Travel Journal: Paris – The City of Light

It was a cool morning with a light rain shower on the city streets. I had been waiting for this day, and the weather wouldn’t change my plans. Today, my husband and I would explore the magical place known as the “City of Light”. We were in Paris for the first time, and there was so much to see and do.

We started our journey on a red double decker tour bus, like the kind you see in old British movies, and I was thrilled because I had never been on one. The rain trickled down, so we decided to sit inside the bus instead of the open second level. A bus attendant gave us headphones as we boarded and we quickly found a channel that was in English. The narrator explained that we would be going through 10 different landmarks, and along the way we would learn the history behind each one of them.

There was one that I had to see, and I waited anxiously for it to be announced. Every single landmark we saw was interesting and beautiful, but I just couldn’t wait to see my favorite. After about an hour and several stops later, I could see in the distance the frame of the most iconic landmark in all of Paris starting to come into view. I tugged on my husband’s arm exclaiming what I saw, it was the Eiffel Tower.

As we got off the bus at the next stop, I took a deep breath. The closer it was in front of me, the more I was able to take it in. It was surreal that I was standing there looking at the very tower I had seen countless pictures and replicas of. It was so complex and astounding, a genuine work of art.

We got back on the bus for more sightseeing and I knew exactly where I wanted to go next, Notre Dame. As a child, one of my favorite Disney movies was the, “Hunchback of Notre Dame.” At that time I had no idea that this beautiful Gothic church was actually a real place, and that I might have the opportunity to see it in person one day.

Our bus stopped a short distance away from the church, giving us an opportunity to take in just how massive it really was. We circled all the way around, admiring all of it’s incredible features. As we stood in line to go inside, I fixed my eyes on the intricate sculptures covering the arches at each entryway door. There was a different story carved into every single one of them.

It was finally our turn, and we made our way into the church. The moment I set foot into it, I could sense a peace in the atmosphere. It was calm and quiet, although it was filled with crowds of people. Mass had begun and songs of praise softly filled the room. The moment I caught a glimpse of the sanctuary, I was lost for words. The most beautiful architecture and ornate stained glass windows surrounded me at every side. It reminded me of the Disney movie I watched as a child, and I felt like I was there in the midst of the storyline.

After seeing Notre Dame, our tour bus made its way to Place de la Concorde, where beautiful fountains surrounded us on every side. There were sculptures of mermaids and ancient gods adorned with gold features. An Egyptian obelisk stood tall over the square, and nearby colorful lights illuminated a Ferris wheel that outstretched the horizon. This was the largest square in the French capital.

Once we drove through the square, we faced the stunning Champs Elysees. This is known as the most beautiful street in Paris, and it wasn’t much of a mystery as to why. Perfectly hedged trees lined each side of the avenue, drawling your eyes all the way down to the incredible Arc de Triomphe. There were gardens, monuments, and restaurants that made up one end of the avenue, and the other was filled with high-end stores.

Before exploring the avenue’s designer shops and stopping for lunch, we had our sights set on the Arc de Triomphe. We found an underground tunnel that allowed us to get to it without having to worry about crossing the busy Parisian Streets. When we made it through to the other side and approached the Arc, we had to stand back to take it all in. It was beautiful, and there was so much history carved onto each of its sides. There were sculptures of soldiers that fought in the French wars and names of generals and their victories inscribed on its surfaces. As we walked all the way around the Arc, we approached the tomb of the unknown soldier. Flowers surrounded a constant burning flame. The French inscription over it read “Here lies a French soldier who died for the fatherland 1914–1918”.

To witness the beauty of ancient buildings in Paris and experience them in person was truly astounding. This trip was unforgettable, and I would definitely go back to experience it again.

Bons voyages!

If you would like tips to plan a trip to Paris, check out “5 Tips for Paris“.