Paris, France: One of the Must Go Back Places

Our final destination in our Cosmos tour was Paris. Since the tour proper of Wonders of Europe for Paris is only for 2 days, we decided to extend our stay here instead of going back to London. First thing I noticed about this city is that the streets were full of cars! This was perhaps one of the most congested cities in Europe compared to the other cities we've been to (other than Rome). Most streets have vehicles parked in them and almost 80% of them were small cars and this was because in Paris, there are a lot of small alleys and its difficult to roam around when you have a bigger car. 

Tourist Attractions that We Went to in Paris:

The Louvre - This is considered to be the largest museum that I have been to. According to our local tour guide, if you will be checking the artworks in Louvre one by one, spending 20-30 second each, you at least need to stay for a couple of months to be able to complete them! I remember when we went there, the place was really packed with people and we could barely take a close look at Mona Lisa without squeezing ourselves in with the rest of the tourists!

Louvre underground

Versailles - one of the grandest palace that I have ever seen in my entire life! Growing up in Asia, the only grand palace that I have been to was Forbidden City in Beijing, China. Versailles is very much different in terms of design, materials and the era it was built in. The gates and the gardens itself defines what grandeur is. No wonder French people led a revolution against King Louis XVI and Mary Antoinette! 

Gates of Grandeur

Garden full of flowers at the back of Versailles

Another garden below the Palace

Avenue de Champs-Elysees - is considered to be the most famous Avenue in Paris and also in the world. This is probably because this Avenue houses not only the prime retails brands in Paris but also the famous French Monuments like Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. For Louis Vuitton lovers, this is the avenue that you should be heading to as Champs Elysees houses the largest and most successful LV Store in the world (according to Wikipedia.)

The busy Avenue de Champs Elysees with Arc de Triomphe at the far end

Place de la Concorde

Notre Dame Cathedral - This became famous to most of us because of Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. More than the movie itself, physically seeing the Gothic Architecture and the complex design of this cathedral allows you to appreciate it even more. After you tour inside, do take note of the gargoyles and the flying buttresses at the exterior portion of the cathedral. Considering that it was built during the 1300's, it's really one beautiful architecture that people admire and appreciate even to date.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Eiffel Tower - A symbol of Paris and one of the first observation decks around the world. What makes this different is that compared to the other observation decks, this is made of iron inside-out. This is one of the key structures that every tourist goes and takes a photo with when they visit Paris. We didn't get the chance to go up Eiffel Tower because one of their elevators was broken during the time of our visit and the queue (even for taking the stairs) was really long - which is why Paris is in my "Must go back" list of cities!

World-Famous Eiffel Tower

Arc de Triomphe - It was made to honor those people who fought and died during the French Revolution. Underneath the Arc was the Tomb of an 'Unknown Soldier' that was added on 1921. This famous arc is older than Eiffel Tower and it also serves as an observation deck on top. I remember my mom telling me that it's complicated to go to the arc but don't worry because there is a underground crossing for people who wants to cross to the arc. DO NOT attempt to cross on the traffic circle as it is extremely dangerous!

Arc de Triomphe

Memories, memories! I'd love to go back to this city in the future if God permits! :) Share with us your favorite Paris attraction too in the comment section! We'd love to hear from you.

Below are other articles that we have on Europe:

Throwback Thursday: Europe Photos

Walking Around London

All About Belgium

Lucerne, Switzerland

Switzerland on the Second Day

Rome & Vatican: Where History Becomes Alive

Venice Sights and Scenes

Paris Shopping & Tax Refund System

Bologna Sandwich & Haribo Gummies

Paris: A Must Go Back City In Europe

LaNnA
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Throwback Thursday: European Escapade (Photos)

Given the chance, I'd go back to 3 cities in Europe: London, Paris and Switzerland (Okay, make that four and add Venice) and maybe visit the countries I've never visited like Prague. Europe is such a nice place and spending one day on each place is definitely not enough. Even the Vatican which is the smallest city in Europe at 0.44 km2 can't be finished in a day.

Synonymous with Venice, one must at least try to ride a gondola when it is your first time in Venice. It is usually painted black because it is considered the colour of elegance by Venetians. Gondolas are made up of 280 parts.

Venice is connected by 25 miles of canals. The canals function as roads and every form of transportation in the City of Venice is on water or on foot. Venice is the only place in the 21st century without cars or trucks.

Assisi is a town and comune of Italy. It is the birthplace of St. Francis.

Intricate details inside St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

The colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre is an ampitheatre in the center of Rome. Built of concrete and stone, it is the largest ampitheathre of the Roman Empire. It can hold between 50,000~80,000 spectators. 

Toyota Prius taxi we rode in Paris. You can see the battery indicator in front.

Basilica of the Holy Cross in Florence, Italy. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile and Rossini, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories.

Saturday market in Beaune. This town is surrounded by some of the world's most famous wine villages, while the facilities and cellars of many producers, large and small, are situated in Beaune itself. With a rich historical and architectural heritage, Beaune is considered the "Capital of Burgundy wines".

The Musée du Louvre in Paris. This is one of the world's largest museums, and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, France, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district).

The Versailles garden is situated to the west of the palace, the gardens cover some 800 hectacres of land, much of which is landscaped in the classic French Garden style perfected here by Linnea.

Gustave Eiffel built the Eiffel Tower. He also designed San Sebastian Church in Manila.

Tower of London: Where the crown jewels are. The collective term Crown Jewels denotes the regalia and vestments worn by the sovereign of the United Kingdom during the coronation ceremony and at other state functions. The term refers to the following objects: the crowns, sceptres (with either the cross or the dove), orbs, swords, rings, spurs, colobium sindonis, dalmatic, armills, and the royal robe or pall, as well as several other objects connected with the ceremony itself.

The part where the Tower Bridge separates

Archaeologists believe that the Stonehenge was built anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC. Radiocarbon dating in 2008 suggested that the first stones were raised between 2400 and 2200 BC, whilst another theory suggests that bluestones may have been raised at the site as early as 3000 BC.

The Grand Place or Grote Markt (Dutch) is the central square of Brussels. It is surrounded by guildhalls, the city's Town Hall, and the Breadhouse. The square is the most important tourist destination and most memorable landmark in Brussels. It measures 68 by 110 metres (223 by 360 ft), and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is one of the world's leading financial centres and has the fifth- or sixth-largest metropolitan area GDP in the world depending on measurement. London has been described as a world cultural capital.

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower. The tower is now officially called the Elizabeth Tower, after being renamed in 2012 (from "Clock Tower") to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. The tower was completed in 1858 and had its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England and is often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.

Until next photo throw back Thursday! :)

Below are other articles that we have on Europe:

Throwback Thursday: Europe Photos

Walking Around London

All About Belgium

Lucerne, Switzerland

Switzerland on the Second Day

Rome & Vatican: Where History Becomes Alive

Venice Sights and Scenes

Paris Shopping & Tax Refund System

Bologna Sandwich & Haribo Gummies

Paris: A Must Go Back City In Europe

*Some of the information came from Wikipedia
Cheftonio
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