By Sabine Klier
Paris has the best croissants in the world and the longest queues in front of museums or the Louis Vuitton store. I went on a five-day discovery tour with my son Fabio (22).
A lot of people had the same idea. So that we don’t lose too much time queuing or to be let in at all, we booked the admission tickets for all activities online in advance – directly with the attractions. This works best on the mobile phone, where the ticket is then also deposited. This also applies to most restaurants, by the way.
If you want to avoid the queues at the entrance to the Louvre, you should use the side entrances — and book the ticket online beforehand Photo: Sabine Klier
Our first goal is the 330 meter high Eiffel Tower, of course. The landmark of Paris, visible from afar, was opened 134 years ago. As soon as darkness falls, it starts to sparkle – for five minutes, always on the hour. Simply magical! THE place for lovers.
Street art: If you look closely, you will discover it everywhere in the 6th arrondissement
Photo: Sabine Klier
We also received a marriage proposal. I felt pretty underdressed in my down jacket and jeans. Because the city of love is also the city of fashion. Everywhere women posed in high heels and airy tulle skirts for souvenir photos.
The Netflix series “Emily in Paris” seems to be ubiquitous. The city also offers a picturesque backdrop for Instagram photos almost everywhere. A number of cafés are adorned with lush flower arrangements outside. “But this is not the vrais Paris, the real Paris,” warns Martin Freudenstein. The German came to the city 30 years ago as a ballet dancer and stayed. He now shares his insider knowledge as a tourist guide.
A treat: the Tarte Tatin (apple pie) in the traditional Café de Flore
Photo: Sabine Klier
“Only tourists wear a beret in Paris,” Martin warns me as I try to put on a red hat that you can buy on every corner. We have arranged to meet him for a tour of the Louvre. Instead of queuing in front of the glass pyramid with hundreds of others, we use the side entrance, which makes admission much faster.
The Musée d’Orsay was once a train station Photo: Sabine Klier
In three hours, Martin will take us on an entertaining journey through time – past the most important exhibits (Sphinx, Venus de Milo, Nike, of course the Mona Lisa and much, much more). We then stroll to the Notre-Dame church, where restoration work is taking place around the clock. “I was standing on the shore at the time and saw how it was ablaze with flames,” says Martin. “We all prayed it didn’t collapse.”
Flowers at the café: Looks nice, but the prices are also significantly more expensive
Photo: Sabine Klier
After so much culture, let’s treat ourselves to a fun day at Disneyland. Traveling by train costs only five euros. An app helped us here too. For the 30th anniversary there will be a new show with dancing Disney characters at noon in front of Cinderella Castle. Great cinema with catchy music. Every second person wears the iconic Mickey Mouse ears on their heads. We’d rather invest in Mickey Mouse cookies and ice cream. And are completely thrilled by the light show and opulent fireworks in the evening.
Disneyland Paris has sweet Mickey Mouse biscuits and chocolate cakeicles
Photo: Sabine Klier
Back in the city center we walk our feet flat: Montmartre with its windmills and the white icing Sacré Coeur, the Champs-Élysées with its luxury shops, the Arc de Triomphe (prettiest in the early morning light), the beautiful Musée d’Orsay , the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery with the graves of Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison. It’s unbelievable what we can see here in just a few days.
A head for heights: painter Juan is hanging from the Eiffel Tower with safety lines Photo: Sabine Klier
For the last day I had booked an ascent to the top of the Eiffel Tower. But because the wind was too strong, it only went up to the 2nd floor. But it was enough. Paris lay at our feet. Juan was dangling from the safety line on the outside railing. He’s from Peru and is part of the team painting the Eiffel Tower.
The Olympic Games will be held here next year. And until then la dame de fer, the iron lady, gets a new dress. Tres chic!