We were set to fly to France on the day after the terrorist attack in Bataclan, Paris. But, this did not stop us from going as it was already planned. I pray for the souls of the victims and world peace as it did not only happened in France but also around the world during our one week holiday.
Saturday early morning I drove to Bristol Airport and got lost on the way because 1. the road to the airport was closed and so, we had to find another route; 2. trying to find our carpark and went to the wrong one. We flew with KLM airline to Lyon, connecting flight to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. We we're going to see Amsterdam city during our six hours stop over but we were already tired and I was unwell during our travel. So, we took the time to rest and explore the airport.
We stayed for a night at my mum’s friend at Oullins in Lyon and travelled to Paris in the morning, via SNCF train from Gare de Lyon Part-Dieu to Paris-Gare de Lyon.
The closest view I can get to the famous city’s symbolic tower, the Eiffel tower. We didn’t get to see the view of the paris from the top because the Eiffel tower was shut at the time due to the terrorist attack.
Statue équestre du Maréchal Foch - a French soldier during the WWI.
Souvenir stall around the city.
Monday morning we spent our day exploring the rest of the city, hopping on and off the metro. Paris metro is an underground train line which has 14 numbered lines. It costs us €1.80 per ticket for the metro but we bought a booklet of 20 tickets to save our time from buying every time we get on to different metro line. One ticket lets you travel between any two metro stations for a period of one and half hours with unlimited transfers.
There are different metro line and each has different colour, number and final destinations. Example, to go to Arc de Triomphe, we had to take metro line 1 to La Défense and get off Charles de Gaulle - Étoile.
Notre Dame -the city’s landmark cathedral situated in the Siene. There were a lot of people queuing up to get inside the cathedral to pray and see what’s inside.
Look at that masterpiece of French Gothic architecture, magnifique!
There were lots of people, mainly tourist and french soldiers sorrounding and monitoring the area. And oh, I was sorrounded by pegions too! We then head to another metro line heading Quai d’Orsay. We were going to see Musée d'Orsay but we had so little time. Instead we went to Louvre.
Passerelle Solférino is a footbridge over the River Seine
Le pont Royal - bridge going to the Pyramide du Louvre and Musée du Louvre.
The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
We went to see inside the Louvre Pyramid and again, due to little time we didn’t get to see the Museum which is a landmark art museum wherein you can see Mona Lisa.
Our last day in Paris was spent to see Arc de Triomphe (for the second time) because the first time we went to see the landmark was at the night time and I couldn’t get proper photo.
The famous Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile (’star’) , one of symbol of Paris with its magnificent 1836-built monument. At the top, some of the best views of Paris stretch can be seen but it was closed at the time.
Names inscribed on the Arch de Triomphe pillars are the lists of people who are french empires.
There were art exhibition of people french kissing at Paris Gare d’Lyon station and it happened that I saw this two couple having intimate kiss in front of Arc de Triopmhe. I took the chance to capture it.
In the afternoon, we went to see Sacré-Cœur Basillica - a Roman Catholic church. It is one of the popular landmark along with the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame.
The Basillica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city of Paris.
Overlooking Paris skyline from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.It was gloomy and raining at the time we reached the top of the Sacre Coeur and fortunately we got inside before the rain poured heavily.
The insde of Sacré-Cœur church. I am fasciniated with the whole lightning and interior architecture which is in the Romano-Byzantine stylle. It gives an atmosphere of harmony and peace.
We went to see the Eiffel tower for the last time at night because we didn’t went to see it at the first night because the lights on the Eiffel Tower stood dark for few night to symbolise ‘mourning’ due to the terrorist attacked happened in Paris.
Eiffel tower lit up blue, white and red colours (flag of France) for the second time to honour the victims of Paris attack.
I will definitely miss Paris, and maybe oneday, I will come back again. Although most of the landmark to see like Eiffel tower and Notre Dame are shut, we had a great time exploring the city.
Most french people do not speak English and although I haven’t converse in French, I certainly learnt a few words that I will remember for the next visit. I had fun getting on and off the metro, trying to find/read through the metro line maps. Somehow, it reminds me of London, well, maybe a little.
Anyway, next stop is Lyon where we stayed for the last few days before ending our one week holiday. But it will be on my next post. So, bye for now.
