The air was damp and chilled you to the bone. We had a very limited time to see Paris, so Joe and Coryell decided it would be best to take a bus tour (after a night of chaotic traveling, a leisurely bus ride seemed like a very good idea). We found the stop and climbed on a “Big Yellow Bus” for our tour. I forced myself to endure the freezing air up in the open roof seating to get the best view. As we started driving, Paris began to parade by. Everyone who was walking on the streets was bundled in dark colors, moving quickly with their briefcase or purse to catch a cab or maneuver the crowd. The whole atmosphere felt… well… French. It’s amazing how the mood in the air can feel so foreign. I have a slight obsession for the beauty of buildings and my eyes were kept busy trying to look at each one from the tiniest shop to the grand Opera house.

Here are some highlights of the tour:

The Louvre: It still pricks my heart to think that we didn’t have time to go in. Alas… I guess I’ll just have to go back. The giant glass pyramid was elegant, and the building itself was regal. It was used as a palace before Louis IVX constructed Versailles in the 17^th Century. 

Museum de Orsay: Coryell has a deep love for Impressionism and so we went to go in and take a quick turn. But, once again we had to be disappointed because apparently they don’t open on Mondays. It used to be a trainstation, but was converted to a museum in 1970.

"Morning in Paris, the city awakes
To the bells of Notre Dame
The fisherman fishes, the bakerman bakes
To the bells of Notre Dame
To the big bells as loud as the thunder 
TO the little bells soft as a psalm
And some say the soul of the city's 
The toll of the bells
The bells of Notre Dame"
-Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz

Notre Dame: This magnificent cathedral will always hold a sense of mystery for me. Iconic for its French Gothic Architecture, Notre Dame is one of the first buildings to ever use the technology of the flying buttress. The flying buttress is a type of arch that distributes the load of the wall and roof away from the building to a seperate column. I think it pulls it off in a very classy way too. Since we approached the cathedral from behind, I did not recognize it, having only seen pictures of the famous facade. Personally I thought the view from behind was even more grand and beautiful. 

 

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrusel is a smaller version of the Arc de. Built by Napoleon I to model the Arch of Constantine in Rome, it depicts quadriga showing peace riding in a triumphal chariot led by Victories on both sides. It commemorates the Restoration of the Bourbons to power after Napoleon’s fall.

The Tour Eiffel: One of my favorite structures of all time. It wasn’t exactly exuding romance, but I couldn’t help feeling a little fanciful as it towered over us. We got off the bus for a few moments to get the full experience. I’ve seen skyscrapers before, but standing underneath such a massive structure offers an even greater element of the sublime. It was built for the 1889 World Science Fair and is named after its designer and engineer, Monsieur Gustave Eiffel. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest structure at 1,063 feet. It’s interesting to note that originally it was rejected as an obstruction to the view and the plan was to remove it following the fair. But, as we see today, we have all fallen in love with it and now it is the icon of France. 

Next we entered the modernized portion of Paris. We traveled down the Champs de Ellis: the longest road in Paris. It is surrounded by the most prominent shopping boutiques and it was difficult for me to imagine ever feeling comfortable in such a high society setting. It seemed like there was an Armani, Dior, Chanel, or Louie Vuitton around each corner. The trees that bordered the street were adorned with elegant lights. Tucked away behind the street was a lovely little outdoor market that was calling my name, but had to be enjoyed from a distance. We also passed the elegant department store, Printemps. It was beautifully lit and ready for the Christmas season.

At the end of the bus route, we boarded a boat for the Bridge Tour upon the Seine River. Each bridge had a unique heritage and story that was fascinating to hear. Only one stands out in my memory. The tour guide told how one bridge had been completely constructed by women while all the men had been at war during one of the world wars. Unfortunately that is all I can remember, and I still have yet to find that story, so it could be made-up…  Actually looking through my journal now, I am finding that lots of things our educated tour guides shared are slightly off… 

Right as we neared the dock to unload, the Eiffel Tower began to glimmer with lights. It was then that I understood the full glamour and beauty of The Eiffel Tower Brilliant lights sparkled up and down as if it were a prolonged and silent firework. We made our way back to the bus station and drove back along the Arc de Triomphe. All the lights that had been woven through the trees were breathtaking in the night. The City of Lights is a fitting name that does not disappoint.