It seems like every student teacher who travels to Spain takes a weekend or two to explore other countries throughout Europe. My potential travel ¨wish list¨ was long: Portugal, London, Greece, Paris, etc, etc. However, my best friend (hola Brittany!), who taught at Santa Isabel last fall, advised me to actually stay in Barcelona as much as possible. See the thing is, time is so limited. Between all the many things that there are to see and do in the city, and the little time left to do these things after school, there really just is not enough minutes to do it all!
That being said, I did want to travel somewhere. So, me and six other gals decided on...PARIS! I had been to Paris before, but always wanted to go back. We planned a very short, but jam-packed weekend trip.
That being said, I did want to travel somewhere. So, me and six other gals decided on...PARIS! I had been to Paris before, but always wanted to go back. We planned a very short, but jam-packed weekend trip.
Saturday, we started our day with a free tour through Sandeman Tours. On the way, we found Notre Dame, and we were SO happy to find out it was FREE! (Freeebiessss =D) It was gorgeous, and I loved all the purple and blue stained glass. Plus, we got there at the perfect time (basically as soon as it opened), because there was barely any line!
Inside Notre Dame
After that, we found our way to St. Michel (with some help from some very sweet French people) and met with our lovely tour guide Roberta. I took French in high school and college, so I became the designated ¨speaker¨ throughout the trip, ha! Honestly though, it was fun to practice my French again, and I didn't do half bad!
I loved this tour because it was really art-based. I so enjoyed learning the inspiration behind artworks and architecture, so this tour was perfect. And it took us all over the city, which made navigating it later on much more easy.
At St. Michel´s fountain, which is located right by the Seine river in the Latin Quarter, Roberta explained the philosophy behind the city´s layout. Before the 1850s, Paris consisted mostly of little burrows or villages, low buildings, small streets, and was extremely dirty. However, a man named Georges-Eugène Haussmann changed all that when he completely redesigned the city. Comissioned by Napoleon III, Haussmann demolished much of the preexisting foundation to make way for his new designs. The large boulevards Paris is famous for are because of Haussmann, as well as the rounded roofs of the buildings, beauitful squares for social gatherings, and green spaces.
Another ¨Haussmann touch¨ seen throughout Paris are the large monuments on the city´s most visited streets. Haussmann´s idea was to have something eye-catching, like a fountain, sculpture, church, etc, to draw people´s attention to the avenue and also make it easier to find. Place St. Michel is a perfect example of this design philosophy and Haussmann's aesthetic.
Another ¨Haussmann touch¨ seen throughout Paris are the large monuments on the city´s most visited streets. Haussmann´s idea was to have something eye-catching, like a fountain, sculpture, church, etc, to draw people´s attention to the avenue and also make it easier to find. Place St. Michel is a perfect example of this design philosophy and Haussmann's aesthetic.
After meandering through the island where Notre Dame is located, we ended up on the infamous Lock Bridge. For those who do not know, the Lock Bridge (or it's more formal name Pont de l'Archevêché) is where lovaaaas from all over the word come to profess their adoration by attaching a metal lock to the bridge's railing and tossing in the key into the Seine.
However, we learned some pretty unromantic things about this bridge. Firstly, the bridge was never intended to withstand the weight of hundreds and hundreds of metal locks. Because of this, the railings are routinely cut off to protect the infrastructure, and with this, so are the locks.
Secondly, the Lock Bridge routine is often taken advantage of by savvy French boys. Said men persuade naive ladies that they have fallen madly in love with them and thus they MUST seal their new found love with a lock (of course!). In all honesty, these guys are looking for anything but love, if you know what I mean haha.
That being said, I am an eternal romantic. I still love the idea of the Lock Bridge. Maybe one day I can come back and lock my own! ;)
However, we learned some pretty unromantic things about this bridge. Firstly, the bridge was never intended to withstand the weight of hundreds and hundreds of metal locks. Because of this, the railings are routinely cut off to protect the infrastructure, and with this, so are the locks.
Secondly, the Lock Bridge routine is often taken advantage of by savvy French boys. Said men persuade naive ladies that they have fallen madly in love with them and thus they MUST seal their new found love with a lock (of course!). In all honesty, these guys are looking for anything but love, if you know what I mean haha.
That being said, I am an eternal romantic. I still love the idea of the Lock Bridge. Maybe one day I can come back and lock my own! ;)
Next up was a walk by The Louvre, home to some of the world's most beloved and awed-at artworks. I'm talking the Mona Lisa people! =P There is so much art at The Louvre that if you only spent a minute at each piece, it would take 25 straight days to see everything.
