A foggy day in London town...: Euro Trip Day #8: Paris, France

Tuesday 21^st December

It was a foggy day on tuesday and we were again meeting Diyana’s friend Maria and her boyfriend Nicola (another Parisian) in an area called Montmarte which is known for its markets and typical French artists painting on the streets for a living. It also hosts one of the best views of Paris as it is on top of a huge hill, upon which sits the Basilique du Sacre-coeur…a big church!

We wandered through the streets following our two Parisian guides and ended up in the slightly suspect area of the Moulin Rouge. The club itself is quite glamorous form the outside (and quite expensive on the inside). We then decided to head for the Eiffel Tower.

This is the point where I realised I was in Paris. Before then it was just a very pretty European city (despite having been to Notre Dame the night before). The view is incredible, especially when watching the light show which is on the hour, every hour. After gazing with our mouths open we came to our senses and moved on. Beneath the tower were some markets and an ice skating rink which we wandered around. Diyana and I then headed off to see the Paris Opera House, home of the Phantom of the Opera!

The building is just as I imagined: huge and beautiful. Very Phantom-esque! We then started on the very long walk from the Opera House to the Champs-Elysees and on to the Arc de Triomphe. It took a while but it allowed Diyana and I to do some house hunting (or domestic violence for those who followed my Germany tales) in an area full of high class hotels, restaurants and shops. We felt right at home!

We didn’t have a map by the way, so our navigation skills were put to the test by pure guessing as to what direction we should go. We found our way and started along the Champs-Elysees checking out the markets either side of the avenue. What a spectacular view to look up the avenue on to the Arc de Triomphe. Diyana and I went photo crazy!

Halfway down the road I ran into a guy from QUT who I had a class with last semester. He was over here visiting his sister who lives in Paris. What a small world! 5 minutes later we ran into Evelyn and Lydia, our Hong Kong flatmates from Leeds, further down the road. As far as I knew they were supposed to be in Venice…or Leeds! Another freakish coincidence!

We finally made it to the Arc where we took our very last photos of Paris before meeting up with the others to say goodbye. An emotional farewell and we parted ways hoping that the weather wouldn’t leave us stranded in Paris for Christmas!

Paris was given a second chance…and it certainly stepped up to the plate! Regardless of where you are in the city, you always feel like you are in the centre of Paris. It is just so huge and so full of life, even in this slightly quieter period right before Christmas. It is a beautiful place with so many quintessentially European streets and scenes.

The end of Paris also meant the end of my 8 days on the continent. An amazing trip with some incredible sights along the way. To be honest, my hear still lies in Germany in the small town of Munster and Hamm. Whether it’s because these were the first “European” towns I visited or perhaps because of their charm and warmth, they remain the highlight of my Euro-trip!

It is sad to leave the continent but it gives me more motivation to get back here one day soon. Given the weather at the moment though I might not make it back to the UK! I am writing this from the Eurostar terminal at Gare du Nord in Paris where over the last few days a series of trains have been either cancelled or delayed by a number of hours.

Here’s hoping mine makes it out…otherwise it might be a lonely Christmas in Paris for me!