Staying in an attic in Paris – the city of Romance and Enchantment wasn’t exactly what my dreams were made of. I looked at my friend across the room in desperation and I knew from her bemused expression, that she was as disillusioned as I was. This was our first day in Paris, but definitely it was going to be the last one in this hell hole I had been conned into by an acquaintance. I decided that the first thing I would do the next day, was to shift to a more acceptable accommodation, even if it meant being lighter by a few hundred francs per day. Sure enough, after a quick cup of double espresso, for the kickstart, the next morning, we moved over to a more appealing hotel down the street.
Thus began my real tryst with Paris – as I would like to remember it.
We got on our way, to catch our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, the enduring symbol of Paris. Somehow, I had always assumed it was steel gray, and the imposing ‘bronze’ structure certainly surprised me. It was beautiful all the same, and my thoughts wandered on how it would feel to be on top of the tower. I knew that would happen, but it would have to wait for now. We walked through the manicured gardens, and came right under the tower structure, and it struck me that the pigeons here certainly seemed lazy. The wouldn’t move out of your way, the way normal birds did, and infact left the onus of avoiding to step on them to mere mortals like us.
We walked along the banks of the Seine and got into the Hop On – Hop Off bus, arguably the best way to orient oneself with the city. We absorbed for the first time what was soon to be our oft-tread path for the next few days. We took in the Lovre, continued through the Tuileres Gardens, and onto the renowned Champs Elysees, dotted with cafes and delis so characteristic of Paris. Though the Arc De Triomphe mustered up a vivid memory of the India Gate, it was clear that this was Paris, and no other city could match upto it. You could make a structure, but where would you capture the spirit of Paris ?
We explored the city one day at a time, got acquainted with the beautiful Opera house area, in the vicinity of the Galleries Lafayette, and the Place the Concorde and the Ritz Hotel, where even the attendants looked like KGB agents. Just behind the Opera house is an American Express Bank which we visited for for money changing regularly.
On the banks of the Seine, the Notre Dame was seeped in culture and history – the narrow shopping streets, lined with artists painting beautiful views of the church, or the river on the other side. They were capturing frames of the city onto their canvas quite successfully, and you had to indulge in a painting to take back home. The place is also ideal to pick up that little inexpensive souvenir you could take back for that bunch of community kids or an endearing relative. Another highlight was the visit to the Lovre Museum, to explore the several treasures under the glass pyramid, the most coveted being the Mona Lisa painting. I could barely believe I was looking at the masterpiece with my own eyes, and certainly, the painting lived upto its name and fame. The underdog however, was the Palace of Versiles, as we had heard so little of it before, but the imposing structure, vast gardens, and opulence certainly left an indelible impact on us. The Mittals wedding happened much later, and being earlier acquainted with the grandeur of the venue, I felt like a one of the guests when it did. The Lido was passé, and a special visit to the Moulin Rouge where ‘Chamma Chamma’ was playing those days, was quite an adventure. The location was eerie and the Churros we ate later, added further to my misery. However, since most of the time the food had been great, I decided to let this one pass.
My memoirs will not be complete till I mention the Pont de l’Alma road tunnel, where on that fateful day of 31st Aug , 1997, Lady Diana’s car had mercilessly crashed into pillar number 8. A small memorial has been made in her memory near the entrance of the tunnel, and a laid a bunch of flowers at the site as a mark of love for one of my favourite childhood icons.
Infact, the magic of Paris lingers long after your trip is over, and even today, when I think of Paris, I am transported back a decade in time – into the buzz of the cafes, grandeur of the palaces and visions of the river Seine curiously winding into the heart of the city and carrying with it secrets through the ages, perhaps never to be told.
