ungkler: A Parisian Flair

Paris
Winter 2008

Getting acquainted with Eiffel Tower in Paris
(Jan-2008)

Journal Entry... It was my first European trip ever. I was overly excited to find out why Sabrina said in the movie, "Paris is my hometown." But, it took awhile for me and the hubby to exit Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport. Thought we needed immigration entry forms normally required for arriving tourists, whilst I could not remember the #ThaiAirways in-flight attendant handing me any.

Two Peas in Paris

28-jan: Arrived Paris... Scouted the arrival area for an English-speaking individual. I've only gotten to basic French greeting from the travel book I was browsing in the plane. All I got in that arrival area was the French reply that sounded off as, "Don't bother me, lady!" It did not help that I was insisting on a non-existing form.
Hubby and I decided to (just) walk out. Look of uncertainty in our faces had attracted the Custom Officer's attention by the exit door. Customer Officer, a lady, took us aside for luggage inspection, at the same time asking how much foreign currency we carried (which I shyly took out from plastic leaves of a decoy photo album to foil pickpocketing en route...) all because of an immigration form issue. And no, arriving tourists did not need to fill-out any immigration form at CDG to breeze through the exit door.

Paris's main avenue - Arc de Triomphe (center) and LV flagship store (left), on Champs-Elysees boulevard

Queued for taxi to get to city center. Taxicab driver might as well double for Vin Diesel, the Hollywood actor. Hubby and I arrived on a Monday morning and rush hour traffic was expected. Taxi meter was fast gaining the numbers. I elbowed the hubby... and he shrugged, which meant, "Ano pa magagawa natin?" (English translation: What else could we do?) There's an Airport Express to city center, but it was not a good idea for us first-timers hauling heavy luggage. Back to that taxi meter... it was on a roll making a re-make out of Audrey Hepburn's "Paris When It Sizzles", caption it: "Taxi Meter When it Sizzles". Taxi ride cost Euro-50, inclusive of luggage fee, plus tip to Vin Diesel lookalike.

Bird makes its flight around the Eiffel tower on a winter day

Crossing Champs-Elysees

Taxi driver drove past Arc de Triomphe down Champs-Elysees (boulevard)... and made a right on the street... et Voila! Eiffel Tower, in its glorious steel frame, came to view. I mouthed a - "W-O-W!" Taxi driver was grinning from the rear view mirror. Taxi driver drove by Eiffel Tower down Avenue de Suffren, and stopped in front of the white low-rise building, nextdoor to Hilton. "Je suis a Paris!" I am in Paris.

All prim and proper
at Jardin des Tuileries

Check-in: Avenue de Suffren apartment, in Paris's 7th arrondisement. (At a time when renting vacation apartments was uncommon set-up vs. traditional hotel bookings; I remember the French Embassy, at Manila, had to make sure our month's rental of Euro-4000 was for a legitimate transaction, the Contract of Lease was made part of VISA requirement.) Apartment was in such a central location. No better confirmation was Eiffel Tower right before my eyes. From apartment balcony was a 180-degree unobstructed view of Trocadero to my left; Eiffel Tower in front; Notre-Dame cathedral in the city island; Montparnasse tower to my right; and Sacre-Couer cathedral up the hill. I did run out of ideas interacting with the Eiffel Tower, 24/7, after a month's time.
Paris was not love at first sight. If Paris was human, Paris was old and grey. During the ride from the airport to city center, I did make a side comment to the hubby that we might have miscalculated a month-long stay in Paris alone. Admittedly, the beauty and charm of Paris grows on you with each passing day. Not before long, I was happily donning a red and brown berets, when outdoors (to the amusement of the locals giving me the occasional stare...), as well as that pink & aqua colored bandeau, when indoors, all purchased at #Monoprix, fully embracing the Parisian vibe in my adopted hometown-for a month*wink;)

Playing catch with Eiffel tower from the apartment balcony, in Paris

Apartment owner, Francoise, reminded us, "Don't leave Paris without going on the river cruise!" Best time for a river cruise is nighttime, when city is all lit up. Paris had been dubbed the City of Light, after all. Trivia: Called, City of Light, or La Ville-Lumiere, it is attributed to Paris's role during the age of enlightenment as center of education, as well as the first European city to install gas street lighting. Hubby and I had a river cruise set for Valentine's Day (February 14). Here's my version of that day...

