Paris

Paris has a tremendous amount of expectations riding on it. The good news is it comes close to fulfilling most of them. I think that's more than a city can hope for! I've always felt that the charm you feel on reading about a place or seeing pictures of the place, considerably lessens when you're in that place yourself. Not so, at least for the major part, with Paris.

Believed to be the Mecca of fashion, I was told to watch out for the high-heeled, stuff-strutting, always well made up women. I did see them, but I saw quite many not-so-fashionable people too. Mostly well turned up, though. Also, the city, not unlike cities in Germany, is infested with smokers. What's with Europe and this smoking extravaganza they have on! It gives me the heebie jeebies! I hate having a ton of cigarette fumes all around me; it makes it so difficult to breathe.

Ah, I digressed.

The main thing that stunned me in Paris was its awesome, jaw-dropping monuments and their architecture. Gigantic and voluminous, they are quite a spectacle. They are well worth a trip all by themselves!

Most main roads are spacious and span from one far end to the other equally far end! An abundance of huge scooters and motorbikes also dot the entire city; that sure was a refreshing change from seeing only cars and the like!

Unlike what I was expecting and had heard, quite a few people spoke English and made the use of just a smattering of French not seem that terrible! I guess it being the most visited place definitely helps in the proliferation of English!

Other than the stunning monuments, we also went to the Moulin Rouge, the palace at Versailles and the ever popular Disneyland.

More on all later!

P.S. It's a horribly expensive city!