Paris

The last station of our travel to Europe was Paris, the capital of France. Time is 1 hour back from Turkey in France. We arrived at Paris after about 2 hours flight from Barcelona (Ryanair). Currency is Euro (EUR). 1 Euro was equal to approximately 2 Turkish Liras. Turkish citizens who have regular passports need a Schengen visa to enter France.

Single ticket was 1.7 Euros in Paris. 10 tickets was 12 Euros and 2 people could use, but it was not valid in transfers. Using subway and tramway lines was easy. So, we especially used these lines. There was a tramway line passing near the hotel (Premiere Classe Paris Ouest Pont de Suresnes), we mostly used this line.

We arrived at Porte Maillot by bus (15 Euros) (http://www.beauvais-airport.com/Access/Shuttle-Bus.php) from Beauvais–Tillé Airport (BVA).

Our Paris route:

1. day – 15.09.2010

In the first day in Paris, we visited north side of the Seine River starting from Bastille Square (Place de la Bastille). In this square, there was a large, modern Opera House (Opéra Bastille) and, July Column (Colonne de Juillet), the symbol of the French Revolution in 1830, which was built between 1835-1840 years, 47 meters high.

From here, we arrived at square shaped Vosges Square (Place des Vosges). This square was te oldest planned square in Paris, surrounded by red brick buildings. Victor Hugo lived here between 1832-1848 years.

After then, we arrived at City Hall (Hôtel de Ville) by walking.

Then, we arrived at Notre-Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame). The cathedral was amazing with its sculptures in its big gates, window in the centre and with all the details. It was built in the gothic style. There were pigeons in the large area in front of the cathedral as in the St. Mark’s Square of Venice and Catalunya Square of Barcelona. It was a great pleasure that pigeons eat baits perching our hands. Of course, when we come to here, I remembered a wonderful novel I read many years ago, The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo – Quasimodo’s Esmeralda love.

An then, we went to Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre). After seeing the queue to buy ticket, we gave up to visit inside.

After taking photos from outside of the museum, we went ahead Concorde Square (Place de la Concorde) passing through Carrousel Triumphal Arch (Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel).

There was an obelisk (Obélisque the Louxor) in this square, brought from Egypt. 23-meter-high obelisk brought to Paris in 1833 and erected in this square in 1836. There were two beautiful fountains around the obelisk. The fountain on Seine River side named Maritime Fountain (Fontaine des Mers), and the fountain on Madeleine Church side named the Fountain of the Rivers (Fontaine des Fleuves).

Obelisk - Concorde Square — Obelisk – Concorde Square

Fountain of the Rivers - Concorde Square — Fountain of the Rivers – Concorde Square

And then, we arrived at Madeleine Church (Église de la Madeleine) and then Opéra Garnier.

Opera Garnier was one of the beautiful buildings in Paris, completed in 1875.

And then we went to Vendôme Square (Place Vendôme). There was a column in the square which was erected in 1806 by Napoleon to celebrate Austerlitz Victory.

Ministry of Justice (Ministère de la Justice) also takes place in this square.

From here, we arrived at Arc de Triomphe (Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile) walking on the famous Champs-Elysees Avenue (Avenue des Champs-Élysées) of Paris.

49 meters high Triumphal Arch takes place at the center of a dodecagonal configuration of twelve radiating avenues. It was commissioned in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz by Emperor Napoleon. Construction paused in 1810, continued in 1832 again and, completed in 1836. There was Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Tombe Du Soldat Inconnu) under the arch. The flame on the tomb has burned continuously since 1923 in memory of the soldiers who died in World War I.

After seeing Triumphal Arch, we went to the best place of our tour – Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) 🙂

300 meters high iron tower was built by Gustave Eiffel company between 1887 and 1889. There are three viewing platforms on 58 m, 115 m and 276 m heights. Lift entrance ticket to top was 13.10 Euros. We had bought tickets from the internet before going on vacation – we bought for 18:00 to catch the sunset. So we went up to the tower easily without waiting. Paris view was perfect from the top of the tower.

However, it is getting colder as going upper. I suggest you to get your coat or some clothes with you when going up to tower. There was a glass viewing platform where you can avoid from cold but, it was better to watching view in platforms without glass.

Even I travel all cities in the world, Eiffel Tower will always be different for me because I had one of the unforgettable memories of my life here 🙂 I think it will be better to end up here.

2. day – 16.09.2010

In second day, we went to La Défense where full of skyscrapers for subway transfer.

Then, we visited south side of the Seine River starting from Notre-Dame Cathedral and continuing with Panthéon.

It was originally built as a church in neoclassical style but, after many changes, now functions as a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens. Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Marie Curie, Alexandre Dumas and its architect buried here as well.

After then, we went to the Luxembourg Garden (Jardin du Luxembourg) went. This place was also very nice for me with colorful flowers and ducks floating in the pool. Luxembourg Museum (Musée du Luxembourg) also takes place in this garden.

After having a rest in this garden, we arrived at Orsay Museum (Musée d’Orsay) passing through National School of Fine Arts (École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts) and Deposits and Consignments Fund (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations).

Then we arrived at Field of Mars (Champ de Mars) in front of the Military School (École Militaire) passing through Parliament (Assemblée Nationale), Les Invalides, the Rodin Museum (Musée Rodin). We continued to take photographs of the Eiffel Tower from here.

3. day – 17.09.2010

In third day, we went to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Basilique du Sacré-Cœur). The basilica was built in 1914, is the highest hill in Paris. 83 meters high main dome takes place in the middle of 4 small domes. This hill has also nice views of Paris.

Then we went to Trocadero Garden (Jardins du Trocadéro) and took photos of Eiffel Tower. I was upset because it was raining and after seeing the double rainbow I was very happy. I’ve seen double rainbow for the first time, as well as I’ve taken pictures of the Eiffel Tower in this perfect view 🙂