The City of Light: Paris, France

The famous Eiffel Tower viewed from the Palais de Chaillot

The first 5 days of my Europe excursion were spent in Paris. Although the weather was a tad dreary, with clouds making the washed out walls of Parisian buildings look less colorful than they would be in sunlight, I still truly enjoyed my stay in this city. Plus, Paris is so big that even after 5 days, I know I have to go back someday to explore all the nooks and crannies I missed. This being my first time, I had to make sure to hit all the tourist attractions first, which I did meaning I never have to stand in those atrocious lines ever again.

City: Paris

Length of Visit: 5 days  (as I already mentioned)

Primary Language: French (duh)

Known For: Eiffel Tower, Baguettes/Cheese/Croissants/food in general, Art

Notable Places: Tour Eiffel, Arc de Triomphe, Musee du Louvre, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees

City Atmosphere:

Atop Notre Dame Cathedral

Paris is what you would call a global city. In other words, it is a real city like Manhattan or London. It is a mix of the old and of the new, but influences of modernization can be found everywhere. Although it houses a lot of history, Paris itself is not a relic per se. It is a city that still matters, and it's sheer size can be intimidating. If you get lost, it's probably in your best interest to ask for directions because you won't find where you are going just by wandering around. And like most large cities with many inhabitants, living spaces are small but rather cleverly used. It is a city of art and culture, with so much to see and do. For any city lover out there, Paris is a great destination; you'll never be bored.

People:
For some reason, a stigma exists that French people are snobby, insensitive, and unhelpful. In my time at Paris, I found that to not be entirely true. Although I feel that the concierge in American hotels would be more helpful in giving directions (or not assume that I wanted to go to Chinatown, which was mildly insulting, but I mean I guess they can't tell for sure I'm from the US and not from China), it might have been due to the language barrier. Strangers on the street, who weren't tourists, would usually come to your aid if you asked. Similarly, restaurant/bakery staff and store clerks were often quite friendly and accommodating, even if some of them didn't quite speak English. Curiously, it was the people who worked at the tourist attractions and information stands that were the least helpful. If you can, try to learn a few phrases in French and maybe know some locations so you can read road signs. It will go a long way with the strangers on the street you stop and ask. The most important thing is not to be afraid to ask. You just need to ask the right person. I even had a guy walk us in the right direction after being hopelessly lost! And who said French people were mean?

Cuisine:

Escargot!

Macaroons and...

Little can be compared to Parisian food: it's excellent. The thing I love most about food in Paris is the flavoring. It doesn't have to be extremely strong or overpowering. A lot of the food I had took advantage of the natural taste of the ingredients and brought them together for a delightful blend of flavor. My recommendation is to stick to the local cafes and bakeries. The bread and pastries are delicious. Try to shy away from more touristy places as the food can get rather pricey. And make sure you don't leave Paris without trying some escargot and macaroons! (Not together of course... unless you're into that kind of thing.)

Public Transportation:
I love a good city with good public transportation, and Paris is no exception. For €1.70, you can travel anywhere within the metro system as long as you stay in the city of Paris. Going outside the particular zone may require additional money, but it's still a convenient and affordable way to travel. Although the signs are not the most helpful and the language barrier can cause some confusion, if you've been on a subway in NYC before, you should be able to handle the Paris metro just fine. If you do get lost, don't be afraid to ask for help. If you do it nicely enough, people are usually willing to lend you a hand (see above section on "People").

Weather:
I'm not sure what the weather is normally like in Paris, but I visited in late May. My recommendation: bring pants, a jacket, and an umbrella... just in case.

Favorite Place(s):
I was only in the City of Light for 5 days, so I didn't get the opportunity to explore everything. However, if you are looking for something not on the list of "Top 10 Places to Visit in Paris", but is still unique to the city, I highly recommend the Musee de l'Orangerie. It's a museum converted from an old orangerie, as the name suggests, located in Tuileries Garden (on the right side if you're coming in from the Place de la Concorde entrance) and home to a collection of impressionist work. I'm a huge fan of Claude Monet and it has one of the most spectacular displays of a few of his Water Lilies paintings inside. The best part: no photographs allowed. You can finally enjoy the beauty of the artwork without the nuisance of the modern age. However, this museum isn't as obscure as I make it sound so there may be a wait by the entrance. It's not as long as the line to the Louvre, and I think it's well worth the wait.

An abundance of impressionist work awaits for you inside

Another place I really enjoyed, although not in Paris, was the the Palace of Versailles. If you have the time to take a day trip outside the city, the grounds are a great place to explore. If you can, I would recommend renting a bike. The place is enormous and there's lots to see. Don't forget to check out the Queen's Hamlet and the rest of Marie Antoinette's domain, and if you do visit, beware of the cobblestone to the entrance of the palace. I might or might not have tripped there...

Tips:
Paris is a huge tourist site and so the lines to many of the attractions are a bit ridiculous, like a ride at Disney World. If you visit the Eiffel Tower, know that there are multiple points of entry through each of the 4 legs. Some are for restaurant reservations only. Others require taking the stairs. Whatever you prefer, look around for a shorter line and know what line you're standing in before just jumping behind the nearest person.

Porte des Lions Entrance

Similarly, the line for the Louvre entrance at the glass Pyramid can be overwhelming as well. Although the experience is probably worth it, if you're interested in skipping the line there are some secret entrances. I only know of two, but they might be worth checking out. You can always visit the main Pyramid on the way out, though sometimes there's a line for the exit...

Carrousel du Louvre Entrance

 
Lastly, this is for Americans mostly where water comes free in our restaurants. Water in Parisian restaurants is not. First, make sure to ask what kind of water you're getting served. If you don't like sparkling water, make sure to ask for still or mineral water. Second, check the price to see how much a bottle of water actually costs. Sometimes, it's more worth it to just order a drink instead of paying for your water. If you need water, pick it up at a local supermarket, it'll be much cheaper there. This tip actually goes for all the cities I visited in Europe. We found out the hard way, by buying a €7.90 bottle of water!

Check back tomorrow for my summary of Vienna :D