Liberté, égalité, fraternité... and a charming adventure for the Wandering Writer

After some time spent in Africa, even though my heart was yearning to return there, I had to find a compromise with my Africa sickness, and the desire to discover the many beauties in this world. Travelling is not just a question of having a relaxing break from the daily routine. For me, it is finding new inspirations for my books, meeting new and interesting people, knowing other cultures and most of all grow personally and elevating myself to higher knowledge.
Therefore, this time, we decided to explore Europe to discover the jewels around my country, and the second after Spain was France.

Ah, Paris... How to define the hub of the fashion with its history, culture, cuisine and wineries in one single post? It is going to be a difficult task, but I'm in for the challenge.
Besides the city being the capital of France, is also the most populated with its over twelve million inhabitants (if we consider the whole municipality), comprising about the 18% of the population of France.

We didn't really have time to visit every single monument and palace or historical place. However, Paris has a long history that can be stretched until the 3rd century BC; therefore, as you walk the city streets, you are walking the same steps of people that made the history of the country.
You will be walking together with the Celtic Senones, the first tribe who inhabited the area, with the Romans who conquered the Paris Basin. You will be walking with the people who stormed the Bastille during the Revolution.

Paris, just like other historical cities, such as Rome, doesn't require you to visit all the museums; the city itself is a museum, and you can feel it in the air.
As a passionate reader of Georges Simenon, I felt like being immersed in one of the adventures of Maigret, walking along the Seine, thinking about the possible solution to this or the other mystery.
Moreover, as I walked around, I could not avoid but recall all the artists I loved so much during the years of the Art Institute.
The soft beauty of the impressionists, the avant-garde of the cubists or the introspective connection between reality and dream of the surrealists.
The artistic heritage of Paris can still be found in the many artists who, walking the same steps of their predecessors, give a soul to an enchanting city, attracting tourists not simply with the intent to sell their drawings, but mainly to give a dream to bring home.

The non-romantic part is the high pollution of its waters, as periodically the sewerage system of the city might experience failures, and untreated sewage is discharged directly into the river. (Might be wise not to think of swimming there!!).
Nevertheless, sewerage or not, it keeps its poetic beauty, and every picture is a piece of art, framed into a timeless city.

Of course, there are the classical landmarks of the city, those like the Eiffel tower:

The Arc de Triomphe:

The Notre Dame Cathedral:

And last but not least the Louvre Museum:

I know, I didn't have much a good luck with the weather, and if we exclude the first day, it was raining for the whole period. Unfortunately, I didn't think of getting a 'good weather spell' so I was forced to accept whatever it was.
The positive thing is that you can find shelter in one of the many cafeterias, or inside the Louvre, for which you will have to book one entire day to admire all the artifacts and departments.
If I have to be honest, somehow I was glad to have a few melancholic rainy days, so to indulge in the tasting of the many pastries and coffees, being surrounded by the cozy atmosphere of those glamorous cafeterias in the center of Paris.
Maybe sipping a good Calvados, thinking about the many adventures of Maigret or the next adventure of one of the many characters of my novels.
Perhaps, one of them will walk the same steps of Maigret or will be a charming thief, or a mysterious spy.
Whoever he or she will be, I am sure that will be loaded with charm and intensity, delivering feelings that only a romantic place like Paris can deliver.