Eiffel Tower
We started first by catching the train to the Eiffel Tower. After getting off the train we stopped at a street store to purchase some breakfast. I bought a Nutella Crepe and a coffee for breakfast.
As we walked closer to the Eiffel Tower, catching our first close glimpse of the whole tower, we were all quite surprised by the size of the tower. My thoughts were that, while it is no longer the tallest building in the world, it is in a league of its own as it is unique and beautiful. We walked around the tower and took some photos from various angles.
Arc De Triomphe
Next, we caught a different kind of train to the Arc de Triomphe. The train that we caught this time was rather peculiar, driving on rubber tires rather than metal wheels.
It was great to see this famous monument and take photos from across the roundabout it is situated on and from underneath the arch. It was also quite mesmerizing watching the chaotic traffic situation surrounding the arch.
Galeries Lafayette
After the arch, we decided we should look around some shops since Paris is also famous for its many designer stores. We caught the train to Galeries Lafayette, one of the most famous shopping centers in Paris. There were so many people here that it was extremely slow to get around. Every area of the center was packed with people.
Nonetheless, we made the most of the situation by browsing many of the shops.
In the main center, there was quite a pretty Christmas tree in the middle, and after wading through the masses we were able to go to the roof terrace to get some views of the surrounding Parisian streets.
Seine River Cruise
Last on the agenda for the day was to go on a cruise in the Seine River. We boarded a cruise boat in the river that took us up and down the Seine River. We sat on the top floor of the boat which gave us good views of Paris at night including the Eiffel Tower with its sparkling lights, and Notre Damme which still looks interesting enough from the front, but sadly due to the 2019 fire is mostly covered in scaffolding at the back as the repairs are still underway (scheduled to finish in 2024 according to the guide on the boat). The cruise was good, but extremely cold (-2 degrees Celsius).
We were planning to try some of the more eccentric Parisian dishes for dinner but most of the French restaurants had huge lines as it was Saturday, so instead we often for dumplings for dinner leaving the French cuisine for another day.
