FINDING THE STATUE OF LIBERTY IN PARIS

Inspired by the movie The National Treasure starring Nicolas Cage, I spent almost a day trying to find the Statue of Liberty in Paris. Of all the many national and historical landmarks in Paris this is the one that me excited about my trip followed by the Louvre Museum. My friend who based in the City of Lights and her French husband tried to dissuade me. They even insisted that I should rather climb the Eiffel Tower. But the adventurous side  in me  said "NO".. So my "hunt" begun, Upon my arrival from Barcelona I went straight to Eiffel Tower and walk around the Seine River following what I had in mind that in the movie they were under a bridge and there was a river. After few hours of walking in the river bank I decided to call it a day since I will be joining the pilgrimage tour to Lourdes.

On my last day in Paris, upon returning from Lourdes my friend finally accompanied me with the help of her French boyfriend whom I called "tongtong" meaning, Uncle. Apparently he asked her co-workers where it is located and how to go there. His co-worker said that I should see him instead.. (*wide grin while shaking my head*), Finally, I met Liberty!!

It is a well know fact that the Statue of Liberty in Liberty Island in New York, USA is a gift of the French people to the American people in 1877

 There were actually two replicas in Paris. One is located on Jardin du Lexembourg , said to be the original. The other one can be found in a man made island on Seine River near the  Grenelle Bridge.This is the one shown in the National Treasure: Book of secrets movie starring Nicholas cage as I mentioned above.

 

 

 

While the Lady Liberty in the USA became an icon this statue is not known to many. It seems that only those who have knowledge about it  or maybe again, those who  were inspired by the movie  are the only once who have had visited the place. The location can also be a factor for lack of visitors because its out of the tourists path.Its like in the middle of an island and planked by high rise buildings.

Even its size is uncomparable to  the New york Statue.This one  only  measures 11.50 meters while the latter is 22 meters high.I felt like I was one of Nicolas Cage accomplices when I finally saw it!!

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY SEASONS IN BOTH WORLDS

Since I came here in Italy I had always spent the holiday seasons in Sicily. My family would always celebrate Christmas and New Year in both Philippine and Italian traditions. We adapted the Media Noche, we really eat at midnight not unlike Italians( for those I personally know only I don't know with other Italian family) they feast on the night of Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 for Christmas and New Year respectively. We usually cook traditional Filipino dishes but also  prepare Italian dishes for the holiday like zampone(a stuffed-boneless-pig feet) and lentiche (legumes)on New Year's Noche Buena. The zampone signifies LUCK while the lentiche  means MONEY.. Just imagine how many spoonful of lentiche I ate.. *laughing*

Philippine BBQ and Lumpa meets Italian Carciofe and Granchio

Yearly, we buy our fresh Christmas tree. There were some years when we thought of buying the plastic version but we always end up buying the real one. We just love its smell.

posing around our little fresh christmas tree

  Talking about enjoying both worlds, for the Midnight mass on the eve of Christmas day we attended  mass officiated by a Filipino priest. The bible readings where read in Italian and Filipino languages.

EIFFEL TOWER

The Eiffel Tower is arguably Paris's most famous landmark.

 This famous iron tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel. The tower held the title as the tallest man made structure for 41 years until 1930. 

 The tower with the primary purpose for radio transmission was said to have had a twenty years contract before dismantling it but the French government decided to forego the said contract because of its economic value. Well, the tower is the world's most visited paid monument. Up to this day radio and television stations still broadcast their signals from the top. 

taken beneath the tower

 Visitors wishing to climb the tower can purchase tickets to the first to third level. They have the option to use the lift or the stairs. Note also that the queu for both the ticket booths and the line for the lift would consume your precious time. This is one of the reasons why I never dared went up but I heard that the panorama above is breathtaking. 

 

ARC DE TRIOMPHE

One of Paris' famous landmark is the Arc De Triomphe. The monument also known as Triumphal Arch was built in honor of those who fought and died for France in Wars, the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. On its inner and outer surface are names of all the generals and war victories.

 

 

 

 

 

  Beneath the Arch is The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.Its eternal flame burns  in memory of all unidentified French soldiers died in World War I. 

 Since the Arch is in the middle of a roundabout, access is through two underpasses located at Champs Elysee's and the Avenue de la Grande Armee.

at the underpass

 

 Visitors can also take the lift going to the attic and another prepare yourself for another  46 steps to climb for the terrasse(top) for the panoramic view of the city.

NEW YEAR....NEW DOMAIN

From www.i-am-mie@blogspot.com to www.miesadventures.com

 I had always wanted to have my own DOmain...Now I got it!! Yippeee!

Now catching up on my backlogs for my TRIP DOWN MEMORY post.