r a n d o m << s c r i b b l i n g s >>: Paris Part I (18 to 22 Feb)

This is really overdue but i figured i'd better do this post before i forget everything about the trip. My memory is already failing me. #woesofanagingwoman

Day 7

We stayed at Corona Opéra (http://www.paris-hotel-corona-opera.com/en/home/), a very small but otherwise comfortable and humble abode located near the busy streets of Grand Boulevard. I think Paris Hotels are generally very small (or to put it bluntly "cramped") and expensive so don't expect too much when looking for accommodations.

We took a train down from Amsterdam to Paris via Thalys train (https://www.thalys.com/) which took about 3 hours.

even the banks there look like historical monuments. a stark contrast from Singapore.

we went to Galaries Lafayette and immediately grabbed some patisseries from Sadaharu Aoki, a Parisian pâtisserie founded by a Japanese Chef pâtissier of the same name. Aoki opened his first atelier in Paris nearly 15 years ago and within one year began serving pastries to the fashion houses of Kenzo, Dior, Chanel, and Ungaro. He made his name by blending Japanese flavors like yuzu and matcha green tea into traditional French recipes for millefeuille, éclairs and macarons.

you really must try the steak burger or their steak platter (i refer to the picture above the burger, it's not called a platter but i just named it since i have no recollection of it's exact name) available at the basement of Galaries Lafayette where the food section is! the steaks are super delicious! i can't even describe it in words.

and mind you, that going from someone who doesn't even appreciate steaks. it says a lot about the ones at Galaries LaFayette.

The opera house situated just next to Galaries Lafayette. There are a few Lafayettes around Paris, each of them equally amazing in their variety of luxury brands.

we went to have some local fare in one of the french restaurant. French food really ain't my thing. Portions are wayyy to tiny. No wonder the french ladies are so slimmmm.

i love foie gras like mad. but i didn't like the foie gras plate. The liver smell was way too strong for my liking.

Day 8

We went to catch the free Sandemann walking tour at 11am which started at the fountain at Place St Michel.

That's the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. And in case you didn't already know, the hunchback of Notre Dame never existed.

From wiki:

Notre Dame Cathehdral is a historic Catholic 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.

As the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Paris, Notre-Dame is the parish that contains the cathedra, or official chair, of the archbishop of Paris, currently Cardinal André Vingt-Trois. The cathedral treasury is notable for its reliquary which houses some of Catholicism's most important first-class relics including the purported Crown of Thorns, a fragment of the True Cross, and one of the Holy Nails.

In the 1790s, Notre-Dame suffered desecration during the radical phase of the French Revolution when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. An extensive restoration supervised by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc began in 1845. A project of further restoration and maintenance began in 1991.

Institut de France - The institute which preserves the French language.

Standing along at famous lovers bridge ins Paris, the Pont Des Art, where Mr Big proposed to Carrie Bradshaw.

The Pont des Arts or Passerelle des Arts is a pedestrian bridge in Paris which crosses the River Seine. It links the Institut de France and the central square (cour carrée) of the Palais du Louvre, (which had been termed the "Palais des Arts" under the First French Empire).

This doesn't need no introductory.

One look at that transparent triangle structure you'll know where this is.

The most famous museum in the world.

The Louvre.

Grabbed some lunch along the way at Eric Kayser, a chain of bakeries in Paris. The walking tour was really long, it lasted a good 4 hours. Feet were aching midway.

Kilometre zero.

Fun fact:

In many countries, Kilometre Zero (also written km 0) or similar terms in other languages (also known as Zero mile marker, control stations or control points) is a particular location (often in the nation's capital city), from which distances are traditionally measured. They were markers where drivers could set their odometersto follow directions in early guide books.

A similar notion also exists for individual roads (that is, all locations on the road have a number, depending on their distance from that location), and for individual cities (often the city's central post office is used for this).

The most famous such marker of which any part survives from ancient times is the Milliarium Aureum ("Golden Milestone") of the Roman Empire, believed to be the literal origin for the maxim that "all roads lead to Rome".

After the free walking tour, we met up with Colin and headed into Notre Dame for a visit. No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to this cathedral.

Guess where we went for snacks???

macaroons...yum yum...

but not just any macaroons...

we went to Pierre Herme!!!

I was ecstatic. Been wanting to try their macaroons for ages. They have a wonderful assortment of unique flavours. I really liked their jasmine macaroons and the passionfruit & errr....something macaroon. lol.

At one point of time, they even came up with foie gras macaroons. Too bad it was a seasonal flavor and no longer available when we went.

Arc De Triomphe at Champs Elysee.

we then visited the Lourve around 7pm. The louvre was opened till 10pm that day. On other days, i think it closes around 7/8pm.

We purchased the audio guide, something which we were incredibly reliant and grateful for. If you are not French nor an expert in art, please do get the audio guide. Otherwise, you would not appreciate the paintings/ sculptures as much.