Glimpses Of Paris- The City Of Lights

The Louvre Museum is famous all over the world for its enviable collection of exhibits

Paris is an ever-happening city. Such sightings are not very uncommon in the streets

Paris is often called ‘a filmmaker’s dream’ where at every step there is a readymade set. Hundreds of films made all over the world have been set in the City of Lights, such as ‘Paris Je t'aime’, ‘From Paris With Love’, ‘2 Days in Paris’, ‘Before Sunset’, and more recently, ‘Midnight in Paris’. So, I decided to take myself on a ‘filmi’ photographic journey of Paris’ popular tourist spots.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the biggest attraction for the tourists visiting the French Capital

This majestic tower has three levels. Imagine how it must feel while being on the top

Five minutes after I got off the train at the Trocadero station, I saw this magnificent metal structure. Its sheer size is so intimidating, you can’t help but be mesmerised by its presence. The closer I got to the tower, it dawned on me how big a tourist attraction it is. Divided into three levels, it is flooded with people waiting in endless queues, waiting for the elevators to get inside the tower. On the other hand, there were those who chose to take the stairs, I suppose, till Level 1. My patience (that wore thin after waiting for two and half hours in the queue) took me only till Level 2, where the view was rather spectacular.  However, the charm of the Eiffel Tower, for me, lies in gazing at it from afar. Irrespective, I wish I had made it to Level 3. Undoubtedly, the Eiffel Tower most definitely is a must-visit.

Admission fee: €14(adult),  €12.5(age 12-24 years), €9.5(age 4-11 years)

Arc de Triomphe

The colossal Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate the soldiers who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars. It is engraved with the names of all the generals who commanded French troops during Napoleon's regime and prominent French victories on the structure’s inner and outer surfaces, and beneath its vault lays the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

Visitors can walk up a spiral staircase for views of the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées and the Sacré Coeur from the observatory, located on the top of the building. There is also a small museum that displays small and large models of the structure and recounts its story from the time of its construction.

Admission fee: €9.50

Montmartre

One of the most interesting neighbourhoods in Paris, Montmartre has been home to many famous artists' studios, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali, as well as the backdrop of films like ‘Amelie’ and ‘Moulin Rouge’. It is also where the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur is located, atop a hill. This quaint area is replete with an intriguing fusion of street artists, boulangeries and of course, the Moulin Rouge (that roughly translates 'red mill').

Cruising on River Seine

A cruise is a laid-back, relaxing way of sightseeing. There are tons of companies offering different types of cruises on the River Seine. You can pick from open-air boats with casual seating to glass-covered ones that you can club with an extravagant dinner and cocktails.The usual hour-long cruises take you on a scenic route that pans over the city's prominent historical and architectural landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Notre Dame Cathedral. I took an open-air boat, as I wanted to ensure zero obstruction, which however wasn't possible, thanks to an over-enthusiastic man who kept standing in front of me blocking my view.

The cruises ply from several points, like the Eiffel Tower and operate all year around.

Admission fee: €11

Ladurée

With doting fans like Blake Lively and Sofia Coppola, you can be sure that Ladurée certainly creates some of the best macarons in the world. And being a crazy dessert lover, I just had to try them.

I happen to stumble upon the store, and what happened next is something I’m going to deny if ever asked again. Like a giggly school girl, I stood staring at the store with stars in my eyes and greed dripping down like drool. I couldn’t wait to get inside and get my hands on that macaron tower on the display counter. But I can proudly say; I almost behaved myself. Just that I got a tad lost while making a selection and invited some nasty scowls from other customers. But it was a small price to pay. My favourite was this black macaron with liquorice filling.

Cost of a small macaron: €1.65

Jean-Paul-Hevin
Following a suggestion made by Emilie from www.travelavenue.com, I headed to Jean-Paul-Hevin to try their chocolates on my last day in Paris. Here are a few glimpses of their lip-smacking range of chocolates and macarons.

