City Of Love | Paris 🧡
- AN
- Apr 22, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 5, 2020
My very first time in Paris was a dream come true and I was beyond excited to experience the same. I enrolled myself for a winter school exchange program at Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), so along with the various seminars and guest lectures we (all the participants) had to attend, I bought myself enough time to explore what Paris had to offer.
The metro system of Paris is commendable as it provides an easy commute to visit different places in the shortest time possible. So, it was my ‘go-to’ for the entire trip.
My stay was arranged at this amazing property called Residhome Apparthotel situated in Evry which was close to the institute at a walking distance of 5 minutes. The room had this mindblowing balcony offering an incredible view of the locality and this really small but beautiful garden on the backside. After resting and getting all freshened up, I decided to take a walk to the nearby mall in Evry called Centre Commercial Regional Evry 2.
The next day, all the participants took a tour to the Paris La Defense area and visited a very reputed software firm called Linagora followed by a local Christmas market (where I tasted vin chaud for the very first time with cheese frites), Westfield Les 4 Temps shopping mall and Shopping Centre-CNIT La Defense.
In the evening, it was time to see one of the seven wonders on the earth, none other than the ‘Eiffel Tower’. The sight was mesmerizing and worked its magic as the tower sparkled. It is truly an epitome of beauty, and so was the river Seine nearby.
On day three, I visited Musee de Mineralogie des Mines, the largest exhibit of minerals in Paris, and Jardin du Luxembourg with a wide variety of orchids and sculptures. Soon after that, I visited Station F, which is a business incubator for startups i.e. to provide necessary help and funding to the budding entrepreneurs and was a former rail depot. When I finally got done visiting Station F, I went to an arrondissement of Paris called Montmartre famous for its Basilica of the Sacre-Coeur. This roman catholic church is a must-visit if you happen to be in Paris for its aesthetic vibes and surroundings along with the perks of the nearby street- shops for food and clothing. If you are on a budget, I would suggest definitely visit the ‘TATI’ store which is famous for its discounted prices on every product they offer. So that's how my day three ended.
For the weekend, I planned a trip to the most-awaited, Disneyland where I purchased a full day pass which included admission to both, the Theme Park as well as the Walt Disney Studios Park. (One suggestion here- Buy tickets for entry from the designated counters only and not from the people at the metro station at discounted rates because it’s fake and you will be in trouble.) The weather there was chilling with heavy rains, still, I managed to cover all the major rides to try and the closing ceremony with fireworks at 12 am. It was really astonishing to spend the entire day in Disneyland creating lots of great memories at the same time.
In the next two days, I spent day one visiting the Trocadero garden and seeing the Eiffel Tower in the day-light along with Cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris which gave an immense peace of mind. (Felt really bad when I heard about it going down in flames after my visit.) Day two was all about visiting Versailles and seeing the Palace of Versailles, the royal residence of Louis XIV that has been listed as a World Heritage Site and is famous for “The Hall of Mirrors” and its gardens along with assets of historic importance(Apparently a scene of the film ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ was shot here too).
As the winter program was approaching its end, two visits were conducted, one was to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) where the participants were addressed regarding the work UNESCO does for society and how we all can contribute likewise through our efforts for the betterment of the society. Secondly, we visited the Allianz company to understand their successful working methodology worldwide. It was then time to hit the last spot of the day which was, Champs-Elysees which is one of the most famous fashion streets in the world from big brands like- Louis Vuitton to everyday brands like- H&M and has Arc de Triomphe on its western end which honors the soldiers who fought and died for France during French Revolution and Napoleonic wars.
Finally, on the last day of my trip, a small farewell ceremony was organized for all the participants, and was given a certificate of participation. In the evening, I finally got a chance to visit the Louvre Museum which is famous for the Monalisa Painting and other appreciable works of art. Lastly, I visited the nearby Christmas fair and rode the giant wheel giving a 360-degree view of Paris. And, the next day I boarded my flight back to India.
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