As I said earlier, we bid goodbye to Switzerland with a heavy heart. Yet another pretty train passed by the hotel and brought a smile on my face. Had there been a Trevi fountain in Switzerland, I would have certainly thrown a coin and made a sincere wish to visit Switzerland one more time. The place had mesmerised almost every one of us by a beauty which was beyond anyone’s capacity to express in any way. I stayed in the mountains for a long time when I was serving in the Indian Army. Apart from the places of postings, I have also visited some of the beautiful mountain ranges in India. But none can match the gorgeousness of the Swiss Alps. From the freshness of the grass to the brilliance of the pristine waters, every aspect seemed exquisite. The geography is quite different and has blessed the place abundantly. As we moved away from Switzerland, our surroundings changed dramatically. Although the settings were nice, they appeared average to our minds, which were immersed in the aura of Switzerland. The traffic was greater than what we saw in Italy or Switzerland and gave us a slight hint of the buzz of Paris, perhaps the most happening place in Europe. The number of beautiful cottages went down and both sides of the road showed sprawling fields, some of them green while some were ploughed. We saw large warehouses, storage spaces, and small and large industrial setups on both sides. Some of the setups were spread over a few miles. We saw manufacturing facilities of some of the popular brands also. France is home to a huge manufacturing industry and is a leading country in the research & development sector. We crossed Basel, a place known for industry. We were carrying packed lunch boxes. We had a lunch break in a park, within the premises of one of the Autogrill outlets in a place named Troy. We have stopped at a couple of Autogrill outlets during our tour so far. Each one of them was spread over a large area and provided with all the essential amenities like a park, lavatories, shops, eating outlets, snacks & beverage vending machines, and ample parking space. I noticed that people were fond of enjoying coffee in the traditionally shaped small cups made of bone china, which were invariably white. On this tour so far, I realised that Europeans worked hard with sincerity, but even then, no one was in a hurry. They were prompt, yet they looked calm. Be it a long queue at St. Peter’s in the Vatican or a large crowd at Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, orderliness seemed to be a way of life and was palpable at every step. Cleanliness at every such place was outstanding. Discipline was almost a culture.
As per the itinerary, we were supposed to
reach the hotel in the evening and proceed on the onward journey the next
morning. However, our tour manager suggested a night tour of Paris city. Some
of us, including me, were not ready initially, as all of us were feeling tired.
Moreover, we were supposed to proceed to Disneyland quite early the next
morning. After some deliberation over the matter, we all decided to go for it. We reached the hotel after dinner, freshened up hurriedly, and gathered in the lounge to board a coach. As the coach reached the highway, the twinkling
outskirts of Paris welcomed us. As we got nearer to the city, the humble twinkling
soon became a shimmer, giving us a glimpse of the extravaganza of Paris. The capital
and the largest city of France, Paris, is the fourth-largest city in the European
Union. It is one of the world’s major centres of commerce, fashion, culture, international
relations, arts, science, and yes - gastronomy. We entered the city and the
dazzling Paris began to show off. It is said that Paris was the first place in
the world which introduced street lighting, and eventually was called the City of Lights.
Although the shops were very modern, the vintage setup of the road was
preserved. We were exploring Champs-Elysees street, the world’s most beautiful
avenue, which is known for its world-famous theaters, cafes, and luxury shops. The road made of blocks is still preserved, offering a feel of the olden
days. Similarly, the designs of the footpaths, walkways and streetlights were
preserved too. The only difference was that of the material of the lamps. In the
olden days, oil lamps were lit in the evenings, and were kept glowing till
dawn. Although the lamps are now operated electronically, they create a similar aura even today. After every short distance, the design of the
streetlights changed. Every lamp post and the lamp body were elegantly designed.
The glow of each unique lamp was humble but classy enough to get noticed amidst
the modern gleam. We got down from the coach just close to ‘Arc de Triomphe’, a
grand monument. It is located at a juncture formed by twelve radiating avenues.
The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolution
and Napoleonic wars. The names of all French victories and generals are
inscribed both on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb
of the Unknown Soldier from WW-1. An eternal flame burns in memory of the dead
who were never identified. The Arc de Triomphe is an architectural masterpiece which narrates an interesting history. Like other monuments and structures we
saw in Italy, the Arc de Triomphe also reveals the exclusive talent of the
great artisans of the era. The Arc de Triomphe stood majestically, humbly
illuminated from all sides. We drove down a little ahead and had our first
glimpse of the iconic tower of France. We got down from the coach in a square
near Trocadero. We walked down to a large open area of Trocadero and were just
speechless. The iconic Eiffel Tower stood grand. It was an enormous structure,
with all its outlines lit with beautiful lamps. The beauty and the grandeur are
beyond my capacity to express them. The tower left me amazed, awestruck, and
stunned. I kept on watching it for a long time. As per the prevalent practice,
the lights of the tower blink every hour for a minute. There were more than three
thousand people on the Trocadero platform, who all cheered together, as the
lights of the tower began to blink and dance at the stroke of 11 in the night.
But I liked the humbly lit tower more than the one with the dancing lights.
We spent some more time at the Trocadero. The
Eiffel Tower was just haunting. I could not take my eyes off it for a long
time. The crowd at the Trocadero was massive, but there was no pushing and shoving.
Every one cheered, but there was no exhibition of frenzy and the conduct was
decent. Some of us bought souvenirs of the Eiffel Tower too. Soon it began to
rain and we had to rush to our coach. The roads, shops, and streetlights lured
us again as we drove through the city. The shops were dazzling, but looked
aristocratic. The cafes were scintillating, but showed quietness. The
billboards were fewer and were brilliant. Every setting appeared vivid, yet had
a touch of elegance. Paris had kept its promise of being grand and posed
gracefully. But honestly, it was more than that. The day’s journey revealed the
sheer prosperity of France, and the evening in Paris was much more than just
regal.
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