Paris When it Sizzles

Last time I visited Paris I was eight years old. Whilst I LOVED the main part of our trip (Disneyland), I didn't really appreciate the Parisian charm; the art and the culture of this European gem.

We are staying at the Hotel Palm Opera, conveniently located 10 minutes walk from the Sacré Cœur and about 15 minutes walk from the Louvre. It's small but perfectly formed, with retro 60's décor and free snacks and drinks in the lounge for the afternoons. The rooms aren't exactly spacious, but breakfast was delicious, with a range of meats, cheeses, cereals and pastries.

...and it was all yellow
The day we arrived was the finale of the 100th Tour de France, so we made our way to the Champs Elysee to soak up the atmosphere. There were people of all nationalities lining the streets to cheer on their cyclists. A range of inventive cars and floats paraded down the boulevard, advertising everything from tyres to washing up liquid, blasting out tunes and beeping their horns. Then the crowd started buzzing and an excited energy filled the air, as the cyclists made their way down the boulevard. I expected them to be tired and slower after weeks of cycling, but they sped past the crowds, revitalised by knowing the finish line was within reach. It was great to see such an iconic race, and the patriotism for every country was evident.

 Musée du Louvre

Our first full day was spent exploring the Louvre. Just the outside is impressive; a grand old palace, converted into one of the largest and most famous art galleries in the world. Somehow the clash of classical architecture and huge glass pyramids could only work in the stylish setting of Paris. But they say it's what's on the inside that counts and the inside did not disappoint! Seeing such fantastic artwork was enhanced by being in such a wonderful building. Among the paintings and sculptures were modern curiosities, such as mirrors with a scene stuck on so that the viewer could be part of the art. The Louvre is so huge that our guidebook claimed it would take 9 months to go around the entire thing, so we arranged our trip around certain artworks. Naturally, we made sure to visit the Louvre's most famous resident, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. She was a popular girl, with her own guard and huge glass case, with an eager crowd filling up the room in which she was housed. The fuss created by a surprisingly small painting raised two questions in my mind. Firstly, what would Leonardo think if he saw all of those people queuing to see his work? Secondly, what is it that makes so many people desperate to see one painting (although it is unarguably a great work)?

Sacré Cœur
That evening we walked from our hotel to the Sacré Cœur Basilica. From the butte Montmatre (the highest land point in the city) you can see Paris stretching out in front of you, as though it goes on forever. However, whilst the view was clearly special, it did no justice to the grand architecture on the ground. Although the grassy slopes and cool inside of the church were busy, the advantage of going in the evening was a nice, relaxed atmosphere. We explored the incredible building inside and out, before wandering around the streets of Montmatre, which were cute but mainly tourist shops (although Paris does do some pretty tourist tack!).