What I found the most interesting about The Louvre is that it used to be the palace for all of France's kings, and it was remodeled and resigned so many times to meet whatever the current king's visual tastes were. Because of that, this building is a melting pot (if you will) of art, with nods to various different styles and eras.
What I found the most interesting about The Louvre is that it used to be the palace for all of France's kings, and it was remodeled and resigned so many times to meet whatever the current king's visual tastes were. Because of that, this building is a melting pot (if you will) of art, with nods to various different styles and eras.
As we headed away from The Louvre, we took a stop to look at the Sacré-Cœur. Located at the highest point in the city Montmarte, this church stands out compared to the rest. As you can see, it is strikingly white. This is because it is made from Chateau-Landon, which is a stone that absorbs water and releases a chalk-like substance that gives the church its infamous, brilliant white color. In fact, it is illegal to clean this building, as it is feared it will ruin or hinder this color-changing process. |
Our last stop overlooked the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, with the Eiffel Tower in the far left distance and a Ferris wheel on the right that was put up for the holiday season. The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets in the world. Additionally, it is aligned with several other of Paris' must-see landmarks, like the Arc de Triomphe and the obelisk of Luxor, and ending with The Louvre.
The Parisians love symmetry, and this is especially evident on the Champs-Élysées, with its perfectly sculptured greenery and mirroring trees. However, if you are on this street and you study The Louvre carefully, you will see it is a tad of center. Roberta pointed this out to us on our tour, and explained how this has upset Parisians so much that they have seriously considered (and still are) uprooting the museum and making it centered!
The Parisians love symmetry, and this is especially evident on the Champs-Élysées, with its perfectly sculptured greenery and mirroring trees. However, if you are on this street and you study The Louvre carefully, you will see it is a tad of center. Roberta pointed this out to us on our tour, and explained how this has upset Parisians so much that they have seriously considered (and still are) uprooting the museum and making it centered!
After the tour, we tried our best to head towards the Eiffel Tower. It took us a century and a half to find a metro station (they are so much easier to find in Barcelona!). For those who plan to go to Paris in the future, get off at Trocadéro, which is on line 9 or line 6. It has a really great view of the tower, plus you get to cross the Seine!
By the time we got on the right train and found the Eiffel Tower, we were starving. And being hungry around that area is not okay for your wallet ($$$). Ashley, Erica, and I tried to find a cheaper restaurant, but finally gave up and decided on whatever the next place we found...which of course was an All-American themed New York delicatessen! We died laughing when we walked inside. It costs a small fortune, but my burger, fries, and 5 euro Dr. Pepper hit the spot. =)
By the time we got on the right train and found the Eiffel Tower, we were starving. And being hungry around that area is not okay for your wallet ($$$). Ashley, Erica, and I tried to find a cheaper restaurant, but finally gave up and decided on whatever the next place we found...which of course was an All-American themed New York delicatessen! We died laughing when we walked inside. It costs a small fortune, but my burger, fries, and 5 euro Dr. Pepper hit the spot. =)
After our wonderful lunch, it was finally time to go to the Eiffel Tower. Be warned - there are a lot of random people there. Some will aggressively try to sell your something; others are putting on performances and doing tricks. (We saw some guy Rollerblade backwards down a huge flight of stairs!) And if anyone asks you if you speak English and has a clipboard in their hand, ignore them. They are scam artists!
As for getting into the Eiffel Tower, also know there will most likely be a looooonnnggg line. It took us about 2 hours! So if you can, buy your tickets on-line. You'll save a ton of time!
Don't let all my warnings and complaints scare you out of seeing the Eiffel Tower. It is definitely a must-do, and so worth it! You just have to have your smarts about you, and be a little cautious. =)
The Eiffel Tower really is romantic spot and a great place to people watch. Roberta told us that to date, 1,000 marriage proposals have happened on top of the tower, and no one has said no! YAY for love!! =D
As for getting into the Eiffel Tower, also know there will most likely be a looooonnnggg line. It took us about 2 hours! So if you can, buy your tickets on-line. You'll save a ton of time!
Don't let all my warnings and complaints scare you out of seeing the Eiffel Tower. It is definitely a must-do, and so worth it! You just have to have your smarts about you, and be a little cautious. =)
The Eiffel Tower really is romantic spot and a great place to people watch. Roberta told us that to date, 1,000 marriage proposals have happened on top of the tower, and no one has said no! YAY for love!! =D
We ended our night back on the Champs-Élysées to do some shopping and see the Christmas market. Everything was all light up, and Christmas decorations were everywhere. It was the perfect way to end our first night in Paris. =)