Chat It Up: To Paris, but not really the Eiffel Tower

I find it amusing that the book covers of Anna and the French Kiss, both old and new, feature the Eiffel Tower when Anna only mentioned the place in passing. I guess it's what people instantly think about when they think Paris. I'm sure many people dream of seeing the Eiffel Tower, or actually go there when they visit Paris. (I heard it's really expensive though) But a lot of Anna and the French Kiss actually revolved around a different place. A place that is also quite famous, I assume. (If you read the book, then you already know.)

So let us try to see the places in Paris. I haven't actually went there so I had to enlist the help of my good friend, Google. (All images link to their respective sources) This is not arranged chronologically according to the book, but rather based on the likeliness I would want to see these places, which is basically my own personal bias. :P


La Tour Eiffel / L'Arc de Triomphe
So we already know that Anna mentions the Eiffel Tower and the L'Arc de Triomphe so let's not include those in the rating. We all know these are places to see.


Cinema Le Champo / cinemas / theaters
Anna, dreaming to be a film critic, spent a lot of her time in Paris visiting different theaters. I'm pretty sure I won't be spending my time in Paris like that so it rates low on my scale.

 

Monoprix
For basic needs, I guess? I believe this is like a department store where you can buy a lot of things - clothes, food, etc.


Musée national du Moyen Âge
The book specifies "a museum between rue St. Michel and rue St. Jacques." So I did a quick Google search and found this. It looks a lot like a castle. No wonder it caught Anna's eye.

Saint-Étienne-du-Mont
I like this mostly because it has Étienne's name. :P Also, this is the first place Étienne showed Anna on their first night out in Paris.


crêperie / pâtisserie / restaurants
Who goes to Paris and doesn't eat their food? That's crazy talk. Although, I heard it's super expensive so I don't even know if I'd be able to afford it when I go there. Lol. But I will definitely try their desserts - macarons, crepes, and all those deliciousness.


Is anyone else hungry? :P

Cimetière du Père - Lachaise / Victor Noir's burial place
I'm not sure I'd want to go to a cemetery, but this seems like a pretty(?) place. Also, I totally laughed at that Victor Noir photo.


The Panthéon
I think this place would be a nice place to see, if one is very interested in history. It would be easy to recognize all these people who have accomplished so much for society.


Shakespeare and Company
What? What are you talking about? Of course a bookstore rates high on the scale.


Le Jardin du Luxembourg / Grand Bassin
I know I usually stay indoors, but I actually do want to see pretty nature sights. I actually want to see the tulips blooming in the Netherlands. But beautiful gardens work too.


Notre Dame / Point Zéro des Routes de France / Galerie des Chimères / the belfry /River Seine / Île de la Cité
This is where all the magic happens. :P I know this mostly for "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" which was written by Victor Hugo. But let's be honest. We're more familiar with the Disney movie. Haha! A big turning point in the book happened here.




I'm sure Paris has a lot of wonderful places. It has always been romanticized by many. Although I hear it's not as good as most people think it is. I can't really form my own opinion in the matter. But based on pictures, it looks gorgeous. And based on books, it's magical. And I dream to go there someday. I think the setting of this book definitely influenced me into loving it more.

So... Do you think Anna and the French Kiss should have the Notre Dame on the cover? Or would it be too indistinguishable? Do you think Paris is really as magical as people believe it to be? Have you been there? What was it like? Are there some non-famous places in Paris that you'd like to visit or share about?

1 comment:

  1. I love what you did here! I have a lot of family in Paris and know a bunch of people who've visited and every single thing I've heard matches up with what I perceive Paris to be! I do think it is as magical as it sounds and though I haven't been, I would love to one day! It's just so different from where I live that I think it'd be really cool to just spend maybe six months living there and getting the feel for the culture. It'll also be a great way for me to practice my French. Six years going and I'm still not anywhere near fluent! *sigh* One day.

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