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F E E L A T H O M E www.azindiatimes.com PAGE - 25 Jan 2019 1-844-AZINDIA 5 things to do in Paris By Aripa Paul aripa.paul@gmail.com It was 5 am when I woke up in my hotel room in London. My parents and I booked ourselves a ferry to Paris at 11 a.m. I quickly jumped out of the bed, showered and got ready, needless to say, very excited for my Parisian holiday. About three hours later, we arrived at the port of Cal- ais. The French city of Calais is in the north-western region of France and is the closest port in France to England. The Strait of Dover, which lies across the English Channel on the UK mainland, is about 32 km from Calais. There’s no dearth of accommodation in Paris. We stayed at Novotel Paris. This hotel is a 10-min- ute drive from the iconic Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees. If you’re looking for something more luxurious, I’d suggest looking up an apartment in Airbnb. Do check reviews before making your bookings. What could be more amazing than having a classic French apartment to yourself and living like a local in Paris! Here are some of the highlights of the trip: 1. Eiffel Tower Paris is synonymous with Eiffel. No trip to Paris is ever complete without a visit to the spectacular Eif- fel Tower. You can spend hours exploring this land- mark. It is a symbol of creative genius that oozes a sense of architectural indomitability from every corner of the tower. The view of the city from atop the tower is something to die for. Every evening, the Eiffel Tower is adorned with a golden covering that bursts into sparkling light thrice (9 pm, 10 pm and 11 pm) for five minutes each. It is a sight to behold. You can grab a drink and enjoy this beauty in all its glory. I promise, this evening, shall be forever etched in your memory. View From Eiffel Tower 2. Seine River Paris would not be Paris without the Seine River. There are many ways you can enjoy this. Take a walk on the quais, stand on one of the bridges, or you can even opt for a cruise. Spend an afternoon cruising along the Seine River, sipping rose wine, and soaking in some Parisian sun against the view of the Eiffel. The ambience of the cruise, the audio tour of French history on the deck along with the view of the setting sun call for a perfect spot for honeymooners. Many Seine cruises offer on- board classic French dining experience. You can have a whale of a time while gorging on some exotic dishes and sampling local wine. Seine Cruise 3. Disneyland Welcome to the happiest place on the planet! I felt like a child after a very long time. Judge all you want, but there can be nothing more fun than this. The park is well decorated and the lanes screamed a uto- pia. Make sure to keep one full day in hand for Disn- eyland. Be in comfortable shoes. Pack your lunch as food inside the park can be a tad bit expensive. I’d recommend staying back until evening to witness the illuminations in the castle. Queuing up for the rides can take longer than expected, therefore, carrying an extra layer of clothing is advisable. The highlight of this trip, for me, was the ‘Disney Stars’ parade. I had happy tears at the end of the day. 4. Louvre and Palace of Versailles If you’re someone who grew up reading Dan Brown, then Louvre Museum is a must-see for you. It is the largest art museum in the world. The vast array of art- works is dizzying to say the least. The corridors and hallways are thronged with people to catch a glimpse of the original painting of Monalisa. If you want to fall in love and take back home few picture-perfect moments, then re-visit Louvre’s facade at night. The Palace of Versailles was the royal residence of France, until the start of French Revolution. The pal- ace is absolutely stunning. The attention to details of its medieval-era inspired art and architecture is breathtakingly beautiful. Everything in the palace screams opulence. It is now one of the UNESCO world heritage sites. 5. Champs Elysees Spend an evening in the high-street of Champs Ely- sees. The street is flanked with world-famous design- er houses and brands. After all, Paris and fashion go hand in hand. Dressing comfortably for your shop- ping day is very important as it requires some effort every time you choose to try out an outfit. Don’t for- get to stuff in a tube of sunscreen inside your bag. You can spot beautiful boutique cafes and restau- rants. The street is well lit and gives nothing less than a quintessential Red Carpet feel. Paris is one of those cities that live up to its hype. One can never have enough of her. Paris is like a dream - you have to see it to believe it. Arc de Triomphe There are some places of stunning natural beau- ty, made all the more poignant because of an un- fortunate reputation that they just can’t shake. Japan’s Aokigahara forest is definitely one of those places. The forest is located in the shadow of Mount Fuji, and is so vast and dense that it’s nicknamed the ‘Sea of Trees.’ With the thickness of the trees and the lack of wildlife, the place is eerily silent, and the great quantities of iron in the volcanic soil of- ten make compasses useless. Strange Places on Earth There are some places on Earth that just seem… otherworldly. If you were to show a picture of The Wave to somebody who had never heard of the place, they might well think they were looking at a landscape that high-tech NASA equipment had captured a shot of. That’s not the case, though. The Wave is a stunning red sandstone for- mation found at the Vermil- ion Cliffs Na- tional Monu- ment, along the northern border of Ari- z o n a / U t a h . The rock for- mation is said to date back to the Jurassic period, and access is very strictly controlled. So much so, only small numbers of lucky lottery draw winners are grant- ed access each day (for a day about four months in advance at that, in some cases).