Paris

Audrey Hepburn once very vehemently asserted that Paris is always a good idea. Truer words could not have been spoken. Paris is elegant, pristine and romantic. Paris is also dark, mysterious and astounding. It is, first and foremost, the city of discoveries because you never know what the next alley might introduce you to. Despite being one of the biggest metropolises in the world, it essentially is a small town at heart considering how the locals live with the sense of community. The French architectural delights, artistic wonders, fashion houses and gastronomic gems are pretty much nonpareil. So is the language, which is unarguably the sweetest in the world. And the French people perpetually have their noses in the air (pardonne-moi) for all of these reasons. We can’t really blame them.
Situated along the Seine River, Paris has way too many icons ranging from art and architecture, and it is extremely difficult to tell which one is better than the other. They are all magnificent. However, the Eiffel Tower has served as an emblem of Paris for perhaps the longest time. Then there is Champs-Elysees leading up to the grand Arc De Triomphe. The many other jewels in the crown of the City of Lights include the enigmatic Notre Dame, the distinguished Musee du Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, the enchanting Basilique du Sacré-Coeur, the Catacombs, the Latin Quarter, the breathtaking Jardin du Luxembourg, the Grand Palais, the amorous Pont des Arts, or the bridge with the love locks and everybody’s favourite Disneyland. There is so much to Paris that UNESCO had to list the entire city as a World Heritage Site.

Paris enthrals you and entices you in ways like no other. It is like being in a continually inebriated state. I wandered aimlessly and discovered every sight in the book, ate a baguette or two, unconsciously sauntered into the red-light district of Pigalle, watched the rains and the illuminated Eiffel Tower from the window of my apartment, embarked on dreamy boat cruises along the Seine and vowed to marry Nicolas Sarkozy at some point in my life. The busker down the street played the most beautiful symphony I had ever heard and warmly greeted me: “Bonjour mademoiselle! Comment allez-vous?” I smiled at him. I knew where I belonged. I still cannot really put into words the amount of love I have for Paris. It is as inexplicable and bewildering as Mona Lisa’s smile.