Paris !!!

Paris... as the word sounds i remember fashion , richness and metro's .. ha ha ha.. yup Europe is fully connected with excellent metro's system and you can reach anywhere in just few min...

We had to do all our planning for Paris , how we travel, where we stay and everything. So the metro map was the best thing to start of our plan. We selected the top tourist spots and planned to hop from where to where....

Our spots were:

1. Eiffel tower 2. Louvre Museum 3. Are de Triomphe 4. Sanite CHappel La 5. Notre Dam Cathedral 6. Sacre Cour 7. Grevin Wax Museum 8.Champs Elysees 9.Opera 10.Centre Pompidu 11.Chateau De Versailles
You will not believe , our luggage was just a small back pack which my husband takes to office , we stuffed our clothes and necessary things with little eatables.. ha ha.. we never change...

We travelled to Paris through Euro star bus , we started on sat - 21/03/09 morning at around 6 and reached Paris by 9:45 , pretty fast eh.. atleast for me.
The journey was peaceful and enjoying the outer side with half sleep in my eyes.
We reached Paris and got down at Galleini and wasted aroun 15 min trying to find its metro and to get a two day pass..
We need to through the under ground of Galleini to reach its metro . The best way to roam for two days in Paris is to get a two day mettro pass for 14 Euro's, which is really effective.
We headed straight to Centre Pompidu by following the metro lines which is dam easy.

Centre Pompidu:
Centre Pompidu is a huge building with lot cinema halls,central libraries,museums,showhalls and etc. It has around 7 floors and as you imagine it has a long queue . We didnt venture into the inner side , since we thought it wa a waste of time and hence clicked few photos and headed back. The speciality is that its a massive structure whose architecture is like tube stair cases one above the other to reach the 7th floor.

Grevin Museum:
Our next stop was at Grevin WAX Museum , which is similar to Madame Tussauds , i felt here the wax dolls were neat . The part I liked here was it had SRK's wax doll and i just fell for it. Not that its so apt , but its him!!The entrance here is 19.50 Euro, which is a bit expensive.

Sainte Chappel La:
We then stepped into Sainte Chappel La which is the beautiful chappel , its famous for its glass paintings on windows and the rose window. The paintings depict the life of Adam and Eve and Christ's and his rise . There is a notice in all languages which helps us understand the paintings more. Its a huge place and nice to click photos. Then next we headed to the conceirgerie , prison of Mother Esther , near the Chappel , which is very calm and peaceful and excellent work. The tickets for the both the chappel and the prison can be bought in the Chappel itself. The Prison can be reached after you walk out of the chappel and first entrance on the left.

Notre Dame Chathedral:
I remember Notre Dame Cathedral in my history books which was very old and famous cathedral.Its walkable distance from Sainte Chappel.
The Notre had a peaceful surrounding and you can see many candels lit , it has the statue of Christ crucified and Mother Mary holding him which is just stunning.
The Dome of Notre Dame is very famous and you have an excellent view of Paris from there , but you need to climb about 280 steps for the same and the queue is very long.

In the middle of all this , we had our breakfast and a lunch - fast .. ha ha.. our lunch was also dam quick.

Champs Elysees:

As Times Square to New York, as San Marco to Venice , Champs Elysees is for Paris. The most posh street which has all the major brands and a very broad street . We had an excellent coffee with cream and started to walk the full street , it takes about half an hour to walk over it , but its pleasure. Its always crowded and its fun to walk after a tiring rounds in metro.

Arc De Triomphe:

This monument for Napolean stands at the end of Champs Elysees and can be reached by following the small green signs and having done few zebra crosses. We need to go into the underground tunnel and cut and go above and there stand the MAJESTIC monument.
The work on it is so inspiring and indicates the life of soldiers and has many names carved on the arc.There is a lamp or rather huge fire torch lit at daily evening 6 which is also so attractive. You can go up and have an excellent view of Paris.

