HUMAN WORLD: Paris

Today is high time for next journey and answer the question what is worth to visit in … Paris?! I think the city is amazing and there it’s not overstatement. For me – marvelous and I wish to go there once again in the future. My journeys are the most often very short but I’m trying to visit as many places as I can. Before I’ll present you my top 5 of Paris, few words about the city. I think that all of you know that’s the capital of France J It’s situated on the River Seine and its history lead us to 1^st century BC. The name is made from earliest inhabitants – Parisii, the Gaulish tribe.

As all cities, Paris had its ups and downs. The first were connected with Houses of Capetians, Valois and Bourbons from X to XIX century. 1789 was a year when The Bastille (fortress in Paris) was stormed by a crowd – it’s the beginning of French Revolution which was also the end of the House of Bourbons. Paris was also the city were many Polish emigrated, especially in XIX century –Adam Mickiewicz, Fryderyk Chopin, Cyprian Kamil Norwid and Juliusz Słowacki. There is Polish Library from 1839 which was created by Adam Czartoryski, Julian Niemcewicz and Karol Sienkiewicz. It’s the oldest Polish institution abroad. Today Paris has a lot of problems with immigrants – there are a lot of them.

How to get to the city? I chose cheap flight with Ryanair – the cost of flight for 2 people (return ticket) is around 550 PLN. Of course flying researchers will find something cheaper but it was my offer. For me – great! Especially that it was my birthday present for myself. I should tell you now that Paris in March can be very cold – so please take your warm coats! Not as I made- spring one … ;) Of course you should remember that flying with cheap airlines won’t finish in the center of the city. You should buy bus trip also :D Don’t worry – buses are near to the airport – cost: 32€ per person (return ticket), time: 75 minutes. In Paris you’ll stop in Porte Maillot- it’s a good place to choose subway.

Where to sleep in Paris? It depends on what you like. I think that spending money on expensive hotels for short trips isn’t a good idea. Why? Because you spend there only few hours – usually only sleep and have a shower. For me hostel is a great idea. Please remember that booking and writing your credit card number is not the same with paying for a place ;) I was really surprised at the check in desk :D But it was my first time doing such booking so you know… ;) Cost per person per one night- around 25€.

Where to eat in Paris? Please don’t go to McDonald! French cuisine I really delicious. Ok, maybe I didn’t try many of them but small restaurants are better than fast food. It’s very interesting that if you want eat earlier, you’ll pay less. In the afternoon prices are higher.

So what is magical in Paris and worth to visit? Let’s read about 5 places which were the most interesting for me. Before, one useful advice – always buy tickets online, to all places which they are available. Then you’ll save a lot of time.

1. Eiffel Tower: yes, yes, yes and once again yes – it’ll be on the first place.
I don’t care it’s sentimental! Please remember that the weather is very important. If it’s bad, you won’t go to the highest part. But don’t worry – second floor ha salso beautiful view – you can see it on my first picture. You can go upstairs or by elewator. Stairs tickets are not available online.

Opening hours:
9:00-24:00 from 15.06. to 1.10.
9:30-23:00 rest of the year
Price: 9€ 2^nd floor, 15€ 3^rd floor

More info: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/

2. Louvre: it’s the most often visited museum in the world – you can see it on the picture. There was no chance to make a photo without people in the background ;) Louvre was king’s palace in the past – now there are around 300,000 masterpieces from all over the world, for example Winged Victory of Samothrace an Mona Lisa. If you’re connoisseurs of art you’ll spend many hours here. There are many floors with different themes. There are also a lot of tourists- you can’t avoid meeting them. But remember, Chinese won’t stop doing photos ;) I was really excited when I saw „The Death of Marat” of
Jacques-Louis David, which I remembered from school years. You can see it below.

Opening hours:

9:00-18:00 Monday, Thursday and Sunday

9:00-21:45 Wednesday and Friday

Price: 12€

Free entrance on first Sunday of the month and 14 July.

More info: http://www.louvre.fr/

3. Notre Dame: Gothic cathedral most famous from the novel and film of Victor Hugo „ The Hunchback of Notre-Dame”. It’s situated on the island on Seine and its building was made for 180 years. The place in front of it is devoted to John Paul II.

Opening hours:
8:00-18:45 whole year

Price: free entrance

More info: http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/

4. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur: it’s a place worth to visit because of views from the hill. In March they weren’t amazing but I think that in the spring and summer are. The hill is situated in XVII district of Paris and it was place when French bohemia lived. Today it’s full of nice narrow streets and Sacré-Cœur church. There is a story connected with the church – two industrialist promised that if Paris hadn’t be destroyed during French-German war, they would build basilica for Jesus Christ’s Heart. And that’s it J It was built in Roman-Byzantine style which you can see.

Opening hours:
6:00-22:30 whole year

Price: free entrance

More info: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/

5. Opéra Garnier: for the end very special place which I couldn’t not visit J I love opera and in each city I’m trying to go to cultural place. So that was with Opéra Garnier. Maybe it wasn’t opera spectacle but classical music concert but was really amazing! I recommend it even to people who don’t like such entertainment. There is no chance in many places in Poland to sit in a real cosy room on warm armchair made of plush. Prices of tickets are not the cheapest but if you’re good researcher, you’ll find some good offer.

More info: http://www.operadeparis.fr/en/

If you had any doubts to visit Paris, I hope you don’t have them anymore :) the city is beautiful, monumental and worth to visit. And now you know what to visit in Paris. Au revoir!

Fascinated by life