Gazing upon a monument which reminds one of the India gate while standing on the sidewalks of a wide boulevard. Saying an ode to the sunny sun at 8pm while knowing that it would continue to burn for three more hours. Welcome to the heart of Paris – the Champs-Elysees (for better understanding, you can think of it as the Connaught place of Paris). Another look-alike is what Napoleon called Arc de Triomphe in 1894 (the taxi driver will refuse to take you there if you say triumph), comparable to the India Gate.
Champ de Elysses is one of the liveliest streets in Paris and is always flooded with tourists. It has quite a few attractions, apart from the Arc de Triomphe. One would get enticed by the aroma coming from the bakeries and rows of confectionaries and by world famous cabaret shows with towering French mademoiselles who can drown you in their beauty.
And there’s a hidden treasure: an eatery called Drugstore offers Mövenpick ice creams which might grab some good money from your pocket but will leave you with words like .. Eternal blissss! I went there in the month of July, when the sun sets after 11 pm in the night. That day, was the 14th of July, which is also finds a place in our history textbooks – it’s the French National Day marking the 1789 French Revolution. At 11:55 pm, the whole city had gathered near the La Tour Eiffel to witness the spectacular fireworks and the grandeur of the Eiffel Tower which was all lighted up – the golden beauty, the tiara of Siene.
While cruising along the Seine, dozing off now and then over the history of its various bridges, it feels like you’re in another one of those magical paintings. You get flashes of people sitting on banks: gossiping girls, kissing couples, a Monsieur with wine and some thoughts. Beautiful buildings loom up like art pieces, and people wave to you and you wave back, singing ”… In the City of Blinding Lights..”
Another tourist spot which finds a place in the top 10 must visits is the Notre Dame Cathedral, which recently completed 850 years of being. It is the proud owner of the nail used in the crucifixion of Christ and the holly flower which he had worn around his head.But most importantly it is the only tourist spot with a free drinking water facility! (Not to mention, there are lots of pigeons with a taste for Kurkure)
Keep checking the Travel Column for more on Bienvenue à Paris! You can send in your travel stories too, to [email protected] or [email protected]. This article has been written by Astha, a II year MBBS student studying at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. Edited by – Kalyani Parvathy
Nice writing, and excellent photos!