The French Grail- Raghunath’s Dream Trip Review with Thrillophilia
As we glided through the winding river course of the Seine, sipping on French Champagne and delighting in the salty French air, we recalled the times when we had discarded the thought of coming to Paris with a waving hand. But now that it was a reality, I did not know what to expect, and neither did my wife.
Just after the boat took a sharp turn, our eyes got fixated upon the magnificent Arc de Triomphe. Its grand appearance was a result of its brilliant architecture and its bright yellow glow. Each bridge that we crossed and each turn that we took in the river cruise revealed a unique aspect of this City of Love.
We were in Paris, and we were loving it!
The Beginning of a Dream Trip
It has been my childhood dream to come to France, and it was rather an unexpected event that made this trip possible last year. We had an event to attend in Monte Carlo in Monaco, and we took this as our one and only chance to explore the rest of the country as well.
We spent two good days in Monaco, exploring its grand and glamorous buildings and its famous casinos. The yacht-lined harbours offered a stunning view, all bathed in sparkling sunlight. And the blue hue of the ocean took the scenery to a whole new level, it was as if we were transported to a whole new world!
Then we joined a group trip around the French Riviera, spending a good 4 days exploring the mediaeval cities and towns dotted with houses that seemed to have come straight out of a painting. We encountered vistas of extensive grasslands along the Riviera, some of which even boasted world-renowned wineries.
And when in the French countryside, a wine tour is a must. We tried varieties of wine with handmade cheese and fruits, and even visited the quaint town of Arles to visit the Van Gogh apartment where the mastermind had come up with his magnum opus of ‘The Starry Night’!
Oh, what a tour it was!
Song of the Parisian Rain
We never knew that Paris in monsoons could be so beautiful and vibrant.
To experience rain in the city of love was perhaps the best thing that happened on this trip, apart from, of course, the feeling of living a long-lost dream. On the day we arrived in Paris, the clouds were already casting the sky in dark blue-brown hues.
The blend of modern and mediaeval essence of this city seemed to have come alive in the aspiration of getting drenched in our welcome drizzle. By the time we reached our hotel, the clouds had begun their dance.
Nothing could stop us from stepping out in one of the most beautiful cities of the world. So, we wrapped our necks in warm mufflers, put on a waterproof cashmere coat, and then headed out straight for the Eiffel Tower.
It was such a heart-wrenching sight, to see this wonder of the world standing abandoned in the rain, with a few people sitting here and there around the park below. Inconvenient it was, true, but at that moment, soaking in the feelings and the ambience of the sight with my wife seemed much more important to me than giving in to mere inconveniences.
The romance, the sorrow, the soul-crushing vibes of the city were evident in its heavy air that spoke of centuries of war and peace, love and pain. From the 9th-century buildings to the modern-day skyscrapers, the city was a unique mixture of the past and the present. And to speak of its heritage, that would take another Thrillophilia review to describe.
To Art and Heart
The Louvre museum was a work of art, housing some of the most precious artefacts created till date. Starting from Van Gogh’s and Monet’s paintings to ceiling-high murals and ornate decorations, it showcased them all.
Another noteworthy experience that I would love to share in this review is the Moulin Rouge show. Our hearts melted when we entered the show and found such a vibrant atmosphere with grand decorations, lovely music, and dancers in lively costumes! Me and my wife we both enjoyed the show a lot… and to be very honest, it was a one-of-a-kind experience that perhaps might never come to us again!
Oh, and before I forget, please do try French Croissant and Ratatouille if you ever get a chance to explore this magnificent country! We had paired it with a big cup of hot chocolate and that had made this dinner a memorable one…not to mention the serene Seine air that graced this riverside cafe every now and then.
It was my dream trip and I could not thank Thrillophilia enough for making this happen. We had joined a group of 40 for the French Riviera and the Paris tour, after touring Monaco privately. And to make this customisation happen was a big deal for us.
It not only helped us in spending quality time with ourselves but also helped us meet people from all across the world! We had met an Australian and an English couple on the trip, with whom we had eventually gotten very close.
The top-notch arrangement of the trip and the relentless efforts put in by their team to turn this dream into reality had been really commendable. So keep up the good work, and hopefully, we will book a trip again in the future!
Read More: Thrillophilia France Review