Discover
the Flaneur in you.
Wandering in a busy street of a city has its distinct pleasures. You drift through the ebb and flow of the city without being identified. A Flaneur does not need to be a philosopher, painter, or poet. The thought is quintessentially French, hard to have an English equivalent that captures the spirit of the Flaneur.
Paris has
always been Flaneurs heaven. Oscar Wilde, Baudelaire, and other connoisseurs of
Parisian streets gave a new high to the concept of Flaneur almost 150 years
ago.
Relive
the life of a modern Flaneur in the heart of Paris. Carry a copy of a map and
walk at your leisure on the left bank of Seine to explore the city’s open
history book-Latin Quarters. This part of the city houses some of the oldest
universities, especially Le Sorbonne. The nearby churches behold you with its
flamboyant architecture coupled with a sombre and spiritual ambience. After
exploring the bookshops, relax in one of the sidewalk cafes, lounge on a chair
with a coffee to watch the moving crowd of the city. Soak into the surroundings
for a while to observe that cafe owners keep the chairs facing out the world to
keep alive the Flaneur’s tradition in the city.
The
nearby majestic Notre Dame cathedral attracts the attention of passers-by and
enthrals with its magnificent gothic architecture. Its ornate facade, flying
buttress, and Gargoyle dragons delight every onlooker. Walk on the right bank
of the river to view a series of palaces and buildings of yesteryear.
Alternatively, take a metro for the next destination, and get enamoured by the
cast iron decorated metro station entrances and their signature lettering of
“Metropolitan” in Art Nouveau designs.
You have
arrived to view the fascinating monument of the city-The Eiffel Tower. It has
been enchanting global visitors impeccably. As you scale the height of the
tower, the landscape changes too. The movement changes the perspective, and a
Flaneur knows it best.
The city
breathes nostalgia- an accordionist playing Edith Piaf, an artist sketching a
vista, a middle-aged woman carrying a tiny grocery cart and a tinnier dog, or a
refugee leaning on a 19th-century lamp post and waiting for his homeward
journey.
Every
Day, Paris Caters to city observers, people watchers. It always satiates the
minds of urban observers with overflow sensory experiences. So, meet the
Flaneur in you only in Paris.
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