Notre Dame Cathedral And Arc De Triomphe Top List Of Paris Attractions For Beijing Visitor.

What would a visitor like to see on his first visit to Paris? As always, my thoughts were putting the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc De Triomphe, on the top of the list. An email was received from my friend, 'I am coming to Paris for a Travel Agents Exhibition. Will you be able to spend some time with me in Paris?' My answer was, 'Of course!'
'Of course!' It was only after the reply had been sent that the question of, 'What to see..' came to mind. A list of Paris attractions included, Montmartre, Sacre Coeur, and others, but the top of the list were a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral and a stroll down the Champs-Elysees as far as the Arc De Triomphe. Those were the two places in Paris which impressed me most during my first visit by bicycle, travelling from Calais, many, many years earlier!

That particular first visit to France and Paris was the most adventerous of all visits that were to follow. Cycling from Calais on roads that never seemed to bend, but just went straight on to the horizon. Sleeping between straw bales in a farmer's barn. Cooking tinned beans over a small stove at the side of the roads. Sleeping in ditches and under trees on the Mediterranean coast. A once in a lifetime experience still remembered. Suceeding visits to Paris have all been much different; by car and channel boat, by train and channel boat, or by aeroplane. The time had come to act as a guide!

Candles In Notre Dame Cathedral Cast A Warm Glow During Paris Visit.
It was after we had been visiting Montmartre that we travelled on the Metro to pay a visit to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Coming out of the station we first stopped to look at some postcards and books on a street stall, then, in my best attempt at the French language, I enquired of a nearby policeman, the location of the Notre Dame Cathedral. He looked at me rather strangely, and replied, 'There!', pointing to the building that dominated the area, across a square only a few metres away. The closer we got to the Cathedral entrance more of the sculptures came into view that had withstood the passage of time; once inside the cathedral, the stained-glass windows lit by rays of the sun, revealed the true beauty created by craftsmen in days gone by, the views not affected by the glow of many candles lit by previous visitors.

Arc De Triomphe, Paris, Imposing Memorial To War Dead.
My 'Tour Guide' duties on one of the days in Paris included a visit to the Arc De Triomphe, although we did not get to view the Champs-Elysees from the top of the tower, as the lift was not in use. We had earlier seen young people on rollerskates by the fountains of Trocadero, demonstrating their skills by weaving in and out of markers that had been put on the road. They were certainly enjoying their time there, so it was interesting to see another small group of rollerskaters, when we were on our way to the Arc De Triomphe. These were young people for whom the Arc De Triomphe was part of their country's history, but whether or not they had ever been participants in any form of conflict is unknown. Sitting on a ledge under the monument was a much older person, who may have been of Vietnamese origin. She appeared to be living experiences in her past, that gave her a serene sense of security, there was a gentle smile on her face, and a twinkle in her eyes. How much would it have taken to share her thoughts? On the previous night we had witnessed the memorial ceremonies at sunset, when flags were carried to the Arc De Triomphe. One of the flags bore the inscription, 'Dien Bien Phu', a tragic battle in French history, that occured in Vietnam.

Visits To Notre Dame Cathedral And Arc De Triomphe For Chinese Friend.

Attractions Of Paris Topped By Visit To Notre Dame Cathedral.

Candles In Notre Dame Cathedral Cast A Warm Glow During Paris Visit.

Arc De Triomphe, Paris, Imposing Memorial To War Dead.