Travel

Paris, 2014

Walking down the bustling streets, I felt like I was rowing a boat down a river of people. My whole view was full of shops, restaurants, cafes, people and landmarks which blocked the sight of the beautiful warm sky above. The sounds of sirens, blurred out by the loud sound of gossip, made the roads busier than usual.  At the end of the street I saw a large Arc, covered with detail and elegance. This colossal monument was the Arc De Triomphe, built in 1836 it stands at 50 m high and 45 m wide. The view from this marvellous icon was even more breath-taking than the building itself. Streets and streets of buildings all lined up neatly, seemed to join at the Arc, some streets went on for miles. I felt so powerful and at peace there, I knew that I could see everything, but no one could see me up here. It was Beautiful.

Next, we made our way to the Eiffel tower, the gem of Europe. The grass surrounding the monument was green and fresh, and the sun shimmered off of the water in the fountains. Perching on a bench, I ate my sandwich and lemon cake while taking in the delicate and exquisite garden around me. White, wooden fences sculpted into a curved arc led the way into a stone walkway holding hundreds of dazzling flowers, each one a different shade of gorgeous. The Eiffel tower was busy. Very Busy. We couldn’t even make it to the line for the lifts without being trampled on. Instead of climbing to the top, I preferred to observe the beauty from down here, taking photos at different angles and adjusting the light.

On our way back to the bus, I couldn’t help but notice a tall, thin women coming out of a Louis Vuitton shop. The way she walked and swished her hair, was like one of those scenes in the movies, where a stereotypical fashion magazine editor comes out of the building looking fabulous and chic. Her designer scarf draped across her neck, and her unnecessary sunglasses reflecting the little light there was, she walked past us at the road lights. Although I couldn’t even hear her shout a taxi beside us, I could almost imagine the noise of her Gucci boots tapping the floor. I felt so small and timid, stood there in my green hoodie (that I was made to wear to keep track of the group) and my trainers, as I got cold glares from fashionable women walking past me. However, as soon as I realised how amazing Paris was, I soon felt better.