Memories of a golden summer in Paris

I guess everyone will tell you that it’s a bit tough to write about a trip that happened exactly two years and 7 months ago.

Unless it was a very memorable one.

And you have tons of photos to aid your failing memory.

And Paris, La Ville-Lumière (the City of Light), is an experience that you won’t likely ever forget, especially if you experienced her charms under bright blue skies and the warm glow of a summer sun.

Grounds of Musee du Louvre

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

Arc de Triomphe

I now chuckle at the thought that I found myself in this city known for its elegance and sophistication under not so chic circumstances — I arrived in Paris with a luggage bursting with Lucky Me noodles. And a hand-carried paper bag containing a borrowed electric kettle.

Paris is an expensive city and I sort of figured that penny pinching was the only way to go. Imagine this: a 2-day Paris Museum Pass will set you back around PhP2,000 and the ticket price for a 3-day unlimited Metro Pass can pay a minimum wage earner for about 6 days. For a man of modest means, Paris surely came with a hefty price tag. Jessie J’s Price Tag could very well have been my background music during my stay.

Ain’t about the (ha) Ka-Ching Ka-Ching.                                                                                         Aint about the (yeah) Ba-Bling Ba-Bling.                                                                                   Wanna make the world change, Forget about the Price Tag.

The Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation, Place de la Concorde

My thoughts about an extremely large hole that Paris was going to leave on my pocket were quickly forgotten though when I finally caught a glimpse of the iconic Eiffel Tower. Truly, what a sight to behold!

But what really elicited the most of my oohs and aahs was the Château de Versailles. “Grand” and “lavish” do not do it justice. One thing is for sure though — it clearly was designed for people to marvel and gawk at.

Château de Versailles has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for 30 years and is considered one of the most beautiful achievements of 18th-century French art.

It served as the official seat of power of France until 1789 and was later converted as the Museum of the History of France in the 19th century.

For a moment, I fancied myself as a palace courtier skilled at flattery and intrigue. But then my stomach grumbled. And just like that, I went from being a courtier to a starving commoner.

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This is my entry to the February 2013 Carnival of Europe hosted by Aleah Taboclaon of Solitary Wanderer with the theme “Most Romantic Places in Europe”.