Awesome Foursome in Paris

Yes, the four of us, Aunty Polly, our mother, my sister Pearly and I, were collectively known as the Awesome Foursome who went on separate trips to two European cities, that started with Paris.

View from the open-top-bus tour of Paris;
the Place de la Concorde

With the help of cousin Bernice, we planned a special summer holiday with our mothers in London before heading to Paris by train on the Eurostar and after a brief break back in London, we took a flight to Rome for a visit that included the Vatican City.

With accommodation arranged in advance, it was a free-and-easy trip for us to find our way around the city and visit the must-see sites in Paris.

I remember we shared a clean, cosy and comfortable room for four, tucked in an attic-like space where the roof sloped down, and we dubbed it the triangle room!

Pearly and I studied the maps and chartered the course for our walking tours to see as many of the tourist sites as possible and decided on joining an open-top-bus tour.

Mum, Aunty Polly and I on the
Champs-Elysees with the Arc de Triomphe
and the busy round-about in the background

This drive-about gave us a perspective of the city layout and a glimpse at the various destinations that we wanted to visit (later) for a better experience.

Our hotel was walking distance to the Champs-Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe, one of the most popular landmarks in Paris.

Built in 1806 to commemorate the triumphal battles of Napoleon Bonaparte, the arch features intricate relief carvings that depicted victorious battles and engraved names of many who died fighting for the emperor.

I remember how the infamous round-about that encircled the arch, was choked with noise and smog as a non-stop stream of motor vehicles inched their way around.

From photos of this site during the lockdown in France, this arch and round-about looked a world of difference, much like a picture postcard, free from any vehicles!

On our open-top-bus tour, we saw the Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris that featured an intricate fountain and an ancient Egyptian obelisk.

The historical significance of this square was that the French King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and many other evil ones were guillotined here during the French Revolution.

The Mona Lisa in the Louvre Museum

The intricate carvings on the fountains, bridges, building architecture and artistically designed monuments throughout the city brought to my mind, snippets of history lessons on the Renaissance era. (I was glad I paid attention in class!)

A visit to Paris cannot be complete without a visit to the world-renowned Notre Dame Cathedral, a 13^th century landmark that features soaring towers in a classic example of French Gothic architecture.

It was a bright sunny day outside but the inside the cathedral, where devotees lit candles to pray, it was dark and gloomy. In the semi-darkness, I was still able to admire the Gothic carvings, beautiful sculptures and stained-glass windows.

I am grateful that we could admire the magnificence of this landmark and its contents because a massive fire in April 2019 destroyed parts of the cathedral.

Since the fire, the damage has yet to be repaired due to the delay caused by the global pandemic and subsequent lockdown in the city.

Then we joined the throng of visitors in the Louvre Museum to appreciate priceless works of art by Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Rubens, among other Renaissance greats.

Sculpture that depicted the legendary founding of Rome
seen in the Louvre Museum in Paris

I was deeply moved by many paintings that were inspired by Bible scripture that depicted captivating and awe-inspiring scenes of the betrayal, the crucifixion and even a portrait of the beheaded head of John the Baptist, presented on a plate!

Then we patiently took our turn in the long queue to have a closer look at the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

Unlike some of the larger works of art on display, the framed portrait of this famous lady with that mystic smile, was comparatively small.

There were also countless sculptures of the human body – some gigantic in size – and I recall being fascinated at the perfect symmetry and proportion achieved by the sculptors.

Mum and Aunty Polly climbing Eiffel Tower

With Rome as our next European destination, I was thrilled to see a famous sculpture that depicted the legendary founding of Rome in the 8^th Century BC.

The most popular of Roman myths must be the story of twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, infants who were suckled by a she-wolf.

When recent pictures of the Louvre Museum with the signature glass pyramid at its entrance were flashed across the television screen, I felt a pang of sadness because the museum was closed due to the Lockdown.

Sadly, the only way to admire and appreciate this collection of famous artworks now was via a virtual museum tour.

An icon which is synonymous with Paris, the Eiffel Tower, was a definite must-see destination for us.

Some visitors had the misfortune to visit the Eiffel Tower when it was closed for renovation or for other reasons, but this most photographed tourist attraction in Paris was ready and waiting for us.

Spot three figures of mum, Aunty and Pearly
on the first level of the Eiffel Tower

I remember feeling dwarfed when I sat under the towering iron structure and watched as my mother, sister and aunty climbed the staircase up to the first level while I stayed to capture a photo of them up there.

Throughout our stay, the weather was clear, cool and bright so we enjoyed walking about – guided by street maps – and dined at sidewalk cafes, in true Parisian style.

Among other dishes to savour in typical French cuisine, we enjoyed baked escargots or edible snails, for Starters. 

Sheltered by leafy trees, we walked on shady streets and the banks of the Seine, basking in the sun and cooled by chilly winds while we browsed around for interesting crafts and souvenirs.

It was interesting that on one of our walks, we arrived at a bridge which I believed, was close to the Pont de l’Alama tunnel where Diana, Princess of Wales, and others were involved in that fatal car crash on 31 August 1997.

From popular tourist spots to a poignant place in the French capital, our Paris experience was certainly unforgettable for a host of reasons.

Top of the list was how our mothers, in their advanced age, could keep the pace to enjoy consecutive days of walks and climbs, in a truly memorable trip in Paris.

Merci beaucoup, Paree!