I wish I had more time to tick off all the places on my list of must-visit places in Paris, but who says I’m not going back!

Text and Photos by Ruchika Vyas
of Traveller Stories

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Some Breathtaking Visuals of Shimla

Once the summer capital of British India, Shimla- formerly known as Simla- has always been a star attraction for tourists from India and abroad alike. The city and its surrounding areas have amply been gifted with breathtaking views by nature and are draped in forests of pine, rhododendron and oak. Many parts of the city still retain the old colonial charm through the buildings styled in neo-Gothic architecture.

Shimla is situated at an altitude of 2205 metres and boasts of a very pleasant weather in summer when most of the north India reels under scorching heat. It were its awe-inspiring views and refreshing climate, that the British coined the term 'Queen of the Hills' for this place. And this term still holds good long after it came into existence.

Here are some shots of this beautiful place at different times of the day... All the photos are by Naveen Choudhary

A cloud spreads over the city... The whole setting looks refreshed after recent showers

A thick fog at night makes the famous church at the Ridge look even more beautiful

The famous Gaiety Theatre stands out illuminated  while engulfed in thick blanket of fog

One of the 106 railway tunnels on the way from Kalka to Shimla on a narrow-gauge line

A shot of the city taken from atop a neighbouring hill. The sun is playing hide and seek.

The rain shelter at the Ridge. The Ridge is the centre point for all activities in Shimla.

A distant shot of city at night time. The church at the Ridge serves as an identity of the city

The Centre for Advanced Studies is housed in a building that reminds us of colonial era

Road to Jakhu Temple that is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It is situated on a higher altitude

The famous Jakhu Temple, where Lord Hanuman is believed to have set his foot once

 

A scene of the Ridge in bright sunlight. But the sky hints that it is going to rain soon

The building of medical college situated in Sanjauli area. It is called the Snowden

Shimla has many temples, and some of them are more revered ones like this one is

Shimla has expanded significantly in past some decades. A view of a new residential area

Shimla is well connected with road and rail with rest of the India. There are regular air-conditioned and normal bus service from New Delhi, Chandigarh and many other prominent cities and state capitals. It takes around 4 hours to reach Shimla from Chandigarh by road. A narrow gauge railway line connects Shimla with Kalka, and Kalka is connected to Delhi by a broad gauge line and regular train service. There is also an airport at Jubbbalhatti near Shimla, which is connected with Delhi via regular services.

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Delhi at Dawn, Dusk and Night

As seen from ITO bridge.. road towards Akshardham

Lovely hues and colours at dawn at India Gate

A 15-second exposure shot at India Gate

A long shot of Akshardham at sun-set

Indraprastha Park looks no less captivating than other sights

A closer view of Indraprstha Park from another angle

This is how the Cannaught Place looks at night time

The Lotus Temple.... a meeting point for followers of Baha'i faith

Lotus temple at dawn

A quite and religious morning at the Lotus Temple

Sunset time near a building inside Red Fort

The golden look of Akshardham Temple

An all-illuminated India Gate

These are the lights responsible for illuminating India Gate at night

Fountain near India Gate.... It reminds of a setting of a Europen town

The setting may look European but the scene is very much Indian

All Photos by Naveen Choudhary

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A Comic Tour of Tintin Land

To every comic lover the name Tintin brings an exciting feeling. Steven Spielberg’s ‘The Adventures of Tintin- The Secret of the Unicorn’ released last year might have renewed interest in Tintin’s country and even inspired a few to be there. Surely, whether you love comics or chocolates, Belgium is a traveller’s delight. And, it certainly has a lot more to offer.

Belgium is the country which gave birth to Tintin. Capital Brussels is fondly called as capital of Tintin by comic lovers around the globe. No wonder, Tintin has the stature of the world’s best-known Brussels resident. But then, comics in Belgium is limited not just to Tintin, they also have stars like Smurfs and they have a created a huge following of… no, not comic lovers but of comic strip writers. It’s statistically said that with more than 700 comic strip authors, Belgium has more comic strip artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world!

