Well-travelled men could frankly say London and Paris are undoubtedly two greatest European cities (aside, of course, from Rome) that have influenced the world over the last 2,000 years with their unparalleled historical accomplishments, immeasurable art collection, inestimable architectural preserves and consummately unmatched civilization that the world conscientiously regard in high esteem.
And so, being uncontrollably inveigled by such, our group was alertly ready to parry off anything that would impede or delay our next sojourn after Fatima, Portugal—Paris!
Notwithstanding the three-day round-the-clock wandering and discovering the village of Fatima, Portugal battling occasional torrential winds and rain, our uncomplaining corporeal components were still at the peak of potency that suitably supplied us with capable power to endure the early morning trek to Lisbon International Airport.
Having failed to confirm our flight and checked-in online, that unanticipated situation created inevitable havoc among us that almost delayed our boarding the Paris-bound aircraft. But it seemed Lady Luck was with us (or could have been due to our freshly renewed faith and blessing from the Virgin of Fatima), the French guy in the check-in counter, having noticed that we’re all upset coupled with traces of desperation, went out of his way and facilitated the immediate clearance of our tickets. But still the financial encumbrances weren’t expunged and an additional 45 Euros per head remained to be charged.
With neither recourse nor alternative we complied sans complaints. Paris was already within reach and no reason was acceptable for any interruption there was. And considering that we’re all craving for coffee since we packed during the unholy hours of the morning with empty stomach… merely relying for a hearty breakfast aboard.
Dateline: Paris, France (Wednesday, Oct. 14 – Friday, Oct. 16, 2015)
From Lisbon airport aboard Ryanair Flight FRI083 we found ourselves in a new surrounding but with the same weather condition at the Beauvais-Tille airport after a two-hour flight. Our service drove 50 miles (80 km) to the City of Paris where we were booked at the modest St. Gorge’s Lafayette Hotel (#11 Rue Victor Masse) at Pigalle district.
Being first time visitors in the famous French capital made our hearts escaped a bit upon sight of grandiose architectural masterpieces and endless strips of stores and commercial establishments teeming with mind-boggling souvenir items.
Despite bucketing downpours and persistent evening showers Paris continues to sizzle and stands firm holding on to her distinctly veritable title—the City of lights!
Indubitably, a shopping haven for shopaholics and fashion-conscious, Paris offers exciting sightseeing bus tours and river cruises; exhilarating destination for art connoisseurs, theater and cinema buffs; great target where ancient, medieval, renaissance, and contemporary architectures, historical monuments, impressively preserved bridges, and world-renown landmarks all collected in one location, and a guaranteed discovery for tourists with adventurous taste buds.
Suffice it to say that Paris has an abundance of everything and anything and tourists are left to hunt for themselves from the troves and heaps that abound and thrive in every nook and cranny that the city offers.
Que faire a Paris… (What is there to do in Paris?) A lot! Literally a lot and time constraint could only be the problem…and, Euros, of course!
Since we’re lucky to be billeted with immediate access to the heart of the city, we merely sauntered around and allowed ourselves to be lost in the sterling magnificence of the city. (Sabi nga, Okay lang mawala o maligaw, at least sa Paris!)
The following day we availed of a guided tour to the 17-acre UNESCO World Heritage site Chateau de Versailles (Versailles Castle), originally a hunting lodge of King Louis XIII before it became home to his son King Louis XIV (the “Sun King”) with its Grand Apartments housing the Queen’s bedroom, the famous Galerie des Glaces (Mirror Gallery), the picturesque formal gardens a la Francaise, and an unimaginably huge and huge collection of art and antiquity.
The famed Louvre Castle, covering a total of 160, 000 square meters with 403 rooms that contained 369,940 works of art, is a fantastic art world in itself. The colossal edifice on the right bank of the River Seine was constructed as ordered by King Philip Augustus and was initially used as a military fortress before being turned into a luxurious royal residence by King Charles V and his successors. It has become the largest and the most popular encyclopaedic museum in the world after continuous alterations and reconstruction following the French Revolution. Currently, The Louvre is the most visited art gallery in the world.
Paris also boasts of prestigious shopping addresses with myriads of boutiques and stalls bursting of the latest in fashion and accessories: Galleries Lafayette Paris Haussmann (a gorgeous dome along Boulevard Haussmann that houses thousands of brand stores) , One Nation Paris (a luxury and fashion outlet), Aeroville (where the world’s first EuropaCorp Cinema Multiplex was installed), Passage Du Havre (originally geared towards fish shops then rebuilt into a modern shopping mall), and the charming Avenue des Champs Elysees (the world’s most famous boulevard known for its enormous high-end hub-stores, elegant facades, and stylish cafes plus, of course, the Arche de Triomphe (commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte to commemorate his victory at Austerlitz).
