What to see and do in Paris, France (Part 2)

What to see and do in Paris, France (part 2)

Hello everyone! Today I will continue on with my previous entry in which I talked about the 15 places that for me, are must-see locations in Paris, the capital of France. You can read the first part of the post by clicking here. Here I will show you the rest of the places that I think that you should visit in the city of love. Let's go!

Moulin Rouge

This famous cabaret is another one of the emblematic places in Paris. It is located in the red light district, very close-by to the Montmartre neighbourhood, so it is almost impossible not to pass by it. This place is known internationally for its shows, in which the artist has very close contact with its audience. The "performances" are characterized by having cabaret dancers who stand out for their sparkle, glitter and feathers, everything is extravagant. Joy, love, passion are emotions that are present in most of their shows. Around the Moulin Rouge, there are lots of sex shops and also many cabarets.

Since I was little, I have seen the film Moulin Rouge hundreds of times, the musical which Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor are in, and I will say that it is one of my favourite films because it has all the elements that ensure its success: set in Paris, good storylines, good actors and a great soundtrack. Due to that, this made me very excited to see the Moulin Rouge. It is true that I saw it during the day and they say it is a lot better at night. The essence that their shows give off is captured, since the neon lights of the mill blades contrast against the darkness of the night. Here are the photos that I took on that day. The next time I go I will definitely buy a ticket to see one of the shows, because I think it is worth spending that kind of money to see one of the shows.

Montmartre

Very close to the most famous windmill in Paris, there is the painters' neighbourhood, which is, in turn, one of the most picturesque neighbourhoods in the capital. For me, it is one of the best areas because it is a very nice neighbourhood, where I could see thousands of painters occupying the pavements of Montmartre. It's like being in a different universe, it's a kind of town hidden within Paris. I didn't have the feeling of being in the biggest city in France at all. Therefore, it is not surprising that before this environment that many painters wanted to reside here for some time, such as Picasso, Dalí or Monet. Here, you will also find coffee shops where the best French patisserie and coffees are sold, as well as little souvenir shops.

Before I told you about the film Moulin Rouge, and the funny thing is that another film that I really like was filmed in this neighbourhood: Amélie. A lot of tourists have tours around this neighbourhood "following in the footsteps of Amélie", who is the protagonist of the film, and stroll around all the places which are featured in the film. There is no doubt that it is one of the most special neighbourhoods in Paris, where it would not be at all difficult to find inspiration to create something special. Oh! I almost forget, I also recommend another film that was shot in Paris, called Midnight in Paris, and it is very related to the world of painting and of its great artists.

The Louvre

It is one of the most famous museums in Europe. For art lovers, I don't know if you'll find a better place in Paris. It is so big... You can spend weeks admiring all the works of art that it features. Every time that I have visited Paris I have visited it, and as a great fan of paintings, I could visit it again and again.

The Louvre features very important works as the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa or the Winged Victory of Samothrace, which preside over some grand and elegant staircases. In my opinion, despite the fact that the aforementioned works are the most visited ones, the works that are most worth seeing here are Delacroix's painting, Liberty Leading the People, since it represents a super important part of this country. Also, the painting of The Virgin of the Rocks by Da Vinci is beautiful, and in my opinion, much better than La Mona Lisa. Many people are surprised to see the Mona Lisa in person, because it is so small and there is a huge crowd of people in front of it taking pictures of it or taking selfies, that in the end, the whole situation is laughable. You can not appreciate anything well and having so many people there forms a kind of fence which prevents you from observing the painting close up, as with the ones that I have told you about before.

As I have told you before, I was fortunate enough to be able to study Art History at A-Level, where I acquired a lot of knowledge about the world of art, especially about paintings and sculptures; so now every time I visit a museum I really can see beyond the painting and see deeper. I have really learned over the years that visiting museums only really makes sense if you can appreciate what meaning lies behind each work of art.

As for the building's exterior, there are the famous glass pyramids, which tourists take pictures with trying to hold them or touching the top of them with their fingers, like people do with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, for example. Upon arrival, there is usually quite a big queue, but it honestly moves quite quickly. They will ask for your ID and will check your rucksack. The truth is that security in France has been very high in recent years, seeing as this country has been the victim of several terrorist attacks. For European Union citizens, admission is free, so each time I have been able to visit it for free.

