Paris..a city that most people adore at, as an elegant, historical, and romantic one. Who doesn't want to go to Paris? It has the most renowned La tour d'Eiffel, the notoriously historical Cathedrale Notre Dame, the precious and prestigious Musee du Louvre, Flamme de la Liberte, Sacré-Cœur Basilica, etc. Each attraction has its own history, even since hundreds years ago.
Here, I don't want to talk about history. I am recalling my two-years-ago memories in Paris.
My friends and I visited Paris, as one-day trip from Brussel. It was only a group of five girls. We made different destination from the other twenty people who visited Amsterdam and Ghent in Belgium. Just like other ordinary people, we were so curious, how romantic and beautiful Paris is. So, we bought return ticket of TGV from Bruxelles-Midi to Paris Nord at 7.30 a.m and will be back again in 10.15 p.m. We've arranged the trip, which places we would like to visit. It was 23 June 2012. We took breakfast very early in the morning, at around 6 a.m. Then walked to the railway station, which was just across the road of our hotel. We were so excited so that when there was an hour delay of departure, we still thought it's okay. We lost an hour trip, yet.
We arrived safe and sound, and fast at Gare du Nord a Paris at 10 a.m. At that time, all of us didn't have any experience yet in Paris, so we've asked for a friend of mine to pick us up there. Due to the limit of time, we needed a guide so that we wouldn't waste our time, lost in Paris. It will be another story, though. Yeah, we made it. A friend of mine, has waited there and took us to Saint Michael Fountain. It was a fountain we passed on the way to the notorious Notre Dame Cathedrale. We just took couple of picture then went to Notre Dame immediately. On the way there, my friend said that he suddenly gotta go as his relative came by or his friend had a farewell party. He didn't really explain it. Well, I was shocked, it meant that we had to walk around Paris ourselves, but it's okay. We got a very clear map and high curiosity on Paris. But my friend, Ayya said that she also had a friend studying there. So she called him, to guide us.
We finally arrived at Notre Dame. It was a huge and old church, which was flooded by loads of people. I didn't know why but there was a very long queue there. I believe that it was designed sophisticatedly inside so that many people came by to pray or just looked around its interior. I had had enough visit on church in Brussels so I didn't want to queue. A friend of mine really wanted to go inside to pray. There were two persons went inside, the others were waiting outside. And yes, my friend who picked us up at the railway station left. Ayya tried to contact her friend to help us using her Belgium number. FYI, there were certain provider usable in some different countries even though some don't provide so. Thankfully, her friend agreed to help and would like to meet us at Pantheon, near the Sorbonne university. It was -used to be a church- a mausoleum, a burial site of many world-wide well-known people like Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Jean Monnet, Marie Curie, and many more.
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| Us, in front of the Saint Michael Fountain. |
The good side was we didn't put Sorbonne as the place to visit, but we should go there to meet Ayya's friend, the tour guide. However, we didn't know the location. He said that, it was close to Notre-Dame. We walked around, asked a lady walking her baby, luckily passed the on-renovation-Sorbonne University, asked an old guy we met while waiting for a queue at a public toilet, and finally reached Pantheon. Ayya said that she ran out her account to call her friend. And none of us had any usable number to call him as well. Alors, we decided to asked a young lady in red. Actually none of us mastering French so we talked in English. But, turned out that the lady didn't understand English. We thought that it was close to a university so that English will be a common thing. Then we made gestures, Tarzan's language :P, tried to explain that we wanted to ask her to send sms to Ayya's friend. Thank God that she kindly helped us. Even twice, for Ayya's friend replied us through the lady's phone again. We finally met him, Jiro the hero!
