The City of Lights

You are right Audrey Hepburn, Paris is a good idea.

Paris is discussed extensively in books and in movies but being there was definitely a decision that anyone should put on their to-do list.  In April, I decided to take a trip to Europe and then end my stay in Paris and to this very day I have no regret.  I spent nine days there and it was the best nine days of my life. A friend asked me what I would do in Paris for nine days as if the time I plan on staying there was a bit too much and to be honest I had a sketch of what to do but it would not take nine whole days; looking back I am glad I stayed there for that long.  I had a chance to absorb Paris in slowly rather than on a fast moving pace like when I visited other cities in Europe and in America.  I visited most attractions Paris is known for, I climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower, took a trip to the Musee Louvre and saw the famous Mona Lisa painting where I had to push and pull through the crowd of tourists in order to see her upfront, entered Notre Dame church and even sat on a mass just for the sake of it.  Food was definitely my favorite part; the French sure know how to cook and make their guests happy, though I spent most of my days eating baguette sandwiches I had a pure French cuisine on my last day and it was the best meal ever. I was with an American friend I met on a walking tour and we devoured the food as if that might be our last meal ever.

People call Paris the City of Lights and they have it all right there. At night, the city lit up from all sides with bright lights that you see no where else. It reminded me of New York City and Los Angeles but Paris is, and will always be, unique in its own nature and no other cities can compare to it.  Love is definitely in the air as dating couples kiss and cuddle in the public area without any hint of embarrassment; they love each other and they are not afraid to show it.  I was there in September and though the summer was almost over, tourists can be seen everywhere, from the main attractions to the Avenue De Champs Elysees and to the neighborhood of the Latin Quarter.  In general, I do not like crowds but after my tour ended I was by myself and it was good to have company from strangers.

At every turn there is history everywhere in the city. The Avenue De Champs Elysees was the road where people marched after World War II.  The Musee Lourvre, dated back to the 1100, served as a fortress for Philippe Aguste.  Entering the gothic churches definitely was a time of reliving the past. One will never leave the same after visiting Paris, the history and the life of the city would impress any newcomers or returners.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower was one of my highlights in Paris and it will be my favorite all-time human's creation.  She looks better in person than any art and photographs can portray her and her stance can be seen at most angle in the city center.  I visited her in the morning and once at night and during the time when she was lit up at sunset.  Her structure is detailed and any engineer would forever love to study how she was built and created in the two year span of her creation.  She was definitely an unforgettable sight and it reminds me how vast life is and how insignificant my life is compared to what is out there in the world.

Shopping on the Avenue De Champs Elysees was an unforgettable experience. Though most stores were overprice, I ended up buying a Louis Vuitton handbag and a few clothing items with the help of a French woman whom I met through the Couchsurfing website.  We decided to meet up and go for a shopping adventure on the Avenue De Champs Elysses in an afternoon.  She was a shopping addict and during our shopping hunt, she bought a few items and even had to put some back so she would not pass her budget limit for the month.  I learned the in and out of the French women's way of shopping and even how to save money when I have the intention to buy a high end bag oversea.  I discovered most French women do not like LV brand and though they prefer quality, they rather spend money elsewhere where they would pay less and get more in quantity for what they spend on.

The best part of my Paris excursion was I met many Parisians during my trip and each person was unique and taught me so much the French's way of living; I learned about the politics in Paris (I even traipsed by the President's house one time), fashion, how French women and men choose future spouse, the food, their way of cooking, their portion control when it comes to eating, etc. As I mentioned before, the itinerary was my main intention at the start of the trip but after meeting many great and interesting people, whether it was on walking tours or on the streets or on the Metro, the people were the highlight of my time.  I discovered that Parisians are just like any other people living on this earth; they have responsibilities, they have a family to take care of, they are open-minded, they value education, they enjoy people-watching, and they love to meet and being around people.

Paris will always hold something special in my heart.  Of all my traveling, it is definitely my favorite city so far, it has the history that no other city will ever have and the environment is lively everywhere you see. It is a city that marks the creative side of human's creation and mind: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre that once served as a fortress, the gothic churches, the bistros, the food, the delicious crepes that can satisfy anyone's taste buds, the music, the diversity of the people, the art, the neighborhoods, etc.  Someone once said, "You give me the kind of feeling that people write novels about" and this is a prefect description of the City of Lights. I did not enter a city, I was living the history, the presence, and living where many people only read and hear about.  It's a city where any magical things can happen and where anything is possible and where one can never leave as the same person again.