Day 8: Paris - by Nathan

Our first day in Paris was a wonderful one with an initial temperature of around 5 degrees. Our first night in the Crowne Plaza Hotel was spent comfortably, with a 7:30 wakeup call and a breakfast buffet that trumped the efforts of Turkey. With a selection of typical French foods like baguettes and croissants (they come in chocolate too!) and other hot foods like egg and bacon.

 

Nonetheless, we were introduced to our new guide in France, Valerie, who sounded pronouncedly French (she even had that typical French laugh). We were taken to the Eiffel Tower, which amongst the low lying city was quite an eye full. Most buildings do not exceed 31 meters, thus the view even from the second story was exceptional. Even at 10:30 in the morning, this landmark was packed with tourists and we skipped the queue, to make it to the second floor – where another elevator awaited us with an even longer queue.

Clearly the epitome of the French horizon, the Eiffel Tower provided us with a panoramic view of the entire city (at this time coated by a layer of fog) and after the unsettling elevator rides back to the base of the tower, it was off to a quick drive around the city and a relaxing cruise on the river Seine. 

Due to the marathon being run through the city by 40,000 people many roads were blocked, causing unexpected detours. We passed many of the plazas, including the Plaza de Republique and the Notre Dame Church, which is 850 years old and the Luxembourg Gardens and Palace – built by Mary of Capri of the De Medici family (of Italian origins from Florence).

With the arrival on the Left Bank of the Seine river, we boarded the craft and proceeded to enjoy a cruise underneath Alexander III bridge and the many different angles of the Eiffel Tower. With the unrelenting cold winds, we photographed the many sights across the Right Bank of the river also. It was at this time that we were informed that we would in fact not be visiting Notre Dame Cathedral, but that of Sacre Cour (or Sacred Heart).

 

Over a quick lunch, a miracle occurred, when Kate managed to finish her meal BEFORE the remainder of the group – an unheard of event thus far in the trip. She also claimed that this restaurant was one and the same as one in the film Midnight in Paris.

 

After a mediocre lunch, it was on to Sacre Cour – where there were no shortages of crowds relaxing on the steps, street performers and illegal handbag salesmen. The Church itself was a place of silence, aside from the harmonious singing of the nuns. After viewing the church and the statue of Joan of Arc atop it, we continued on our journey to the Arc De Triomphe.

At the center of many roads, this landmark was built by Napoleon Bonaparte, before he was banished and the last King of France completed it – thus changing its purpose; no longer fully glorifying Napoleon himself. Beneath the structure was the eternal flame, burning above the body of a buried unknown French soldier after the Great War.

Nonetheless, albeit a cold one – our first full day in France and last in Paris began and ended well, from the Eiffel Tower to a wonderful last Parisian meal.

-          Nathan Di Teodoro.