Designed For Tourists

6 May 2011

Paris, France

Finally. The sightseeing day.

The added bonus is that I’m not doing it solo; I’m ‘going super tourist’ with a guy from Washington D.C. Brian is 6’4” and speaks with an accent composed of American (lives there), Chinese (parents) and Irish (went to uni there). I’m not sure what he’ll sound like with a bit of Scottish in there because he’s moving there next year.

Here’s what happened, in photographs that nobody has ever taken before , save for a sighting of the most gracious girl we’ve ever seen…

There’s no doubt that doing these ultra-touristy things in the centre is looked down upon and cliché. In fact, the centre is just so… well… it’s almost like this place was purpose built for tourists. The statues and buildings – everything isn’t subtle, they’re covered in gold. The promenades aren’t large, they’re f###ing enormous , and all you walk through is these promenades and parks with more and more statues and decorations, because almost all these lovely things are a walk away. Designed for tourists.

Yet, it’s no surprise that we’re here doing it all because it is, visually, spectacular. Just as spectacular is the contrast between this and the places where people in Paris actually live, work and play.

We stop off in Jardin du Luxembourg to refuel. Brian and I are completely typical Generation Y; knowledgeable in a lot of things, but not really sure what do with 90% of it, nor how to actually do those things we know about. This is epitomised by our greatly detailed discussion of how to pull the Eiffel Tower down.

My last day in Paris ends at sunset (by definition, ha!) waiting for the lights on Le Tour Eiffel to turn on.

note: How the hell can you foresee your last few hours in a country to be in the dead centre of Paris, right in front of an internationally recognised symbol? Bloody love it.

Cliché again, but you’d be stupid to not to be impressed.

Adieu Paris, Adieu – I hate you, but you’re very good looking at heart.

June 9th, 2011 7:00pm