The imagery of all the spectacular scenery, savory smells, and surrounding sounds of Paris have been fresh in my mind for the past few days. I am unable to focus on anything else! Picture the thrill and excitement rushing through our veins as we zoom past the busy streets of Paris on the city bikes, or the cool breeze flowing past us as we sail through the Seine River, or the fright crawling through our bodies causing all the hairs to stand up straight as we explore the creepy catacombs at night.
These are only a few highlights of all the amazing adventure in store for us this summer. Right now, you might be having second guesses as to whether this trip is worth it or not, but I am confident that once you reflect over this letter and reconsider your opinion; you will be as enthusiastic as me about the wonders of Paris. I know you are hesitant to go because you are afraid to spend a lot of money on a trip to a place that you may find boring, unbeneficial, and completely foreign; however I assure you that Paris will offer you plenty of excitement, a wholesome learning experience, and a safe environment.
In Paris, there is no end to the amount of things we can do. We can climb the 1,665 steps of the Eiffel Tower to reach the top and take selfies 984 feet high with the gorgeous view of the city behind us. But if the lines get too long we can head over to the top of the Arc De Triomphe, which some people argue is the best view of the city as it includes the Eiffel Tower, the most popular and recognizable monument of Paris. Then we can compare it to the other views we get from the top viewing deck of Montparnasse Tower or the view at Tour Saint Jacques. Once we are tired of towers, we can visit the amazing cathedrals. The Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the oldest and grandest cathedrals in the world and has an amazing gargoyle view.
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Sainte Chapelle, a short walk away has one of the world’s best displays of stained glass and it is absolutely stunning. Of course we can not forget about the delicious, mouth watering food. With over 1,700 bakeries, Paris is world-recognized for their treats. We can take a break from our busy day by stopping at the many cafes found all over the city, sipping on hot chocolate or coffee, munching on exotic pastries or sampling the hundreds of type of cheeses they have, or enjoying a picnic in one of the 450 parks and gardens connecting with nature and all its beauty. Of course, we have to make some time for shopping and decking out our wardrobe. It isn’t impossible to explore all of Paris in one visit and with so many attractions and activities to do, you will never be bored in Paris.
As impressive Paris is in terms of leisure and luxury, more impressive is its history and culture. Paris is home to the most famous and largest museum, the Louvre. It would take days to completely exhaust all exhibits but we definitely will stop by the Mona Lisa and pay tribute to these extremely popular portrait. Afterwards we could stop by the Pompidou Centre known to be the largest art museum in Europe. We can learn about the many different types of architectures by visiting the many different arches, canals, bridges, and medieval palaces located all across Paris.
Then we could visit the many historical sites such as Versailles, where the treaty to end WW1 was signed. Next on the list, we can visit the Musee de I’ordre de la Liberation which was dedicated to the armed forces who fought bravely to free Paris after it was fallen captive to the Germans in WW2. Then we can stop for a stroll at the Place de la Concorde, the location for the execution of KIng Louis XVI and Queen Marie following the French Revolution. Paris is a unique ancient city with a lot of rich history and significance so it is only natural that we will learn a lot by visiting this city.
One scary element of traveling is being stuck in a place completely foreign with no resources or help. I know this is one of your greatest fears but Paris is not all that foreign to us. It is a safe, modern urban city similar to any big city just like Chicago. There is a metro system that can practically take you anywhere within the city. Also Paris is no stranger to tourists with close to 20 million people visiting every year. The locals are friendly and are always willing to help as long as we watch our manners . Plus my parents will be coming along also to ensure that we will have a blast in a safe and responsible manner.
If you are worried about the language barrier, I have already started learning some french in school. It is a really beautiful language and easy once you get the hang of it. We have some time until summer vacation and can spend some time together everyday to pick up some of the language. Organizing the trip and navigating through an itenary will also be a piece of cake as there are so many resources online to help one prepare for a trip to Paris, as well as ample amount of blogs from people who recently travelled sharing ideas and tips. Not only is Paris a gorgeous city, it is also an extremely safe and secure travel option, so you have nothing to worry about.
Summer vacation is meant to be a time of relaxation and enjoyment, a time of exploration and discovery, a break from school and our boring day to day lives. It is meant to be a vacation where you get out of your comfort zone and experience something surreal and out of this world. I know you don’t want to spend another summer at your grandma’s boring house stuck to the television then having to go through all the pain and agony of hearing everyone else’s amazing break. If you come with me to Paris, I promise you that you will have tons of fun, an amazing learning experience, and a place you can really connect to while feeling safe. It is no surprise why Thomas Jefferson described Paris by saying “a walk Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life”. They say opportunity knocks but once, this trip to Paris is a golden opportunity so take advantage of it.
