Paris, City of Love

After leaving Musee du Louvre, the next spot I want to visit is Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris, the origin of the opera-- Hunchback of Notre Dame. I hadn't had the chance to visit the cathedral the first time I visited France. But I will never miss it twice!!! The design of the Notre Dame de Paris is similar to most of other cathedrals in Europe, built in Gothic style with sharp tower tip and sophisticated-made windows illustrating the story on the bible.

Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris

Pont des Arts

Pont des Arts is adjacent to the Notre Dame de Paris so as soon as we take around in the cathedral, we then walked to the famous "Lover Bridge". The reason why the bridge is named with the word "Lover" is because of the hundreds and thousands of locks on the bridge locked on by countless couples who seek for proving their love publicly. (The bridge break down last year due to overweight......) It is really amazing to see so many locks on the bridge, and if the weather is good enough, you can also see many keys of those locks in the bottom of the Seine. For me, this is not only a tourist spot but the virtual evidence of "French Romance".

At the end of the introduction of Paris, I want to feature on the fashion industry and the wonderful French afternoon tea culture. Paris with other counterparts: New York and London have dominated the fashion industry for century; however, the names of the famous designer brands that pop up in your head within a seconds are definitely from France or started their business IN Paris from Coco Chanel, Christian Dior to Hermes. Champs Elysees is the avenue that gathered those brands in a line.

Louis Vuitton on Champs Elysees

The last but definitely certainly NOT the least is the French cuisine. The Michelin Guide is the most authoritative index grading restaurants around the world. As it was originated from France and as France has the most restaurants awarded with the highest honor-- Michelin Three Stars, it is not difficult to imagine how incredible the French cuisine can be. However, some Michelin awarded restaurants are not allow to take photos during the meal, I have no chance to record my Michelin heaven-like(!!!!!!) set. But what I want to introduce is another must-try: French afternoon tea!!!

In the old time, people from the upper class loved to gather in so-called salon to discuss latest new and politics as well as enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with some delicious sweets. The history of the culture of having afternoon tea is long rooted in the nation, and the cakes I have tried are INDESCRIBABLY delicious!!! Be sure to try one before you leave the country!!!

Unmatched French Afternoon Tea

Paris, City Shines with Remarkable History

Paris, being the most popular and favorable city in Europe, attracts hundreds and thousands of tourists to worship its indescribable charm. Paris is said to have witnessed the glory of Bourbon, the chaos of French Revolution and the rise of French Communism. Moreover, being the capital of France as well as located at the center of Europe, Paris has bred numerous outstanding philosophers, artists, musicians and politicians in the history.

I am a girl who is crazy about art, fashion, cuisine and romance so that you can tell how much Paris fits my appetite. From the grand Palace of Versailles to the shrine of trendy fashion industry Champs Elysees, from another top 4 largest Musee du Louvre ,the tallest structure in Paris-- Eiffel Tower to the muse of the famed opera Hunchback of Notre Dame Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris or from the Arc de Triomphe that recorded the glory of Napoleon Empire to the Pont des Arts that locked the love and the memory of countless lovers, Paris is a place that can amaze me in every subtleties.

At the Front Gate of Versailles

I have visited Paris twice but it's a pity for not spending long enough each time. I went to Paris at the same year as I travelled to the United Kingdom seven years ago. For me, the palace in France is similar to that of Buckingham Palace in UK but it was not until I saw the Palace of Versailles that I totally change my "bias". Palace of Versailles was painted by golden paint and constructed with white large marble. Although it is imaginable to build such a grand architecture nowadays, you can still see the astounding efforts and resources that the French Monarch had put in to build this magnificent masterpiece in order to claim the nation's power.

The Icon of Louis XIV, King of the Sun

Palace of Versailles has owned by several emperors and regimes but the most notable one is definitely Louis XIV who named himself le Roi Soleil (King of the Sun in French). Louis XIV believed that he was the greatest and the most powerful emperor in the Europe (the most developed region far surpassed other places in the world at the time). Therefore, you can find the symbol on the left hand side appears almost everywhere from the furnitures to the ceilings and the top of the font gate of the palace to claim his right over the Versailles. His reign of more than 70 years is the longest of any monarch in European History. However, the construction of the Versailles also posed a threat to the French government's finances and led to the fall of Bourbon. 

Arc de Triomphe

Paris is not only SUPER for this architecture but also the famous Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. You can see plenty of tourists tried to capture the very best picture with those beautiful and iconic historical architectures. (I am one of those crazy tourists too!!!)


Arc de Triomphe is situated at the end of Champs Elysees so the atmosphere of the avenue is a mixture of old and new, historical and fashionable. It was really difficult to capture the whole building clearly and horizontally so I was sort of risking myself for this photo -- Arc de Triomphe with the sunset.   

In addition to the picture of Arc de Triomphe, I actually also push myself really far for a perfect picture with Eiffel Tower. I guess that I might have tried more than ten gestures and postures with Eiffel Tower for a profile picture of my Facebook!!! See how crazy I was in the picture below, trying to swallow the cute little tower!!!!!!