Walk over the bridges

The Seine River runs through the entire city of Paris and despite its fame for flooding the French capital, and causing a giant rodent invasion, there is no doubt that it gives the final touch to this city. All the bridges that go over the river are simply beautiful. Each one is different and each has its own special appeal. My favourite one is the Alexander III Bridge, from which you can admire the majestic Eiffel Tower in the distance. Here are some photos that I took there, which are my favourite ones from this last trip to Paris. This bridge is the artistic representation of the Beaux Arts. In addition to that, it is connected to important Parisian buildings such as Les Invalides, which are also worth visiting. Below, you can see very low boats pass by, because in Paris there is also the option to visit this city through the kind of cruises that go along the entire Seine river.

In terms of all the Parisian bridges, the Pont des Arts bridge stands out, which is famous for its fence, because all the couples attach locks, usually writing both their names on them and the date that they began their relationship on them.

Ópera Garnier

Following the aesthetic of the artistic majesty of the buildings in Paris, the opera was not going to be any different. Its front is the protagonist of many photographs and even though its outside is beautiful, the interior is even more incredible. All the details of the decoration reflect the luxury, sophistication and good taste which exists in all its rooms. Inside, there are also underground passageways, like caves, which appear in very famous works, such as the Phantom of the Opera. Napoleon ordered its construction, which was carried out by the architect Charles Garnier. It is definitely worth a visit.

Places des Vosges

This square is not one of the most well-known ones in Paris, but the truth is that it is one of the oldest ones in the city. It was very close to our hotel so it would have been a crime not to have visited it. It is not huge or as sophisticated as others in the city, but the truth is that its simplicity gives it a special kind of charm. As you can see in the photos, the fountain in the centre is its main feature and I was lucky enough to visit it in autumn, the time of the year when the trees have the prettiest colours. If you have some time to spare or you want to relax its perfectly cut lawn, it is a must-visit.

The Eiffel Tower

It does not need a presentation or for me to set the scene as it is a world-famous attraction. At first, the Parisians hated it, they said it was something like an iron monster; but the truth is that Gustave Eiffel did a great job because now it is the most representative object of Paris. I like it, although it is extremely touristy, so for me it is not the best attraction in Paris, not by far. I think it is worth visiting at night, because when it is illuminated it is beautiful. Its yellow lights placed throughout its giant structure make it a unique monument. As you can imagine, you can climb to the top in order to obtain perfect views of the entire city and admire the river Seine under your feet. If I remember rightly, it can be accessed through its four towers and it costs 14 euros. In front of the Tower, you can find the Trocadero Gardens, which are the perfect place to take a great photo with the Eiffel Tower.

It is 324 meters tall, which means it is visible from practically everywhere in Paris. You can get a beautiful view of it from the roof of the Lafayette Galleries. A fact that not many people know about the Eiffel Tower is that it grows in the summer. By exactly 18 centimetres due to the thermal expansion of the metal. When it turns cold again, it shrinks again. Strange, right?

In short, the Eiffel Tower has served as a source of inspiration for writers, painters and filmmakers. When I was little, I remember that it featured in the film the Aristocats. Now, new generations can see it in Ratatouille or the film Hugo. For older audiences, as I have mentioned before, it features in Moulin Rouge, or in The Devil Wears Prada. As for painters, perhaps the most famous painting is the one by Van Gogh with a colourful tower appears, very far from reality. In conclusion, the Eiffel Tower has been the object of hate, love, inspiration... It is a unique world monument that you have to visit.

Tuileries Garden

In between the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre, places which I have already spoken to you about, are the most beautiful gardens in Paris. As I told you, the last time that I visited Paris was in autumn and the trees had the characteristic colours of this season so everything was impregnated with warm red, orange and yellow tones. I really liked being able to see the city this way, because the two previous times I had visited Paris were in the summer and to be honest, I didn't like the gardens as much as I did this time. Here are the photos I took whilst we walked through the park, discovering all the trees forming perfect straight lines and vanishing points.

In these gardens, the Ferris wheel and its enormous fountain, which is surrounded by chairs attached to the ground where lots of people sit down on to read or relax, really stand out. Also, despite it being autumn, the weather was really nice and you could walk around with just a light jumper on. The sun shone and it was great, as well as the fact that it was extremely early in the morning so it wasn't very busy.

These gardens are also a kind of oasis in the middle of the city, despite being right in the centre, because there is such a peace and tranquillity there that seems unbelievable that the roads and the noise of cars are so close to it. And this is where I think the true magic of Paris lies. It is multifaceted. In short, I have good memories of the Tuileries Garden.

And these are the places that I wanted to show you in Paris. In the next entry, I will make a special mention to my top five places in the whole city. Thank you very much for reading, I will read the comments below to find your comments and recommendations for future visits to my favourite European city. I will see you in the next post with a lot more content. Bye.

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