Two Peas at Louvre

Hubby and I were HHWW (holding-hands-while-walking) going to the Bateaux Vedettes - boat cruise on river Seine. It was Heart's Day, I was in a happy mood humming a song. In a split second, my right foot lost coordination with my left foot... and before I knew it, I was falling to the ground, my entire body weight crashing down on concrete. OUCH! Hubby was laughing at the incident... A piece of advice to the Mrs. when strolling with the hubby: Get a firm grip on the hubby's neck er arm. I lost my interest on that river cruise, and hubby rescheduled it a week later.

Sweet sunshower on hubby's birthday in a deserted Louvre

What to do when it rains in Paris? Paris has quite a number of museums. It was raining on hubby's birthday of all days. Hubby and I headed for the Musee du Louvre... Enrich one's soul viewing world famous artworks and masterpieces in the history of art and mankind. Tip: Entrance to Paris's museums is FREE every first Sunday of the month.

Contrary to Da Vinci's Code, the inverted I.M. Pei pyramid points to a mall

"Mona Lisa"
at Musee du Louvre

In Musee du Louvre, there were the three special ladies of the house: Venus de Milo; Winged Victory; and Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. I did not expect Mona Lisa to be a small-sized painting, which looked like a huge artwork in the movies. In the train station-turned-Musee d'Orsay, there was Whistler's Mother, the painting Mr. Bean had messed up with in the movie, as well as Degas's The Little Dancer, and Van Gogh's distinct paintings.

"Big Elephant"
at Musee d'Orsay

In Musee Rodin devoted to Auguste Rodin's works, there they were the artist's rendition of The Thinker high up a pedestal in the garden, as well as The Kiss shared between two lovers - marble statues. What could Mr. Thinker be deep in thought about, up until that afternoon? Get on with a running contest of best captions for The Thinker... In Musee Picasso, the abstracts of Pablo Picasso (just) made me realize that anyone can paint, lol.

"The Thinker"
at Musee Rodin

During our month-long stay in Paris, hubby and I went as far as to check out two other less-visited museums... There's Musee Carnavalet - museum on the history of Paris, illustrating the city development from prehistoric era up to 20th century Paris. And there's Musee National du Moyen Age - the residence of Cluny abbots (... close to sounding off as distant relatives of George Clooney, lol), holding the 15th century tapestry hanging, The Lady and the Unicorn. By then, the rains have stopped.

Free seating in the French gardens at Jardin du Luxembourg

When the sun's up, must-stroll around Paris; it is a walking city nobody gets tired off. It was surprisingly sunny during our winter sojourn, even Francoise, the apartment owner-turned-environmentalist-lawyer was quick to exclaim, "It's global warming!"
There's Champ de Mars (where Eiffel tower is), Jardin du Trocadero (across river Seine at Pont D'iena), Jardin des Tuileries (next to Louvre), and Jardin du Luxembourg (near Sorbonne university), which also happens to have that 2nd Statue of Liberty replica, with the 1st replica in one of the bridges crossing river Seine). How French folks loved the outdoors. Every opportunity, they were out relaxing in those French gardens.

"Moulin Rouge"
at Pigalle district

Still quite energetic in Paris... The controversial Moulin Rouge awaits in Montmartre. Dance your way to the Moulin Rouge stage with the can-can moves. Do exercise caution walking Paris's Pigalle district though. As darkness descended in the area, shady characters roamed in the old red light district. I only needed a photo souvenir before the Moulin Rouge landmark; some commented it was a tourist trap to watch the show. And for a last take on Paris, hubby and I rode the Metro to La Defense - Paris's business district, which has a huge supermarket at the mall, to hubby's delight.

Photo-op with Eiffel
at Trocadero

Back in the 7th arrondisement, I've found another spot for photo-op with Eiffel Tower. Trivia: Trocadero lookout point was the fave spot of he-who-must-be-named so much so that during the last world war, he told his men not to mess with the Eiffel Tower.
I must admit, I have captured way too many photos of subject: Eiffel Tower, in my digital camera, enough to save it all for another blog entry. Link to>>> Journal Entry: Le Tour Eiffel #france #paris #winter2008
P.s. I had a lot more to write about Paris... such as the churches Link to>>> Journal Entry: Churches of Paris #france #paris #winter2008 ... and the beach Link to>>> Journal Entry: Seaside Rendezvous #france #normandy #winter2008 ... and the royal hideaways Link to>>> Journal Entry: The Royal Show #france #versailles #winter2008 ... and the magical world of Disney!!! Link to>>> Journal Entry: Entree: Paris Disneyland #france #paris #winter2008

oOo
PHOTOSTITCH

#France #Paris #winter2008