Paris. The city of light. The city of love. The city of beauty. The city of dreams. Perhaps this is the reason why Paris is the most visited place in the world. People are enthralled with the idea of the capital of France and the rich culture it has to offer. The history and unequaled sites presented in Paris provide many reasons why one would desire to go. For a lot of people, Paris remains a mystery waiting to be discovered. Although Paris is highly modernized, certain aspects of it will always keep the historic feeling, capturing the imagination of the millions of tourists for many years to come. When I visit Paris one day (and trust me, I will), I not only want to absorb the city through the many tourist attractions, I also want to experience the lifestyle as if I was an actual inhabitant of Paris.
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When someone is asked to get a mental image of Parisian lifestyle, a few pictures may pop into mind. A man in a black-and-white striped shirt with a baguette under his arm. A woman walking her well-groomed poodle down the street. Another common image, and perhaps more realistic, is people sitting in an outdoor area of a small cafe. This atmosphere is one that I would not want to miss while visiting Paris. Simply sitting back and enjoying the fact that I am in such a beautiful city would be more rewarding than running around to the many tourist traps. As Downie's chapter "Life's a Cafe" put it, "'That's why one comes to a cafe, isn't it?...For this- the life, the human contact.'" The fact that Paris has approximately 10,000 cafes shows that there's something to this activity, and it will probably remain this way for many generations.
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The Eiffel Tower
Of course, you cannot go to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. I decided a few years ago that taking a picture from underneath the Eiffel Tower would be on my bucket list. Standing underneath would provide a different view than what you usually see in pictures. Night would be the ideal time, as the illuminated tower would certainly take my breath away. A picnic out front would also be hard to say no to, especially having one while waiting for the lights to turn on. A trip to Paris would not be complete without seeing this landmark.
Go to a Nice French Restaurant (Knowing how to "Play the Game" with the waiters)
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Yes, it may be very expensive. In the end, however, I think it would be worth it to say that you spent many a euro at a famous authentic French restaurant. An important experience in this would be to know how to work with the waiters. Some helpful advice from Talk to the Snail is "[the waiter] should accept you as a worthy adversary, not want you as a petanque partner." In America, waiters and waitresses try their hardest to make the very best impression on their customers. This is not the case in France. Experiencing this, but not going in with the expectations that your waiter is going to treat you like a best friend, would offer a way to feel as if you really are French, if only for a moment.
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...even if it means an extended vacation. Paris IS the city of lights, so I can only imagine how magical it becomes when the numerous lights reflect off of the wet roads and sidewalks. Instead of frantically running for the nearest cover, just taking in this unique beauty would be one of the best parts of visiting Paris. As Gabrielle in "Midnight in Paris" states at the end of the movie, "Acutally, Paris is the most beautiful in the rain."
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Get Lost in the History
There is no better place to lose yourself and your sense of time than in the Louvre Museum. With such displays as paintings, Egyptian antiques, and sculptures, it would be easy to spend hours in the Louvre. This being a palace-turned-museum offers a different experience, as it was not originally built for public use. It is impossible to see all the exhibits in one day, or even a week. In fact, according to aflouvre.org, there are 35,000 works of art on display. Seeing some of the most famous works of art, such as the Mona Lisa, would leave someone with stories to tell for many years to come. Or maybe you can discover your new favorite piece of artwork, perhaps a not-so-famous painting- Don't worry, there are a lot to choose from.
Paris has so much to offer. Although I would love to do all the things listed above, a goal of mine in visiting Paris would be to discover an activity I did not expect. It would probably not be hard to find; the city is large and the people are numerous. I do believe that it is still the shining as the cultural capital of the world for this reason, and I do not expect this to change anytime soon.
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