Day one
On this trip there are 3 members: me, Linh and the older child (Van Anh) 😁. On December 6, 2022, Mr. Linh and I left very early to go to the central station to pick up our oldest child. Van Anh started the night before, taking an overnight bus from Prag to Frankfurt. We arranged to meet at 6am at the main station in Frankfurt. Then at 7am I boarded ICE (Intercity-Express) and started the trip.
At 11am I was in Paris. The first attraction on the trip is the Galeries Lafayette shopping center. Lafayette shopping center, with the full name Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, was established in 1894. It is located in the busiest area of Paris on Haussmann Avenue, right behind the Garnie Opera House. Lafayette consists of three large buildings: men's fashion area, women's fashion area and luxury furniture area. The huge area of the center is up to 70,000 m22 Can accommodate thousands of shoppers.
Then I went to Champs Elysées Avenue (English name is Elysian Fields - Paradise). The name comes from the word “Elusia” in Greek mythology, which is the final resting place of the souls of heroes and virtuous people. Champs Elysées Avenue is nearly 2km long and 70m wide, extending from Concorde Square to Charles de Gaulle Square, where the Arc de Triomphe is located. This place often hosts major events in the French capital such as: New Year celebrations, parades or World Cup victories.
The Arc de Triomphe is a place to commemorate those who fought and died during the Napoleonic Wars and the French Revolution. The structure was built in 1806 and is considered the central monument of Paris. Coming to the Champs Elysées, you will be immersed in a miniature fashion land. Champs Élysées is one of the most popular tourist attractions with many famous jewelry stores such as Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Tiffany.
In the evening, we took a cruise on the Seine River, admiring the beauty of Paris city under the sparkling lights at night. That is also the last sightseeing spot of the first day.
Day two
Ting teng!!! December 7, 2022 Disneyland Paris. Usually when talking about Paris, people will mention fashion, romance, the Eiffel Tower... Who says what, who loves what, what I love most about this trip is Disneyland. For someone who loves cuteness and colors, this is the place I'm most excited and looking forward to on the trip hahaha. Nowadays, we only see pretty little pink castles on models or on TV. Now I have seen the "real" product hehe hehe. Oh, we can also go on a carousel. At the end of the day they also hold a fireworks and illumination show called Disney Dreams.
Disneyland Paris includes two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. Disneyland Park is a game park, with a Sleeping Beauty castle and a parade of famous cartoon characters, appearing in different places. Walt Disney Studios Park is a place to learn practical knowledge about film production with sophisticated techniques combined with sound, light... of Walt Disney. Because we only had one day to visit, I only bought tickets to Disneyland Park.
Day three
Early in the morning of December 8, 2022, I went to visit Montmartre hill. Here is the Sacré-Cœur cathedral, an extremely famous Catholic church in Paris, built around the late 19th century. Sacré-Coeur means Sacred Heart, that is, giving one's whole heart to Jesus. Outside of the cathedral, there is a point from which you can see the entire splendor of Paris. Telescopes are also installed around it to facilitate visitors' observation.
Next, I went to the Louvre Museum, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world with magnificent architecture. This is also a place to store priceless masterpieces of French art, officially opened to visitors since August 1793. The Louvre Museum is a massive palace with a total area of 210,000 m22, of which the exhibition area is 60,600 m22.
In the afternoon, I visited the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the most unique religious structures in the world. The work symbolizes Gothic architecture, built in 1163 by Mr. Maurice de Sully, Bishop of Paris in 1160, during the reign of King Louis XII. In 2019, this tourist destination in Paris, France, burned down so it is no longer as intact as before.
Day four
I checked out early and headed to Colmar - Strasbourg: Christmas paradise. The town of Colmar was established a long time ago, and is one of the most meaningful places in France in history. Up to now, Colmar still retains its rustic features, typical of French architecture. Colmar is also known as France's "little Venice" with a peaceful river flowing through the town. During the Christmas season, people decorate everywhere, making the village even more splendid.
In the evening I arrived in Strasbourg. Strasbourg is located on the border of France and Germany, it is very famous for its Christmas market and the giant Christmas tree in the city square has become a symbol of the city. When it comes to pine trees in Strasbourg xst, people have decided that bigger is better. Requiring a minimum height of 30 meters, the tower above is square and lit by 7 kilometers of twinkling lights. I went on Christmas time, so in the evening all the small and large stalls were lit up, making the neighborhood truly sparkling. Located right in the center of the outdoor market is Notre-Dame church, built in the 15th century.
Walk around Petite France. This is one of the most captivating areas to see in all of Europe. It's a historic neighborhood in Strasbourg with half-timbered houses on both sides of the river, and during Christmas it lights up even more. Walk through the canals to see 14th-century towers and cross cobblestone streets to traditional restaurants and shops.
P/S: December 9, 2022, one year anniversary of the two of us knowing each other 😍
