Visiting Paris: Personal Experience
- Category Geography
- Subcategory Tourist Attractions, Europe
- Topic Eiffel Tower, Paris
- Words 2208
- Pages 5
Wine, cheese, the Eiffel Tower, castles, culture – France is world famous for many things. There’s nothing like an adventure in Loire Valley or a few days through Paris. France’s rich history is characterised by delicate ruins, castles, architecture and culture.
The first day of my trip was located in Paris. This city has everything – the Louvre, impressionist museums, the Eiffel Tower, the Seine river, beautiful parks, and delicious food. It is as miraculous and magical as people say, and although it would take a lifetime to see it all, really only a few days can give you a decent idea of its beautiful landscape and all its valuable possessions.
I left the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris (the hotel I was staying in) at about 10 am and caught Le bus (the bus) to go get breakfast. I arrived at The Hardware Société and demolished a delicious dish called “Fried Brioche”. This dish was stashed with pannacotta, strawberries, cherries and tuille. It was a sensorial experience in an enjoyable and cozy atmosphere. It was located in the heart of Paris and they served a mix between an English and a French cooking style. Overall, I give this dish a 4 out of 5.
Next, I made my way to Vedettes De Paris, Port de Suffren at about 11:30 am where I boarded une croisierea (a cruise) at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and began a sightseeing cruise on river Seine that went for 1 hour. On this cruise, you can see legendary Parisian attractions like the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre and Île de la Cité. You can choose to take a day cruise or an evening cruise depending on your liking. In the daytime, you can see the entire city clearly against the backdrop of the bridges and Paris buildings. Although in the night
time, you can witness the city come to life as everything lights up the starry night. Overall, I give this cruise a 5 out of 5.
After passing by important monuments and Paris highlights, the cruise meanders its way back to the foot of the Eiffel Tower, where the 1 hour cruise ends. This cruise is best for those who are short on time but want to see the many features of Paris as well.
Next, I walked over to the entrance of the Eiffel Tower because the cruise finished nearby. This tower was the world’s tallest man-made structure for 41 years until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York in 1930. It is 324 metres tall (including its antennas) and weighs 10,100 tonnes. I had already pre-booked my tickets so I didn’t have to wait in the line. Whenever I hear the world France, the first thing that comes to my mind is the Eiffel Tower. Why? Well, with its transparent floors, immersion show, services and areas designed for relaxations, shops, restaurants and galleries, I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to visit this place. Although this is a magnificent place, I would be prepared for the amount of stairs you have to climb if you don’t choose to take the elevators.
I spent about 2 ½ hours exploring every level of the tower. I personally thought that the 1st and 3rd levels were most interesting for me, only because the 2nd level was full of shops, but if you love shopping, I strongly recommend visiting the 2nd level if you ever plan to visit the Eiffel Tower. During the 2 ½ hours, I got hungry and found two restaurants in the Eiffel Tower, the Michelin-starred Jules Verne on the 2nd platform and 58 Tour Eiffel on the 1st platform. I went to The Jules Verne and ordered the “Veal” which is fried meat, with Malabar Black Pepper, Sage and Madame Bayard Pommes Soufflées. This restaurant is very pricey, as you might imagine, but offers high quality French food with an unforgettable view. Overall, I give the Eiffel Tower and the Restaurant a 4.5 out of 5, only because of the amount of stairs there was, but I enjoyed everything else. By the time I left the Eiffel Tower, it was about 3 pm and I decided to walk around the Parc du Champ-de-Mars park. This park is right in front of the Eiffel Tower so it didn’t take long to get there on foot. When I got there, I realised how big this park was and how beautiful it was. The Parc du Champ-de-Mars extended from the École Militaire to the Eiffel Tower. It is an amazing spot for national events, it can be accessed freely and it offers the most beautiful view of the capital’s landmark monument. Parisians and tourists gather on its lawns for picnics, to play music, and to watch the Eiffel Tower’s twinkling lights at nightfall. One of the pleasant surprises you will find in the park is the Mur pour la Paix (Wall for Peace), built in March 2000, in front of the École Militaire. This wood, stainless steel & glass monument is dedicated to world peace. I spent a few hours wondering around this garden, speaking to friendly Parisians, reading the Mur pour la Paix and writing this essay. At about 5 pm, I left the Parc du Champ-de-Mars park and headed to catch some public transport to get dinner. I arrived at Le Pré Catelan and ordered Salmon. It was smoked in cherry tree wood and was sided with confit, sorrel, crackers, lime, onion pickles, vinegar, Sauce “Genevoise” and Juniper berry. Overall, I give this dish a 4.5 out of 5.
I then made my way back to my hotel to get a good night sleep, Bonne nuit!
My second day of the trip was spent in the Loire. The Loire is breathtakingly beautiful and picturesque, with massive amounts of vineyards and chateaux. You will find some of the world’s best wine, gorgeous little towns and delicious food.
I had to wake up extra early to get breakfast. I ended up going to L’Étoile du Nord par Thierry Marx and I ordered a Assiette d’œufs brouillés, bacon, saucisse, baked beans which is a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and baked beans.
I had already pre-booked my tickets and after exchanging my ticket with one of the agents at the departure point situated near the Louvre, we climbed aboard a comfortable, relaxing, air-conditioned bus, which departed at 7:15 a.m.
