Why I love Paris

MANILA, Philippines - If you are hopelessly romantic and passionate about beauty, the joy of living, the arts and culture, in general, the so-called finer things in life, and there is only one other city you can visit before you die, let it be Paris. It is absolutely lovely and romantic. Factoids (sent this writer by no less than the Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland, Theresa Lazaro, herself) inform that Paris is the No. 1 honeymoon destination in the world. As you marvel at elegant French architectural structures, you will be transported back in time when the obvious main concern of one and all was to produce something extremely pleasing to the senses. As you gape at one work of art then another of the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Delacroix, Caravaggio, Vermeer, Raphael and Michelangelo at the Louvre Museum (the world’s largest art museum) and become misty-eyed as you are overwhelmed by the beauty of paintings by Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet, Matisse and Renoir at the Musee d’Orsay (that you only got to see in slides or photographs during your Art and Humanities classes), you would heave a deep sigh of regret, asking why you did not study or work in Paris when you were younger and had no other responsibilities.

After visiting Paris, you would understand why the character of Kate Winslet in the recent, award-winning movie Revolutionary Road decided to take her own life when the dream of residing there as promised by her husband (played by Leonardo di Caprio) was unceremoniously snuffed out by his decision to maintain a humdrum existence instead in a small US town. For music aficionados, there are free concerts at the various parks. For movie buffs, there are 350 cinemas to choose from. It is a place where every day, at least for tourists like me, is so magical, that you snap photos at every opportunity as you do not want to miss capturing on cam all the experiences you want to remember until your dying days.

Now, here are my tips to a first-time Paris visitor: 1. Be prepared to spend as Paris is quite an expensive place, and keep track of the many ways to enjoy your stay on a minimum budget. For your lodging, book accommodations at a reasonably affordable but conveniently located hotel only for sleeping purposes or better yet find a relative (like my husband’s cousin Cecilia Gancayco Poulenc and her kind spouse Thierry) who would be glad to host you and provide free accommodations as well as board whenever you catch them at home. For your non-free meals, go to a grocery that offers delicious packed meals, pastas or sandwiches. You will be paying about 1/10 of what you would be spending in a good restaurant (for sudden pangs of hunger, crackers like SkyFlakes will do). 2. Be ready to walk (a minimum of six hours a day) so bring your most sensible walking shoes to avoid taking taxis (relate this to No. 1) as Paris is most enjoyable when you traipse from one tourist spot to another as you take in the pleasant gardens and natural and man-made views. But even if you decide to do leisurely walks, make sure to be wearing your most fashionable walking attire so you can blend in with the glamour of Paris without having to go into an expensive shopping spree. Do some of your walking at night and enjoy why it is also referred to as the City of Lights. 3. Depending on how much time you have allocated for your Paris sojourn (five days at the least), visit the not-to-be-missed tourist traps, such as L’ Tour Eiffel (where you will encounter couples passionately kissing and promising everlasting love to each other), the Arc du Triomphe, the Louvre Museum (home of the Mona Lisa) and Musee d’Orsay where you can take photos of the works of art of your most admired artists (make sure you go on the day when art museums do not charge entrance fees!), the Notre Dame Cathedral (which will mesmerize you with its 13th century Gothic Architecture), and the Sacre Coeur Basilica (where you will have a heart-gripping experience as you pray while staring at one of the world’s largest murals depicting a Christ with outstretched arms). A visit to Paris will not be complete without walking the Champs Elysees where you should partake of at least one ceremonious meal as the French people do, with mouthwatering escargaux and/or bloody steak tartare while sipping good French wine. Go to a side village and savor real French croissant and great cheeses while drinking hot coffee at a roadside bistro. 4. Arm yourself with some French as the locals would always want to speak to you in no other language. 5. And for your night entertainment, watch a Moulin Rouge show.

Nope, the Moulin Rouge I am referring to is not a musicale or a play like what we see at West End or Broadway. Moulin Rouge is a theatre in the so-called Red Light District of Paris, a cabaret, if you will, where European dancers will dazzle you with their colorful and glittery costumes, fantastic choreography, mind-boggling juggling, and a highly entertaining ventriloquist act, while you sit back slowly sipping champagne. Very expensive by Philippine standards, I practically had to drag my husband (who was tired from all the daytime walking) so we could experience this glitzy entertainment. I almost pulled him out of the theatre, though, as soon as I realized that the dancers would be wearing skimpy clothing and, in fact, were topless most of the time. We were seated so near the stage, my husband needed just to crane his neck a bit and the top of his head would touch a dancer’s bare leg. But my husband continued to appear tired and bored (maybe for my sake, hahaha!) while a Russian guy seated beside him did non-stop ogling and at one point even tried to grab one of those legs.

A trip to Paris is, of course, incomplete without the side trip to Versailles Palace, home of some kings and queens during the 17th century where you actually get to see for yourself the splendor of France during that glorious era and be mesmerized by the magnificence of the palace grounds and what is left of its luxurious interiors. As in the Louvre and other great museums, do not fail to rent an audio guide so you can re-learn the history that goes with the place. Versailles, with all its grandeur, would make you understand why the French hoi polloi had to go through a revolution. Marie Antoinette’s fate to die by guillotine for all her excesses is a lesson to all rulers and heads of governments that human beings have a maximum tolerance level for abuses.

My last and most important tip, start saving now for that life-changing trip to Paris. Better yet, cancel your next yearly visit to the US or Hong Kong (like I did!). I promise that you, (just like me), will be turned into a Francophile with just one visit.

(Help build houses for the poor through the Gawad Kalinga by calling 718-1738 to 41, texting 0917-5239777 or e-mail me at [email protected] or text 0927-5000833.)