With the Cute Little Eiffel Tower

Other than the Palace of Versailles, actually there is another palace which is far older in Paris, it is the Musee du Louvre. Needless to say, Musee du Louvre is another museum paralleled with those notable counterparts in the world of arts: the Met in New York City and the British Museum in London. Being as one of the top 4 largest museum, Musee du Louvre also has wide ranges of collections which across all the regions in the world. Differ from other mega museums, Musee du Louvre features more on paintings and sculptures collections. The must see collection is no longer the Egyptian heritages but the one that you definitely have heard of before-- Mona Lisa. Although this unmatched masterpiece is really small in size, you need no instruction to find where it exhibits. Each year, endless visitors come to Musee du Louvre only to worship and take a glimpse of Mona Lisa.

Louvre Pyramid

Except for those extraordinary pieces of arts, outside Musee du Louvre is another outstanding work of architecture-- the Louvre Pyramid. Louvre Pyramid was designed by American born Chinese designer-- I.M. Pei. The pyramid not only protrudes upward from the ground but it can also be appreciated from the underground of the museum. The Pyramid is transparent so the sunlight can penetrate the pyramid to the underground museum and the light can present you clearly the complex structure of Louvre Pyramid. 

The Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets, United Kingdom

If you said Cambridge is the best choice to experience the abundant knowledge of England than London will be where you can witness the once most powerful kingdom in the world. The first weekend after we've arrived in UK, my friends and I planned to visit London, our neighboring city, as soon as possible. We deemed that the British Museum would take plenty of times so we planned to take around first to one of the top 4 largest museum in the world. Similar to that of the Met, the British Museum is also famed of its abundant collections of the Egyptian arts collected from their consistent invasions around the North Sahara region thousands and hundreds of years ago. It is hardly to finish all the sections of the museum in a day, if you want to appreciate those treasures thoroughly, do spare at least one and half days to make your visit comfortably. 

The British Museum

Situated next to the River Thames,  London Eye and London Tower now represent the new and the old London respectively. London Eye is where English government released fireworks every year on the New Year. When my friends and I tried to queue up for London Eye, we found it almost impossible to get on in 2 hours!!!!!! Yes!!! When we arrived at around 11a.m. hundreds of tourists have already filled in each line of the ticket booths. 

The London Eye

London Tower is the old prison for the felons in the Victoria era. It was abandoned afterwards and currently transformed itself into a whole new tourist spot protecting several precious royal treasures as it used to safeguard the security of citizens of London. However, it is inhibited to take pictures inside the exhibition room. The collections are subject to change by seasons or festivals, and they include from the crowns of Queen Elizabeth to the swords of successive kings. If you are really interested in the stories behind the royal families and the treasures they have possessed, it is a place that you don't wanna miss. 

London Tower

After leaving the London Tower, we rushed to Buckingham Palace, the residence and the principal workplace of the monarchy of the UK. As soon as we arrived, the parade performance in front of the palace was just started and so the front yard of the palace was crowded with countless tourists trying to witness the perfect trained soldiers' performances. It was really interesting and unforgettable to see one of the iconic symbols of England: the guard changing in Buckingham Palace.

Parade Performance in front of Buckingham Palace

Guard Changing in Buckingham Palace

What will be other icons when you think of United kingdom? or London? To me, as being the super fan of detective novels since the years in the elementary school, I am more than looking forward to visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The museum has reproduced exactly as what the novels illustrate: the styles, furnishings and even the address (yes it is located in Backer Street!!!). That is, you will feel like you are one of the characters in the books from the wit Holmes, the cautious Watson or the evil Professor Moriarty. If you are the zealot of the books, this places will surely take you dozens of photos away!

The Entrance of Sherlock Holmes Museum

Near the museum is the Westminster Abbey where several royal weddings were held here. Additionally, it has become one of Britain's most significant honors to be buried or commemorated in the abbey (great figures who have been buried in the Westminster Abbey including: Oliver Cromwell, Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton). To sum up, the Westminster Abbey is a sacrosanct place in the heart of the English people to commemorate those who have done a  great contribution to this great nation.

Westminster Abbey

Cambridge, Knowledge is Power

It has been seven year since the first time I visited the United Kingdom. London and Cambridge are the two places that I visited and it was so impressive that it is too hard to forget. I traveled to the United Kingdom because of a short-term English training program in the University of Cambridge. That is, Cambridge is more like a home for me at the time.

Cambridge has formed as a college town and the University of Cambridge is right at the center of the region. There are thirty one colleges that constitute the University of Cambridge such as King's College, Queens' College, Trinity College and Clare Hall (the one I stayed in).

Cambridge University, Kings College

Other than the academic phenomenon filled in the air of Cambridge, the so-called River Cam also brings in a relaxed lifestyle and an unique activity-- punting. Punting is the most popular form of boating on the stretch and the sub-stream of the river. In the summer, you can see the river crowded by countless canoes.

Punting in River Cam

Life in Cambridge surely enriched my imagination of English culture, people always describe English as "Gentleman, monotonous, prudent and serious". However, when spending almost three weeks in Cambridge, I discovered subtle happiness, joyous mixed with sophisticated old English culture which is different from my expectation at the very beginning.