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Paris is one of those cities that never changes. The charm and the pure essence of French culture had pretty much been the same for centuries and this is precisely what makes Paris, Paris. Amidst the ever-growing world, where countries and their economies are rapidly advancing into the race to become the best, the greatest and the most powerful, people come to forget their past and how the past makes up into what we are today. Now some people do realize the importance of this matter and are yearning to escape from it; escaping from the modernization that relentlessly overshadows the past.
Many cities now fall into the trap of constructing the biggest, the tallest, the most architecturally advanced skyscrapers, but Paris had kept itself in a very humble position. When looking around the city, the tallest structure bearing the very symbol of Paris is the Eiffel Tower. It is very amazing to see such city where it's people can live together in harmony with art and history, instead of attaching one's self to the materialistic structures we see today in most other cities. It is without doubt that Paris holds a special allure that draws millions of visitors a day, to be one of the many eyewitnesses to one of the world's greatest city.
Paris itself is already the world capital of architecture, and the Palace of Versailles is a good example of that. This monumental centerpiece is one of the world's largest Palace that holds many important moments in French history. The most relevant and well-known to us would be the Treaty of Versailles that took place in the Hall of Mirrors. It is quite hard to imagine myself standing right at that position where the peace treaty took place, it is simply astonishing to be part of history itself.
Strolling along the Gardens of Versailles is also an amazing experience. The sculptures and the geometrically trimmed vegetations are one strong example that France had been a great empire, and a wealthy one too.
Back at the Louvre for another day (for free) had also been a great experience. I have never had enough of the Louvre. There is simply too much for me to see in one day. Stood majestically in front was the Louvre Pyramid. The modern architecture of glass and steel seemingly juxtapose or rather blends in with the classical elements of the existing Musée de Louvre. Although the second round was free, it paid off with masses of tourists who again, flock to witness the Mona Lisa without even recognizing other masterpieces that hang on the walls of the Museum.
After a trip along the River Seine, it was home time. Although I was back in the UK, I must confess that my heart was and is staying in Paris and I hope that will never change, because for me, four days is simply too short for such a city like Paris.
(Click to view full-sized images)
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| Streets of Paris Taken with: Canon 650D, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 100mm f/5.6 |
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| View atop the Eiffel Tower Taken with: Canon 650D, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 22mm f/11 |
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| Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles Taken with: Canon 650D, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 35mm f/4.5 |
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| Les Jardins du château de Versailles Taken with: Canon 60D, 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 @ 10mm f/11 |
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| Palace of Versailles Taken with: Canon 60D, 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 @ 10mm f/11 |
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| The banks of River Seine Taken with: Canon 650D, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 85mm f/4.5 |
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| L'arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile Taken with: Canon 650D, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 18mm f/8 |
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| L'arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile Taken with: Canon 650D, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 100mm f/8 |
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| Glass Pyramid, Musée de Louvre Taken with: Canon 60D, 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 @ 20mm f/11 |
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| Musée de Louvre Taken with: Canon 60D, 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 @ 10mm f/11 |
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| Musée de Louvre Taken with: Canon 60D, 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 @ 12mm f/8 |
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| Musée de Louvre Taken with: Canon 650D, 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 135mm f/5.6 |
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| Cruising along the River Seine Taken with: Olympus OM-10, 50mm 1.4, Fujifilm Superia 200 |
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