Ubiquitous

Paris, France

01 Oct 2009 No Comments

by Ubiquityin Globetrotting Tags: France, Paris, travel

Paris, most famously known as La Ville-Lumière; The City of Lights. One of the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to. Paris took my breath away over and over again. From her cityscape to culture, she mesmerized me with her sights and sounds. Despite all the merde about the Parisien being snobbish and their ever-so-often urge for a strike, she will always remain on the top of my favorite cities in the world.

The first time I met Paris was my first time traveling long-distance with my younger brother. On the 1st of February 2008, without knowing a single French word and equipped with only 1 guide book, we boarded the 12 hour flight all psyched with excitement that awaits us for the next 10 days.

Covered Walkways

Leaving Singapore from the new Terminal 3 makes arriving at Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1 seems like a third world country. In a huge contrast, the international airport is a futuristic labyrinth gone sour, designed to confuse travelers. For what reasons? I have absolutely no clue. There were plenty of moving walkways enclosed within plastic tubes that goes to many different directions. To make matters worse, the signs for the baggage belts are poorly indicated and some areas in the terminal were cordoned off  for renovations. So it was by no surprised that we got lost WITHIN the airport and spent half an hour trying to find our way around and out.

It was winter and it was our first experience of freezing cold temperature. With the morning breeze slicing through our skin, we made our way to the 14eme arrondissement de Paris (14th district of Paris; Montparnasse).

Hotel Concorde Montparnasse
40, rue du Commandant Mouchotte, Place Catalogne

We even got free wireless internet connection!

Though it cannot beat the glitzy boutique hotels littered around Champs Elysees, Hotel Concorde has a nice touch of coziness. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by polite and courteous staff. They spoke fluent English and allowed us for an early check-in. Just as it look from the outside, the interior of our room is very modern and the lack of space definitely makes up for the decor; creamy walls with red curtains, wooden fixtures and white crisp linens on 2 double beds. The pillows are absolutely plush, they’re so comfortable I wanted to take them home!

Waiting for the train...

That very same day, we began our little journey and kick it off with the Paris Métro. Walking is the most scenic way to explore Paris of course, but to save time we took the metro instead.

Pretty much well known for “the most closely spaced subway stations in the world”, do you know that Paris is the second busiest metro system in Europe after Moscow? Well, now you do. Transporting 4.5 million passengers a day, it is amazing that the cars are still relatively clean and modern.

Next stop : Champ-de-Mars

Viaduc de Passy

Somewhere along the Seine, we were approached by a sketch artist. He blocked my brother’s way by standing right in front of his path and started to scribble on his drawing pad. Bearing in mind about aggressive street buskers, we politely refused but he keep on insisting and gave us lame excuses such as; “We’re only in Paris once… ought to keep some memories…” Taufiq finally relented when he literally stopped us in our tracks. I thought, “Okay, why the hell not… It wouldn’t cost THAT much.” But then another one suddenly pop up from nowhere and started to sketch me. Dear God!

10 mins later…

Being naive and gullible, we were RIPPED OFF in broad daylight for 60 euros. That’s more than 160 Singapore dollars for 2 pieces of child art! Worse, it looked nothing like us.

Travel tip : Ignore street busker who pursue you

La Seine

La Seine

Beware of beggars here

Didn’t manage to snap a photo of them in action and I still wish I had but I was seriously freaked out to whip out my camera.

These people they look like gypsies; the dull colored scarf covering their hair with equally dull colored shabby robes and tattered gloves. Most of them are women and they’re either very young or very old. One VERY significant thing I remembered about them is, they walk extremely fast.

I was totally caught off-guard when approached by one of them asking me if I speak English. I said yes and that’s when they began their scheming ways. The approacher summoned others that appear out of nowhere, blocked my way and begged me profusely for money.

Travel tip : Walk away as fast as you can when you sense that you are being approached by any gypsy-looking people

The Eiffel Tower is breathtaking and the photos of the landmark can’t capture the mood and excitement up close. Towering high at 1,063 ft (324 m), it was the tallest structure in the world after it’s completion in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle, a World’s Fair marking the centennial celebration of French Revolution. The daring shape of the steel structure was once regarded as an eyesore when it was first built and it had a permit to stand for only 20 years. However, as the tower proved valuable for communication purposes, it was allowed to remain after the expiration of the permit.

“Novelist Guy de Maupassant, who once claimed to hate the tower, supposedly ate lunch in the tower’s restaurant everyday. When asked why, he answered that it was the one place in Paris where one could not see the structure.”

Eiffel Tower; from the base

Man scaling down on a rope from Eiffel Tower

Tree lined avenues at Champ de Mars

Champ de Mars; view of the Eiffel Tower from the Monument to Peace

Monument to Peace

The Champ-de-Mars was named for the Roman god of war and was originally used as a military training ground. The lawn was also a key site during the French Revolution. Today, the large public green space is home not to feuding soldiers but to tourists,young couples and families, socializing against the breathtaking backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.

At the far end of the garden is the Monument to Peace. There are several columns with the word “peace” written in several languages.

I never knew that there was supposed to be a computerized keyboard in the monument. It was said that visitors could leave their personal message of peace. If I had known about that sooner, I’d definitely left my mark.

The silvery grey columns were neatly erected in a lineal position on both sides of a glass structure. They are cleverly placed to allow a framed view of the Eiffel Tower when standing in front of it.

At the end of the first day with what little I’ve seen, Paris is a city of boundless beauty. Each sight as beautiful as the next, this is a city with rich history. A city alive with activity. The parks, avenues and public buildings are majestic and filled with stark view of the strictness and complexity in architecture. The people may not be as warm and friendly, but as soon as you go out of your way to speak their language no matter how bad you sound, they are more that happy to smile back at you and reply.

Check back soon for continuation of this entry! For more photos of my trip in Paris, click here.