Safari across Europe – Final Part
Paris, Geneva
By Dr Shamim Ahmed
Our next destination was Paris _ the City of Lights.
It was evening when we reached Charles de Gaulle Airport in the French capital. We were lodged by the scenic River Seine close to the Eiffel Tower, the iconic landmark.
The Eiffel Tower has come to represent a modern Paris _ but this wasnt always so. The iron tower, built for the 1889 World Exposition by Gustave Eiffel, was wildly unpopular with Parisians when it was unveiled, and was nearly torn down!
The very first morning we visited the majestic Arc de Triomphe at the end of the Champs-Elysees. The archs beautiful sculptures and reliefs commemorate Napoleons generals and soldiers. We walked down the Champs-Elyses and enjoyed snacks at eateries overlooking the grandiose avenue.
A visit to the Louvre Museum and Old Palace was absolutely rewarding. The museum has the worlds largest and most diverse collection of pre-20th century paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects. It was indeed a memorable experience to view Leonardo da Vincis Mona Lisa and Botticellis Venus de Milo, as well as works by Vermeer, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and countless others. The centuries-old palace itself is testament to a rich history, spanning from the medieval period to the present.
Across River Seine is the Muse dOrsay, housing the worlds most important collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings. Modern wonders, from Degas ethereal dancers to Monets water lilies, all the way to Gaugins leafy jungles and major works by Van Gogh, Delacroix, Manet and others are on display on the museums three floors.
After a few days in Paris, we left for Geneva, Switzerland by train. The four-hour journey provided us an opportunity to view the mesmerising snow-covered Alps.
Geneva is a global financial centre, and hosts the headquarters of numerous UN and international organisations. We stayed near the main railway station, a stones throw from the very old cathedral, Notre Dame Basillica.
One fine morning, we dashed to Lake Geneva, on whose shores the city stands. The view was magnificent, as we strolled leisurely and sipped hot coffee in one of the cafs on the lakefront promenades. Perfect postcard scenic beauty!
Genevas most famous landmark, the Jet dEau, the tallest column of spouting water in the world, is located there. Strolling at the Jardin Botanique, a beautiful garden with a great array of flora and fauna, was itself blissful. An ideal place for retreat and recreation. The Jardin Anglais is located close by, and surrounded by attractions like the flower clock and Rue du Rhone, a street full of exotic watch boutiques.
The Old Town, as its name implies, is the oldest district of Geneva. It was a major hub during the Roman times and still remains so. Everywhere in the Old Town are landmarks and monuments that attest to the areas age, mingling with modern cafs and bistros. We relished lunch in an open square.
The UN complex, with the European headquarters of the United Nations, is a popular tourist attraction in Geneva. The Broken Chair sculpture is located in a central plaza right across. The chair is dedicated to those who have lost limbs because of land mines and other war-related incidents. Visiting the sculpture supports the call for the banning of land mines. We also strolled to the nearby International Red Cross and Red Crescent headquarters.
The Place Neuve is the centre of high culture in Geneva. The Conservatory of Music, the Rath Museum, the Victory Concert Hall and the Grand Opera Theatre are found in this square. The restaurants and cafes here cater to high-end clientele, mainly the artistic crowd that frequent the place, and we dined to our satisfaction.
It was indeed an unforgettable journey visiting some of the major cities of Europe with scores of priceless places of interest.