EIFFEL TOWER:

Wat to say... one of the wonder of the world.I cant explain , it was breath taking. We travelled to Eiffel through the metro and when it was nearing , the train comes out of the sub way and runs on the normal road giving us an excellent view of the wonder. I was like" WOWWWWW".
Its so majestic and yet beautiful, it was a monument dedicated to French people after the French revolution , it was built by Gustave Eiffel.
It has 3 platform kind, there are two queues for entrance. One queue to use the lift and the other to climb the steps until the second platform and then use the lift.
We used the second so that it will be like we walked over it and also used a lift.
It is tiring to walk until the second platform , it was 700 steps nearly. It is built of iron mask and very heavy , hence we need not worry.
There are two restaurants in the platforms and also a bar. We can have an excellent view from these platforms and take rest before we actually tour the Eiffel. Your face glows up as you are ready to alight.
The life goes in no seconds to the top and HURRAY , we climbed it. The view is awesome and its so well protected with railings and fences, I was cool even though I was afraid of heights.
We took number of photos and yes it was dam romantic.
We spent solid 3 hours there , the main specialty being we viewed dawn,sunset and dusk and night. When the sun descends you just feel you want to give a hi-fi to mother Nature for her splendid work. Its just fabulous. The Sun descended dam slowly and hence we were contended . As the night took over , the towe was lit up. MY GOD, there are so many lights .
At last we made up our minds to come down and see it from outside at around 8.
When we just landed down and saw the tower with its grand lights , it was splendid.
And then we headed of click numerous photos -solo and pairs and suddenly........
There was a different kind of sparkling coming , i was jus blank and you know what.. it was from the tower , there were white sparkling lights coming from the tower here and there , it was MARVELLOUS, i have no words. When ever i think of the lights , i feel happiness. Man Made creation is also great!!

After few more snaps, we headed out of Eiffel with sovereigns in our hands and to find our hotel.
We used metro and had to switch one more, hence we got dinner from Mc D, without which vegeterians cant survive.

Etap hotel was too good , but the way to it was scary for me alone , because I am afraid to walk in night.

We bounced to sleep after a tiring day and with beautiful thoughts.. when suddenly.. at around 4:45 , we were awakened by a fire alaram , we just packed our bags and rushed out and the full hotel was out there . The Fire service were there and they were checking what went wrong and as usual nothing went wrong , hence we were back to sleep for another one hour.

After getting up and getting ready , we headed straight to the Sacre Cour....

Sacre Cour:

This is a sacred Basillica which is situated up the little hill , the way to it is very steep , but its worth it.
The Basillica featured Chirst Risening as a painting and its awesome. We spent some time praying and looking at the marvellous structure and headed backwards. I liked this Basilicca the best!!

Louvre Museum:

OOPS!! I dont know what to say .. but this is just HUUUUUUUUUUUGEEEEEEE!!!!!
Since I am not into paintings, but I very badly wanted to see Louvre , we headed here and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked............
The only thing I can remember in the Mona Lisa.. Michaelangelo did a great work!!
I cant remember any other paintings or sculpture , but everything was worth a watch.

When you come out of the museum , you can see the Royal Palace.. which is just double Lourve. In fact , Lourve is a prt of a palace. They have just dedicated it to Lourve. Louis X1V decided he will donate the palace to museum and hence made Chateau De Versailles as his palace , which is another tourist spot and requires a full day to spend.

There are lots of bridges outside Lourve , crossing the Seine river , which are worth walking .

Opera Hall:

The next attraction was Opera Hall, as usual the music hall of Paris, which is beautiful from outside and hence excellent and rich work inside.
It has busts of all the famous musicians outside on the walls.

It was not opened that day , since there was a concert , hence we had finish our day and walk back to the bus to Gallieni.

The journey was excellent , the ride was smooth and we were just chatting about our old days in college and days till marriage.

So.. PARIS is done..