So a few months after I went to Paris Disneyland, my best friend Aya invited me to come to see her in Paris. It was the beginning of winter, the weather is cold and wet, it's raining most of the time. I managed to get a bus ticket from EuroLines for quite reasonable price 43euro round trip. The bus leaves from Breda at midnight, but the bus came late (around an hour late) so I was a bit worry whether the bus really is going to come, or did I miss it, and all bad thoughts start coming. So there I was standing in front of Breda train station in the coldness of November waiting for the bus. The bus came around 1ish, and I immediately jump in to the bus, find a seat, try to get myself comfortable and ready to sleep. It took around 6 hours from Breda to Paris, they make a stop in Brussels and Antwerpen I guess, but I was too sleepy to even realize.
Day 1 - Paris I'm Tired
Tired from the bus ride, I walk myself to the Metro, and take the Metro to Aya's apartment. Single trip ticket cost 1.70euro, but you can buy 10 tickets (13.30euro) at once and enjoy the discount. After I recharged my energy, took 2 hours nap, we're ready to go. First stop is Louvre, transportation system in Paris is quite good, I mean you can easily go anywhere with public transportation, and you just have to look at metro map where you want to go.
Louvre, one of the largest museum and a historic monument. You probably recognize the pyramid in Da Vinci's Code movie. Louvre is also a house of one of Da Vinci's most famous painting Monalisa. But there are plenty to see than just Monalisa. So if you like paintings you will enjoy your visit at Louvre (I know I do)
After finish exploring Louvre, we continue to Eiffel, well you're in Paris, of course you have to see the Eiffel Tower. You can just take the metro or RER C to reach Eiffel Tower. Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, it has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world; 7.1 million people ascended it in 2011.
After Eiffel Tower, we continue our journey to Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle (originally named Place de l'Étoile), at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
Walking our way down to Champs-Élysées as end of our journey for today, one of the most famous street in Paris. Full of luxury stores and cafes, Champs-Élysées also known as the most expensive strips of real estate in the world. We make a pit stop at one of the Italian restaurant and get something to eat.
Day 2 - Sacré Cœur and NotreDame
Woke up in the morning inhale the cold air of Paris, hoping maybe the weather will be nicer today, but oh well it's just a dream that will never come true. The sky was dark and cloudy, and the rain fell down a little bit. The bad side about travelling on November (in addition to the rain) is it's winter time, so the sun comes a little bit late.. We waited until the sun is a little bit up, and we took a tram to Montmartre (Stop in Anvers, you can use your t+ ticket to come here). Montmartre is a hill in the north of Paris, France. It is 130 metres high and gives its name to the surrounding district, in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district. Yup, here is the place where the famous Moulin Rouge is, but too bad I didn't get the chance to visit there, because we have other things to do. To go to the basilica, you can either climb the stair or take some kind of tram (you can also use your t+ ticket here). From Sacré Cœur you can see the whole Paris. The view is breath-taking (even when it's cloudy :p)
After visiting the Basilica we went back to Paris, and go to Notre Dame (I've looked for Quasimodo but I couldn't find him). Notre-Dame, is a historic Roman Rite Catholic Marian cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. The naturalism of its sculptures and stained glass are in contrast with earlier Romanesque architecture. When I was there they have some kind of anniversary for Notre Dame, so there's a huge stage blocking the view :(
I was lucky that I was in Paris when they have opened the Christmas Market. So I got the chance to visit the Christmas Market when I was in Paris. The market itself full of people selling stuff, hot wine, and of course they have ice-rink.
Day 1 - Paris I'm Tired
Tired from the bus ride, I walk myself to the Metro, and take the Metro to Aya's apartment. Single trip ticket cost 1.70euro, but you can buy 10 tickets (13.30euro) at once and enjoy the discount. After I recharged my energy, took 2 hours nap, we're ready to go. First stop is Louvre, transportation system in Paris is quite good, I mean you can easily go anywhere with public transportation, and you just have to look at metro map where you want to go.
Louvre, one of the largest museum and a historic monument. You probably recognize the pyramid in Da Vinci's Code movie. Louvre is also a house of one of Da Vinci's most famous painting Monalisa. But there are plenty to see than just Monalisa. So if you like paintings you will enjoy your visit at Louvre (I know I do)
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| The Pyramid |
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| Tiny Monalisa |
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| Other Paintings |
After finish exploring Louvre, we continue to Eiffel, well you're in Paris, of course you have to see the Eiffel Tower. You can just take the metro or RER C to reach Eiffel Tower. Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, it has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world; 7.1 million people ascended it in 2011.
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| Eiffel Tower |
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| Arc de Triomphe |
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| Champs-Elysees |
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| Cartier Store |
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| Our Dinner |
Day 2 - Sacré Cœur and NotreDame
Woke up in the morning inhale the cold air of Paris, hoping maybe the weather will be nicer today, but oh well it's just a dream that will never come true. The sky was dark and cloudy, and the rain fell down a little bit. The bad side about travelling on November (in addition to the rain) is it's winter time, so the sun comes a little bit late.. We waited until the sun is a little bit up, and we took a tram to Montmartre (Stop in Anvers, you can use your t+ ticket to come here). Montmartre is a hill in the north of Paris, France. It is 130 metres high and gives its name to the surrounding district, in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district. Yup, here is the place where the famous Moulin Rouge is, but too bad I didn't get the chance to visit there, because we have other things to do. To go to the basilica, you can either climb the stair or take some kind of tram (you can also use your t+ ticket here). From Sacré Cœur you can see the whole Paris. The view is breath-taking (even when it's cloudy :p)
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| Stairway to Sacre Cour |
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| Basilica of the Sacre Cour |
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| Paris From the Top |
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| Notre Dame |
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| Row of Gargoyle |
I was lucky that I was in Paris when they have opened the Christmas Market. So I got the chance to visit the Christmas Market when I was in Paris. The market itself full of people selling stuff, hot wine, and of course they have ice-rink.
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| City of Paris |
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| Mini Eiffel |