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| Our feet on 0 km of Paris. There was a myth, tourists who stepped on that will go to Paris again. Aamiin.. ;) |
There we started our real journey. After taking some pictures in front of Pantheon, our destination was Musee du Louvre. Jiro brought us there by Metro, and we also passed by the Musee d'Orsay. We didn't enter Musee d'Orsay nor Lourve for time limit. The Lourve was so huge and beautiful. The queue was long but not so long as in Notre-Dame. There was discount for students' ticket by showing their student's card. Jiro said that if you wanted to look thoroughly at every precious architecture and furniture in the whole Lourve, you'll need 3 days all. We just took some pictures and bought macaroons. I didn't like it as the fragrance was too strong. If you watched film the Da Vinci Code, some scenes were taken there. :)
Then we continued the journey to Eiffel. Unluckily we didn't go there at night, so we can't see the beauty of lights view. Here's the big point I'd like to say. Paris, was not as romantic and elegant as I thought. Underground, on Metro was so stinky and smelly. The people, i think they were immigrants, spitting everywhere and didn't have manner. I think, somehow, I understand why they were unacceptable in the society. A friend of mine was almost being stolen by a pick-pocket. Luckily, she realized immediately that someone in the back was trying to open her bag. And the pick-pocket was a teenager. Still very young. Jiro always reminded us to take care of our belongings. He said that there were lots of them, usually work in two or more people in group. He also said that, yes, Paris is not as good as people thought, no more. It's getting more and more crowded and lots of traffics. Paris, the capital city of French, indeed, is the most populous city in the country.
Remembering that we run out of time, we went immediately to the next destination, Arc de Triomphe. Going there, we passed by a New York in France, Flamme de la Liberté (it was on the tunnel where Lady Di got accident), and Avenue des Champs Élysées. We passed by a magasin of Louis Vuitton and there was a long queue to enter. To my observation, most of them were Asian. Well, now we know who the real rich are. Hoho.. That avenue was famous of many stores with various brands, most are so expensive. And there was a tradition, that usually they would provide big discount, up tp 70%, at the same time every end of season. Yes, that's one of the proof that Paris is a center of fashion and mode. They got to change and make new trend each season, and "throw away" the past one. Yeay, we arrived at Arc de Triomphe. Not so many to look around, as it was a monument of struggle for French army, requested by Napoleon.
It was at 3.30 p.m. Without being lost, we happened to visit many attractions so fast. Then we took another Metro to visit Sacré-Cœur Basilica. It was located near the Moulin Rouge. If you never heard of it, you could search for a famous drama or film entitled. Then, we decided to take a break for having lunch in a fast food restaurant. Jiro said that in Paris, you couldn't easily find halal food. But the Quick fastfood is guaranteed as a halal food. Well, bon appetite et Bismillahirahmani rahim.. :)
We ate, chit-chatting and talked, turned out that Jiro was a neighbour of my fellow friend at UI. Haha..how small!! He was also a close friend of Dhay, another fellow on a leadership training programme (FIM) I joined in Indonesia. After realizing that facts, I just felt that it was a real blessing from HIM. He will be always coming along with us, no matter what, where, when, and how.
Time flies and we continued the journey to Sacré-Cœur Basilica, walking. Walking around in other countries was way better and more enjoy than in Indonesia. Hmm.. I wonder why they couldn't be as discipline as in here (ngaca oi!!). Wew.. Arrived at another sacred church. I just realised that most of our destinations were church. Okay, this was Europe, its most historical places were relate to Christianity. Don't be so surprised. And the tragedy happened again. The Maghrebs were making chaos again. They were shouting each others, screaming, the others were insisting the tourist to buy some souvenirs. Well, the last part was not so fine, but remarkable. This place was a dull! However, most people said that Sacré-Cœur Basilica was a beautiful place. We didn't have enough time to go inside. Feeling insecure and running out of time, after taking some photos, we went directly to the railway station. It was around 8 p.m. But we still got sunshine. Yes, on summer, the sun set at around 10 p.m.
Going back to the Paris Nord, we accidentally met a very gentleman other than Jiro the Hero! He was a Marocoan. It would take another page to tell story about him. Luckily we arrived at the station at around 10 p.m. We went back to Bruxelles Midi right on time at 10.15. Well, I might be wrong about the Maghrebs. After all, it was so remarkable in life. And I believe that there is no coincidence. However, this one day trip, led me to rethink: Paris, je t'aime (pas)?
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| An automatic toilette. After using it, the person should just left then the door closed. Then the next person should wait until it finish cleaning and flushing automatically. And it's FREE! :DD |
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| New York in France?? It has another history... :P |
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| Even though it was many years ago, there were still many who put a bouquet of flower or even just visit this tunnel to commemorate Lady Di's death. |
Myta
-All pics are private collections.-
Thanks to Ayya, Lien, Corina, Thao and Jiro for this remarkable trip. I miss you all.
Jakarta, 290114
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