I was learning French in my final year of undergraduate, and what is the best way to practise a language? Go to that country! I decided to make a solo trip to Paris for 4 days because why not. Instead of planning my trip from scratch, I had bought the Paris Pass, which gave me unlimited public transport usages, entrance to almost everywhere, exclusive deals and the best part – cutting queues.
The first day I was at the Notre Dome (before the fire) and Patheon. I liked the Patheon slightly more than the Notre Dame. Notre Dame was charming, but I prefered the artistic drawings inside the Patheon, and I guess you could visit some famous (dead) people there too. Later in the afternoon, I went to Scare-Coeur and Sainte-Chapelle churches.
The second day was hectic. The workers that operate the underground tube went on strike, forcing everyone to find alternate transports. I was going to the Versaille Palace by tube, but I managed to find other tourists to get a taxi together. Versaille Palace was stunning, with actual gold crafted into the buildings. However, it was super busy on that day, and I did not get to enjoy the indoor tour thoroughly. The outdoor garden was spectacular, and it was a pleasant stroll.
After the visit at Versaille Palace, I had to grab a taxi (due to the strike…) to the Arc de Triomphe. The interior of Arc de Triomphe is mainly on its history, from its construction to its experiences in both world wars. It was a bit of a climb to get to the top, but it was worth it as the view was very wondrous. I stayed for a while to enjoy the scenery, and to look for my next destination – the Effiel Tower.
Right: Tomb of Unknown Soldier
The Effiel Tower is true to itself, a giant gentle structure that represents the nation. Although the location itself is quite beautiful, it was unfortunately ruined by many scammers. I was trying to avoid them instead of enjoying the moment, which was a huge shame. Later, I joined the Bateaux River tour (Seine river) near the Effiel Tower. It was … rather disappointing to say the least. At night, I met up with a friend for a nice meal (The steak and wine were so good!) and went back to the Effiel Tower for a night view.
The third day was reserved for the Louvre museum. This is perhaps the most extensive museum I had ever been to. Sadly, many people came here only for the Mona Lisa portrait. The portrait itself was great to see, but the museum offers a lot more than just a picture made famous by popular cultures. My personal favourite were the different sculptures from Ancient Greek and Roman time. I wished I could have gone to the Orsay museum next door. Oh well, next time then.
So what do I think of Paris in general? Well, unless you love shopping, I think coming here once is enough. I am sure there are better places around France such as Nice and Monaco nearby. The scammers in Paris are quite aggressive, so be careful. Would I come here again thought? Erm … maybe when I have a relationship. Then perhaps, things would be a bit different. After all, there were a lot of couples around the Eiffel Tower doing romantic things.
Here’s my video! Thanks for watching and reading!