On Friday, October 16, we celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary at the posh 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant, midway of the most photographed man-made steel landmark in the world—the Eiffel Tower. It has been my wife’s most magnificent obsession to stamp a difference and carve a lasting memory during the celebration of our close-to-four decades of wedded bliss…and she got it!
Despite sans reservation (which was a standard operating procedure) we were graciously entertained and seated at the inner side with the interior view of the gigantic tower overlooking the vast splendor of the city beneath a slight drizzle and dash of fog. Opportunity has indeed granted Venny’s fascination to dine and wine atop one of the world’s former tallest landmarks.
The Notre Dame Cathedral de Paris, considered one of the finest exponents of French Gothic architecture in the world, is indeed one work of grandeur that spanned more than two centuries to complete. Unrivaled in its creative massiveness and artistic fluidity, “Our Lady of Paris” Cathedral prides of its majestic sculptures and breathtaking stained glass windows.
Almost exhausted and drained with aching muscles and blistering feet but we could neither grumble nor surrender…for there were still a lot to explore in so little time…and we had to be up and about. But there was a stomach to be filled to endure ‘til sundown and so, without premeditation or choice, a cup of American coffee and fruit crepe from a nearby café sufficiently supplied the energy we needed.
If New York City has been dubbed “The City That Never Sleeps,” Paris, then, could rightfully claim to be “The City That Refuses to Rest.”
Oh, and that enthralling order of escargot for hors d’oeuvre and elfin Maxim’s macaroons for dessert (which I consumed with an air of sophisticated arrogance) made me felt a bit of Parisian…that I have to admit!
Dateline: London, UK (Saturday, Oct. 17 – Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015)
As usual, our hectic schedule didn’t permit us to take a full-hour sleep for we had to be at the Eurostar Train Station early in the morning to catch the 8:00 trip to London. Our service cab arrived just in time when we were all at the hotel lobby. Breakfast was as literally fast as sipping a cup of Joe with bites of croissant in between…and aboard we went.
It took only 2 hours for the bullet train to reach our next destination, King’s Cross St. Pancras International Rail Station, and as soon as we were cleared from customs, we hurriedly booked for a Big Bus hop-on-hop-off tour of one of the world’s most famous capital cities and home to lords and royalties.
Imagine the great influx of tourist during our visit. The City of London, that weekend, was hosting the Rugby World Cup 2015 where Rugby fans all over the world flocked to the city’s famous venues at Twickenham, Wembley Stadium and the Olympic Stadium.
The Union Jack or the variant flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is one striking national symbol that one never fails to wonder how it was conceived. An expression of union and diversity, my research enlightened me that the three crosses represent the patron saint of each country: St. George (patron saint of England), St Andrew (of Scotland), and St Patrick (of Ireland). The name “Union Jack” became officially approved by the Parliament in 1908 declaring it the national flag.
I couldn’t help but got goose bumps upon sight of familiar landmarks and edifices only seen on the wide screen and glossy pages of travel magazines: The London Bridge, the Coca-Cola London Eye (a giant Ferris wheel along the banks of the Thames River), the Tower of London (a castle with 22 towers), the Tower Bridge, the Palace of Westminster, the Buckingham Palace (no changing of guards that day), the Big Ben, the Westminster Abbey, the Westminster Cathedral, the Trafalgar Square, the Notting Hill (made all the more famous by Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant starrer of the same title), Thames River cruises, Harrod’s, the West End Theater District, Her Majesty’s Theater London, the Abbey Road (famous for the Beatle’s album cover), the Parliament Square, and, of course, the seemingly endless shopping paradise in all corners and turns of the grandiose city.
What we saw was not even the tip of the iceberg for there were so much more left for us to cover when we return in the future since we were only travelling on a limited time frame.
There were astronomically priced souvenir items which our budgeted US dollars and Euros failed to stand at par with the buying power of UK’s Pounds. But still, with closed eyes and manipulated breaths we had to loosen our tight fist and dig deeper into our pockets to have something “English” to take home.
Back to reality
We took the last bullet train from St. Pancras to Paris and the following day we finally bid Europe, “Au revoir!”.and “So Long!”
From Charles De Gaulle International Airport, we boarded United Airlines Flight 55 bound to Newark Liberty International Airport (Newark, New Jersey) and took off at 1:02 PM with 3:45 PM ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival). Flying at an altitude of 38,000 feet above sea level at 724 kph speed, the 8-hour-forty five-minute flight of 3,969 miles smoothly bridged the 6-hour time difference between Paris and Newark.
Wise men said: “There’s no frigate like a book” and according to Francis Bacon: “Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man” but personally, I have to say: “Have guts will travel…for travel enriches the mind, broadens one’s perspective, and creates lasting memories,” aside from having that self-acclaimed power of holding the world in the palm of your hand.
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