As most tourist, we started to get to know Paris with the Eiffel Tower shortly after our arrival when we went to the French capital couple of years ago for a long weekend. As high as we could, we climbed up on the stairs with my boyfriend and waited in the crowd for the lift, which took us to the top.

It was late afternoon in November and the sunset started very quickly. We were still on the enormous tower when the reddish sun coloured the river and the city into bright orange. We rushed down to the bank of the River Seine and watched one of the most amazing natural sights. The sunset is always different but it is always beautiful. It is different by the sea, river, or in the mountains. The sunset - as it was in Paris - could be stunning in a big and busy city when it is watched from a right position. We watched as the sun disappeared behind the horizon from the little island, where the Statue of Liberty stands.

We walked by the river when the dark fall on the city and they put the lights on the Eiffel Tower. The big iron creation looked more impressive in the dark with its illumination then it was in the daytime. The big, floating restaurants were getting full, and the streets were filled with people who were looking for a nice place to eat. The sightseeing boats on the river were cruising with tourists, and couples in love on board. As the city lights got brighter, the town was buzzing with life, the Champs Elysees was as busy as in the afternoon, and by the Eiffel Tower visitors were taking photos.

On the next morning we left the tiny hotel where we spent the night, very early. The hotel wasn't one of the best I have ever stayed, as we had little money to spend on it. Breakfast was served by the person who was also the receptionist as well. After fresh croissants and coffee we walked to see the Sacre Coeur. The city was still asleep, only few people were climbing on the steps towards the building. It was a cold November morning, but we had a spectacular view on the town without the crowd. We discovered a little restaurant near by, where we went back in the evening for supper. We walked to Notre-Dame while the sun was getting stronger and broke out from the clouds warming up the autumn day. They say that Parisshould be discovered by getting lost on its narrow streets, so this was exactly what we did. We spent that day by walking and visiting the famous sights. We had some very expensive coffees in cafs where cheeky waiters sat us by the window. We walked by the Louvre and then through a park and ended up strolling along the Champs Elysees. We spent most of the time by the river and walked by the numerous booksellers where we searched for interesting or old books. It looked like that the tiny book stands were part of the history and have been standing there since the beginning.

We were glad to be there, but we were extremely tired in the same time, because we managed to discover a big slice of Paris on foot. We tried to spend only a little time with sleep on the second night as well, and woke early on our last day to have enough time for long walks before the train left for London in the evening.

Learn more about this author, Nike Werstroh.
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