We first headed to the Château de Chambord, passing by magnificent landscapes. During the trip, our guide gave us some information about the sites we were going to see. Upon arrival at the Château, we were astonished by how big the castles were. The Château’s imposing architecture makes it the largest of all Loire châteaux. The bus parking lot is a few feet from the Château’s entrance, so we could take in the distinctive atmosphere around it. Our guide brought us through several of the château’s rooms, before taking us to the celebrated double helix staircase up to the large panoramic terrace. We had a superb view of the park as you listen to commentary from our guide about the history of the château, which was built under the reign of Francis with participation from Leonardo Da Vinci in the 16th century. Following this visit, our guide accompaned us to a wine tasting area within the château, where we could enjoy tasting wine. The 45 minute tasting organized by La Maison des Vins, let us taste the famous Loire wines Cour-Cheverny and AOC Cheverny, alongside four pieces of pain grillé (toast) with local food products.
We then had one free hour to have lunch near the château. Our guide told us about several places we could eat at. I decided to go to the De Sel Et d’Ardoisen and order a the pumpkin velouté to start with, followed by succulent roast pigeon served with crisp, seasonal heirloom vegetables. This food was
Divin (divine)! Overall, I give this restaurant a 5 out of 5.
We were then invited to meet our guide directly at the bus parking lot, to head off to Chenonceau. After just over one hour of travel, the bus pulled into the Château de Chenonceau. We headed up a magnificent alley lined with trees, offering an incredible view of the château. Our guide showed us a presentation of this sumptuous royal residence nicknamed “the château of ladies,” since it was maintained and added to by several female characters over the years. The outside of the building seems to be exiting the water, which gave the château a mystical dimension. Then we went on a one-hour guided tour in the Château de Chenonceau during which we saw furnished and florid rooms, and period tapestries and paintings. Our guide told us many stories and anecdotes about the château and the importance of female presence, which speaks to the French art de vivre. Then we had about 30 minutes of free time to visit and explore on your own.
We then made our own ways back to the coach and we left Chenonceau at 6:15 pm to arrive at the tour agency in Paris at around 8 pm. Overall, I give this activity a 4 out of 5.
Once we arrived in Paris, I headed to Septime to get some dinner. I order a beautifully cooked Hake which came in a sauce of excellent olive oil and basil, with redcurrants and blackcurrants adding just the right touch of acidity. The zucchini purée on the side was the perfect complement. Overall I give this dish a 4 out of 5.
After I had finished my aliments (food), I headed of to my hotel to get some sleeps. Bonne nuit!
The third and last day of my trip was dedicated to exploring Disneyland Paris. Disneyland Paris, originally known as Euro Disney Resort, is an entertainment resort in Marne-la-Vallée, France, a town located 32 km east of the centre of Paris. Did you know that if look a little closer and you’ll find subtle, hidden Mickey symbols camouflaged in the architecture, or even in much smaller details like the rust marks on a treasure chest. No one knows how many there are! So if you ever visit this place, make sure you look out for these secret marks.
Once I left my hotel and checked out, I headed to get breakfast at Holybelly 5. I ordered the Sweet Stack which is 3 fluffy pancakes toped with seasoned fruits, cream, roasted hazelnuts and organic maple syrup. This dish was amazing and started my day with a great start. Overall, I give this restaurant a 4.5 out of 5 for its amazing food and great service.
At 10 am, I left the Holybelly 5 and head to catch a taxi. By car, it took about 40 minutes but if you catch the bus, it would take you about 1 hour.
When I got there, I fortunately skipped the line and headed inside after I handed my ticket in, because I had already bought the ticket in advance. Countless magical experiences and attractions make this unique Theme Parks a giant adventure playground for young and old alike! They have Meet ’n’ Greets, where you can meet the most popular heroes and notorious villains of the last 50 years, from Mickey and Minnie to Goofy, Captain Hook, Jack Sparrow and Belle and they have three 9-hole courses for amateurs and professionals alike, open all year round. There are even more activities and leisure options just minutes away. Visit La Vallée where you can go outlet shopping or Val d’Europe Shopping Centre with its wide range of shops. There is also the Aquarium SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe, which is a fascinating underwater world with 5,000 marine creatures and there are historic castles nearby, such as Château Vaux le Vicomte and Château Fontainebleau, which are well worth visiting. There are over 50 rides in both theme parks and are all unique and different in their own way. I ended up visiting both theme parks and looked at all the main activities there. I also got something to eat at Earl of the Sandwich at the Disney Village. I ordered a hot sandwich called Italian with salami, capicola, ham, mortadella, mozzarella, roma tomato, Italian seasoning & Italian dressing all inside. It was terrific.
It took the whole day to explore Disneyland Paris and I still didn’t manage to see everything from 10:40 am to 8:00 pm (when it closed). I didn’t end up eating dinner because I was too full on the snacks I tried at Disneyland Paris such as Fairy Floss, Larges bread pretzels, Hot Dogs, etc.
I then caught a Taxi to Charles de Gaulle Airport and caught my Flight back to Sydney, Australia at 9:00pm.
If you ever visit France, I highly encourage you visiting for much longer than three days because there is so much to see. I also strongly recommend that you also visit the Louvre Museum, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Palace of Versailles, Arc de Triomphe and so much more.
The food, wine, arcitecture, people, weather, language and history are all the things that make French unique and different from all other countries in the world.
If you would like to visit other amazing French-speaking countries, often described as a ’Francophone’, I recommend visiting Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Madagascar, as these countries have the best tourist attractions, climates, food and much more.