Streets in Bruges, called Venice of the North, are infused with artwork

Sculptures are scattered everywhere in Burges. It is an artistes' town.

But then, Brussels was the last stop in my Belgium trip, where my encounter with Tintin was destined. My tryst with Flemish art started well in Bruges during the boat ride in its canals for which it is also called as ‘Venice of The North’. I could see interesting sculptures and paintings along the waterway for full public view. I started enjoying the way art was mingled in the daily life of Flemish people. So much so that I even almost missed the setting of dog scene of the movie ‘In Bruges’. But luck was my way and I managed to catch that beautifully.

The Graffiti Street in Ghent, flowing with colourful graffiti all around

History is strewn on the streets of Ghent, but that too in comic form

But it was Graffiti Street in Ghent that I instantly fell in love with. Had googled about it before the trip and every search result had in fact brought impatient me to the fore. It was something I haven’t seen anywhere before. A street overflowing with all kind of colourful and expressive graffiti from top to bottom and start to finish, not just on the side walls but on the walkway itself. In it were some finest expressions of feelings, emotions, ideas and ideologies. I was fortunate enough to see some young artists at work. Perhaps it was also the playing ground for all budding comic strip artists of Belgium. The way different graffiti co-existed and were overwritten again and again, I couldn’t help thinking that it was where they were sowing the seeds of tolerance within the society.

Masqueraders on the roads of Antwerp fool you as well as impress you

Wow! These sculptures showcased in Antwerp are made of chocolate...

Antwerp was more of a happening city, often termed as fashion capital or the diamond capital. Here comic art was live and intriguing. You can find all kind of exhibitionists on roads- from pretty guitarists to masqueraders who can fool you (or rather impress you) with their Vincent Van Gogh look. Since Belgium is everything about chocolates, you can find all types of experiments done with them from body paint to cartoon characters. In Neuhaus Chocolatier at Royal Galleries of Saint-Hubert I found a whole range of Tintin comics packaged with chocolate boxes. Kids will just love it.

Okay.. Tell me which one is sculpted and which one is an artist posing

Tintin can be seen on the chocolates and also on their wrappers

It's a four-storey building and Tintin is coming down the ladder. Interesting!

Brussels’ comic museum is a huge draw for the tourists coming to Belgium. Every year more than 200,000 visitors come here to explore 4,200 square metres worth of permanent and temporary exhibitions. At the Belgian Comic Strip Center, you will witness the unusual marriage of the Ninth Art and Art Nouveau, two artistic forms of expression which have always been particularly cherished in Brussels. Besides Tintin, this kingdom of the imagination is home to some of Belgium's best-known comic strip heroes like Spirou, Bob and Bobette, the Smurfs, Lucky Luke, Blake and Mortimer, Marsupilami, etc. They are one big happy family of paper heroes. Belgian Comic Strip Center has become the number one reference for comic strip lovers. It is also a modern research centre that boasts of more than 40,000 titles (albums and theoretical works) in more than 20 languages.

Sidewalls of buildings in Brussels have comic scenes drawn on them

But then, as in other cities of Belgium, in Brussels too, comics are not just limited to Comic Strip Centre. Going down the Stoffstraat towards the Manneken Pis, you may find comic scenes drawn across the whole height of sidewall of a four and five-storey residential buildings and in one of them I even found Tintin coming down a four-storey ladder. Of course, when it comes to comics and Tintin you will never escape them when you are in Belgium.

Well Connected

Brussels is one of the most well-connected European cities from India. There are direct daily flights from all the four metros to Brussels. Once in Brussels, whole of Belgium is well-connected through roads. Driving there is fun through the countryside- a typical European lush green. Brussels to Bruges was just a few hours’ drive; and then Bruges to Ghent, Ghent to Antwerp and Antwerp to Brussels, every bit of this trip was worth enjoying.

Text and Photos by Upendra Swami

of The Vagabond

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