Today was the day that I decided to make my way past the Champs Elysées and to the Arc De Triomphe. After being in Paris for a little over a week now, I felt like it was a good idea; let me rephrase that, an amazing idea to spend my free afternoon climbing up 300 stairs to see the best view of Paris.
First, one of my good friends and I decided to get a chocolate croissant to curb our hunger before we hiked up a few hundred steps. In Paris, they call it “pain au chocolat”, I think it sounds better that way. We headed over to a bakery near our school that happened to be in a cute little area with cobble stone streets, which did not allow car traffic. Its always a plus when you do not have to worry about oncoming traffic before carelessly crossing the street. We ended up in Eric Kayser, a well-known bakery in Paris that specializes in alliteration: pastries and pain (bread). I was so excited to have my first pain au chocolat in Paris, and let me add, it truly was everything I was hoping for. The bread was flakey and the chocolate was gooey. It was not heated up, which I will definitely try next time, but it was still perfect.
My friend and I also did something a little touristy, we took our pastries into the Starbucks where we could escape the cold and sit for a bit to eat. Hey, at least we did not order the pastries from Starbucks, right? After sitting and enjoying the amazing pain au chocolate, we set off for the metro to take us to our final destination: the Arc De Triomphe.
I had heard that it was free for students to get in so I was even more excited, but when we arrived the lady at the ticket desk was not too kind. I needed my visa to prove that I was a student, even though I had my I.D., my French student Card, and a card that said I was a history student (to get into museums). It did not work, I told her I had just taken my visa out of my purse, which was true. Yet, she did not care at all. So, I did not let the nine-euro stop me, but rather paid my dues and headed for the top.
Once at the stop the view of the Eiffel Tower, was breathtaking. The top shared with us, a 360-degree view of the city. We could see all the famous monuments, some close and some far. As we walked around, each view was better than the next.
I had heard that it was free for students to get in so I was even more excited, but when we arrived the lady at the ticket desk was not too kind. I needed my visa to prove that I was a student, even though I had my I.D., my French student Card, and a card that said I was a history student (to get into museums). It did not work, I told her I had just taken my visa out of my purse, which was true. Yet, she did not care at all. So, I did not let the nine-euro stop me, but rather paid my dues and headed for the top.
Once at the stop the view of the Eiffel Tower, was breathtaking. The top shared with us, a 360-degree view of the city. We could see all the famous monuments, some close and some far. As we walked around, each view was better than the next.
About the stairs, it was not hard. Some people had to stop every 50 stairs and take a breather, but in our young age, my friend and I were expected to trot all the way to the top. We were excited and didn’t stop. Not even at the top where many people waited for a few minutes until they caught their breath.
All in all, the site is not one to miss in Paris. Hopefully if you are a student you can avoid my mistake and get in for free!
All in all, the site is not one to miss in Paris. Hopefully if you are a student you can avoid my mistake and get in for free!