Paris, in a nutshell, was both amazing and kind of underwhelming. I was in awe at the sheer number and density of people everywhere, the intricacy of architecture in and throughout seemingly unimportant buildings, and the blended cultural influences and traditions evident in the cuisine. I was underwhelmed at how my visions of Paris were incongruent with the reality in front of me. I definitely had not expected to see so many homeless men, women, and families, many of whom looked exactly like me. I tried to avoid putting my human services hat on, but I questioned how a system could continue to allow negative stereotypes of Africans to perpetuate this way...
I know, I know! I'm supposed to use this post to explain how my 36 hours in the City of Lights were absolutely refined and magnifique. There were moments of that, definitely. Seeing the Eiffel Tower in person in both daylight and under the evening stars was lovely. I was speechless while standing in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. My little foodie heart exploded into a million little happy smiley emojis as a flaky, buttery, warmed chocolate croissant invigorated my senses and taste buds. Dinner near the Arc de Triomphe was one of the best meals I have ever had!
I know, I know! I'm supposed to use this post to explain how my 36 hours in the City of Lights were absolutely refined and magnifique. There were moments of that, definitely. Seeing the Eiffel Tower in person in both daylight and under the evening stars was lovely. I was speechless while standing in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. My little foodie heart exploded into a million little happy smiley emojis as a flaky, buttery, warmed chocolate croissant invigorated my senses and taste buds. Dinner near the Arc de Triomphe was one of the best meals I have ever had!
See? Plenty of moments of amazement that I will review in detail! What I did not expect, also, was how...unclean Paris was, lol! In my mind, Paris and all of the people in it were going to look like this when I strolled through:
Alas, the streets and trains were fairly littered, complete with odd stenches and creative attempts at street art. The people did not ALL look like sophisticated supermodel retirees (thank God!). Most folks donned dirty sneakers or flats instead of my previously visualized 4-inch stilettos in all-black-everything attire.
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The Sites
Head to the Trocadero to admire it. Stand on the steps and capture
ridiculously excellent views of the Eiffel Tower behind you. Check out the
crepe/gelato stand near the steps as well. The gelato was flavorful and appreciated
despite it being a bit chilly outside for April.
From there, take a 15ish-minute walk over to the Champs de Elysees
(AKA shopping area with luxury designers galore such as the Louis Vuitton flagship
store). If you plan to buy a Louis bag or two, be prepared to wait in line. The
queue ranges from a five to thirty-minute wait depending on when you go. Try to
get there earlier in the day. As with all shopping in Paris and other EU
countries, you'll be rewarded for your patience with a VAT refund. Be sure to ask your salesperson for the appropriate form at checkout, and have a copy of your passport and flight information in case they ask you for it.
Continue to make your way down the Champs to the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile (The Triumphal Arch of the Star), a neoclassic arch whose construction began in 1806 and was completed around 1836. It is believed that an unidentified serviceman is buried there; the Arc is also where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies. An eternal flame is in front of it in memoriam, and there is detailed masonry on every facade of the building.
Under and on the sides of the Arc, the names of 660 French generals are inscribed. Their dates of service range from 1789-1814 (History buffs will note that the earlier dates coincide with the French Revolution!). The underlined names signify those who were killed in action.
Hot Take We used our Paris Pass to skip the line at the Arc and climb the 284-step spiral staircase to the top. Grab your Paris Pass here before your trip for free admission and to skip lines at the Louvre, Arc, and other attractions in Paris.
Night began to fall over the Arc, so naturally, I dabbed on 'em and we ambulated into the nearby neighborhood for dinner. You will learn all about the succulent entree that I had as well as Day 2 in Paris in the next post. Stay tuned!
