Paris, Je t'aime
Published Monday, September 26th 2016 - Updated Thursday, February 2nd 2017Bienvenue à Paris!
#TBT October 2005
When I was in my 20s I had the privilege of studying French (at Alliance Française de Manille) for three years while working for a French company based in the Philippines. Don't try to calculate my age ... I will be forever 21! :) I enjoyed learning about a new culture in a distant land that I could only dream about visiting someday. Three years later - after reaching an intermediate level of proficiency - I said "Merci beaucoup" to Alliance and my employer. What a magnifique experience it was.
Now ... I am face to face with all of the historic Parisian landmarks that I studied and marveled in my youth. I would like to share some of my travel highlights and tips with you so you too can experience this magical place.
Paris, France, city of lights, a dream destination for many ... including me!
After touching down at CDG my husband and I hurried to our baggage carousel to pick up our luggage. One hour later we were informed that our luggage was still in Stockholm. The airline apologized and promised to deliver our bags to us the next day. I was too excited to let a lost bag take away from the adventure that was waiting outside of the airport doors. As they say, a bad day in Paris is still better than a good day anywhere else.
Friends were waiting for us at the airport and we took a taxi together to their apartment in the city where we stayed for the week. It was almost midnight by the time we arrived and dinner with a former French colleague was next on the agenda. We dropped off our things at the apartment then jumped in a cab to meet our friends at their cozy one bedroom apartment. Champagne was waiting for us. After a few sips and a couple of crackers and cheese we found ourselves at a quaint Parisian neighborhood restaurant. To our surprise, every table was taken. Now I know why they say that Paris is the City that Never Sleeps. We had a wonderful French dinner which finished around 2am - way past our bedtime. Oh by the way, our luggage were delivered the next day.
Tip: Always have a carry on with your toiletries, a few personal items and 1-2 days of clothing.
I knew exactly where to go on our 1st day. I had been dreaming of this place and now it had come true. But wait ... before we explore the city, let's learn a few basic French words. A must while in Paris.
Bonjour (boh-zhoo) - Hello
Saying hello is very important to Parisians. Always say bonjour when you enter a restaurant or a store.
Comment allez vous (ko-mo-tal-ay voo)- How are you?
Merci (mair-see) - Thank you
Always say merci in restaurants, hotels and when shopping.
S'il vous plaît (see-voo-play) - Please
This IS the magic word, especially when you order in a restaurant or ask for anything in a store or directions. Always end your request with s'il vous plaît.
Au revoir (oh-re-vwar) - Goodbye
The French are known for fashion and style so I prepared well so I would fit in. Whew! I am so glad my lost bags were found. Dress to impress but make sure you are comfortable as well. I wanted to be stylish but yet comfortable because we walked everywhere! I had my walking boots and sports inspired skechers. No tennis shoes, s'il vous plaît! There were no fitbits at that time so I can't tell you exactly how many miles we walked each day, but if I had to guess ... 5 miles a day. I really enjoyed walking the streets, admiring the views and stopping for a bite to eat at one of the hundreds of delicious boulangeries and fromageries.
Ok, let's talk about destinations to visit now. Are you ready? Below are my top 5 locations to visit while in Paris. These 5 are "must sees".
1. La Tour Eiffel
The symbol of Paris. The Eiffel Tower stands 1,063 ft tall. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.
After all those years seeing the Eiffel Towers in books, on television, on the internet, etc., - it happened! I was suddenly standing in front of this majestic Tower. I couldn't stop staring and taking pictures. I had not planned to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower because of my BIG fear of heights so I stayed at the base of the tower while my husband ventured to the top on his own. While waiting, I've found a small creperie by the carousel just a few meters away from the tower and ordered a jambon et fromage (ham & cheese) crêpe for 3 Euros. C'est très bon (delicious).
Tip: If your schedule allows, avoid going to the Eiffel Tower on weekends. On weekends, French who live outside of the city enjoy visiting the city which creates more crowds at the popular destinations. If you visit the Eiffel Tower on a weekend, it will be a long day lining up to get to the top. Be sure to come back in the evening when the tower is illuminated. This is quite a sight to see!
Eiffel Tower in the daytime
Eiffel Tower in the evening
View from the top of Eiffel Tower
2. Notre Dame de Paris
Also known as Notre Dame Cathedral. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. It is located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. The Cathedral is very beautiful and ornate. The high ceilings and stained glass are jaw-dropping. It is free to go inside but if you want to go to the top the cost is 10 Euros - be sure to book your ticket(s) in advance.
Notre Dame in the background
3. Arc de Triomphe
This is the most monumental of all triumphal arches and it stands at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle. It is located at the western end of the Champs Élysées.
The Étoile (the roundabout circling the Arc de Triomphe) is the craziest roundabout I have ever seen. This roundabout has multi lanes without lane markers and with cars entering and exiting quite aggressively. I enjoyed watching the drivers maneuver skillfully in and out of the roundabout. I am VERY relieved that Hertz didn't have any rental cars that day!
Tip: When driving in the city, avoid this roundabout at any cost:-)
Place Charles De Gaulle - Background is Arc de Triomphe
4. Musée de Louvre
The Louvre is one of the largest palaces in the world and a former residence of the kings of France. It houses a magnificent collection of ancient and Western art such as the Mona Lisa and the works of Leonardo da Vinci.
This is a massive place and it will take the whole day to see it all. We toured the inside hallways that didn't require a ticket, took some pictures and stayed for 30 minutes before venturing off to our next destination.
5. Sacré Coeur
The Basilica of Sacré Coeur is one of Paris' major tourist draws and is located in Montmarte, north of downtown Paris. We took the train from Paris to Montmarte and it took approximately 25 minutes to get there.
Montmarte is also famous for its artist stalls. You can have your portrait painted at Place du Tertre. I had my portrait painted in 30 minutes. After my Mona Lisa was complete, we had lunch at one of the cafes and ordered bourguignon.
Sacré Coeur Basilica in the background
While at Montmarte, I got my portrait done 
Café au lait at Avenue des Champs Élysées
Place de la Concorde - one of the famous and scenic squares in Paris
Pont Alexander III - The most ornate bridge in the city
Ladies, shop till you drop! Here are some famous French stores I visited at Avenue des Champs Elysees
Cartier (pronounced as kar-tyey)
Louis Vuitton (pronounced as Louis Vwe-ton)
Lacoste
Au Revoir et à Bientôt Paris!
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