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A Traveler in Paris, France. One of the most romantic cities on earth for a weekendPARIS, a city with many faces, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Pourquoi (Why)? A combination of antiquated landmarks and contemporary architectural wonders explain the romantic and enchanting allure of the cosmopolitan metropolis (and help orientation), which attracts a mixed bag of people, from shopping enthusiasts seeking the latest fashion trends to history-hungry rednecks. But even though there is a load to do and see, the French capital at its widest point is only about 12km across, and conveniently condensed. So much so, a 48-hour adventure through the bright lights in the big city can paint a thorough picture. This is how I did it. DAY ONEBefore beginning our Paris procession, my fellow travellers and I substituted our regular bowl of flakes for an indulgent serving of croissants and rolls. Fittingly it was Napoleon who said ‘an army marches on its stomach', and we heartily digested his advice. We begin at the core crowd-puller, the Eiffel Tower. The monstrous metal creation - all 324 metres of it - is a ‘Welcome to Paris' pictogram, visible from every corner of city. More than 200 million people have visited the tower since it opened, despite uncertain locals originally labelling it a “tragic street lamp” and a “giddy ridiculous tower, which will dominate Paris like a gigantic black smokestack” ( Le Temps newspaper, 1887). At first glance, I acknowledged their protest; it was by no means an eyesore, but where was its aesthetic appeal? I found out when I clambered to the top of the radical structure later that night. During the climb, its audacious design was mesmerising, and the panoramic view at its peak magically captured the city's sites - and my approval. We also managed to get to the Louvre, Galeries Lafayette and The Arc de Triomphe by the end of the day. The Louvre was “bloody huge”. If the brilliance of the world's largest museum's art collection isn't enough to bring you to your knees, the astounding scale of it will. Divided into seven areas, the museum cuts a majestic swathe right through the centre of the city. Protected in a glass cabinet from fingers and flashes, is without doubt the number one attraction – the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci - but there's much more to the museum than Mona, including Islamic arts, French sculptures, Dutch paintings, Greek ceramics… My advice for visitors is to choose an area you are most interested in, because a tour guide told me it would take up to a month to see everything properly. At first I suspected the Frenchman was having me one, but he was serious. Galeries Lafayette is an imposing shopping complex and loaded three levels full of garments and accessories, considered to be the paragon in international style. Stocking nearly 80,000 fashion labels under its pretty stain-glassed dome roof, it would pay (literally) to leave the fantastic plastic at home for this outing, or to the country itself, because when it comes to shopping, Paris is an epicurean wonderland. But regardless of whether you want to spend or save, Galeries Lafayette's décor is well worth seeing. The Arc de Triomphe, which stands tall alongside the world's largest traffic roundabout, is symbol of the country's militant might, and has scenes from the Revolutionary era, including the First Empire, carved in its piers. From the viewing platform at the top (and 284 steps later), you can marvel at the 12 avenues which radiate towards every part of Paris, including the illustrious Champs-E ¢ lyse ¢ es, a popular rallying point in times of national crisis or celebration, and where the Tour de France concludes. DAY TWOAfter more morning pastries, we headed to the Cathedrale Notre Dame, another breathtaking building of grand proportions. Rose windows of stained glass, ornately crafted spires, and the guardians of the cathedral - the gargoyles, unite to give the building an elegantly gothic presentation. We enjoyed Notre Dame for its colourful intricate design; outside gardens that attracted birds galore; and the nearby street vendor who made crepes so good, it was hard to say au revoir! With weariness starting to set in (tip: it's extremely difficult getting a taxi home after a night out on the town, so be prepared to party until the Metro starts chugging at 5.30am), we decided to wander through the Jardin du Luxembourg, the most popular park in Paris. Consistent with everything else we had seen, it was enormous. Open space wasn't bountiful in the city, but this green stretched over 224,500 square metres, and was dotted with statues, gardens, ponds, fountains, and of course, people. The only downfall was the public toilets, which –as most public places in the city do - have a policy similar to a pre-paid phone: pay-as-you go. The rest of the day was spent on a red double-decker bus weaving along the River Seine for some last minute sightseeing; and exploring some of the markets. Although no longer the haunts of flamboyant gypsies and petty crooks, the Paris flea market scene is entertaining, and the place to go for an original souvenir. Before making our way to catch the Eurostar train back to London (a fast, no-fuss 2 hr 40 min tunnel trip), we went to yet another café for one final serving of quality food, expensive drinks and people-watching, one of my chief pleasures in the colourful city, because it's filled with a myriad of nationalities, peculiarities and sexuality's. But despite the wonderland I have described, the ugly side of Paris didn't go unnoticed. Hidden alleyways and smelly metro stations, quarters to many homeless people and persistent beggars, illustrated the stark contrast between rich and poor in the city; and the civil and customer service in the French capital was borderline. One taxi driver wouldn't let us in his car as soon as he realised we didn't speak fluent French, and we were chased out of a café by an obnoxious waiter when my friend confused the toilet signs. But every city has its flaws, and overall Paris was a magic maze of buildings and architecture beyond compare to anything I had seen before. More than two-days would obviously be required to see and do everything, other than get to the key attractions, but I was very satisfied with what I had seen during my weekend jaunt, and walked to the station thinking my self-restrain with the shops had also been admirable. “Mate, can you help carry my bags?” I said I was restrained, not remiss.
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