Travel is one of the most amazing things that people do. One of the most important things about choosing to travel is deciding where to go. For many people, there is one destination that has a lot of allure. Paris is so much to so many people. It’s a place to appreciate all that is wonderful about French culture. As the capital of France, Paris also serves as the hub of the entire nation. Paris is where people go when they want to enjoy the finer things in life. It’s one city that has had incredible influence in many industries including dining and fashion.
Today, Paris continues to attract people in search of a good time. People are looking for a world class city and they find it right here. It’s also easy to get to from many parts of the world. Europeans can arrive by car or train. People from all over the globe can fly into one of the surrounding airports. From what was once a small village on the banks of a river, the city now sprawls out in all directions. It is home to millions of residents and a major world tourist destination.
A beloved landmark
Certain places say someone is there. In New York City, it’s the Manhattan skyline. It Rome, it’s the Colosseum. Go to Brazil and you’ll see the Christ the Redeemer statue looming over the city. For Parisians there’s one landmark that tends to stand out. That landmark is the Eiffel Tower. Originally constructed in the 1880’s, the tower was opposed by certain Parisians when it was first proposed. Since then, the airy metal structure has come to be seen as an essential part of the landscape. It’s one of the things that people think when they think about Paris. It’s also visible from nearly all angles in much of the city. That makes an icon in the public mind. It also makes it a target for visitors who aren’t sure what to think about the structure when they choose to come to the fabled City of Lights.
For many people, picking out where to go means looking at where others have gone in the past. TripAdvisor is one of the most popular of all sites online devoted to travel. People can book a trip here. They can also offer lots of feedback about a given hotel, a restaurant or other attractions in the area. Perhaps the chance to raise their voices is one of the reasons why a few recent visitors to Paris have felt compelled to offer their own thoughts about what makes this city such a sought after destination. Reviewers are also making it clear that nothing, not even the Eiffel Tower, is off limits from their intense scrutiny and personal thoughts.
Some very amused reviews
A recent reading of the reviews left on TripAdvisor reveals more and more visitors are choosing to skip this landmark completely. One jaded viewer describes it with complete disdain as nothing special. Another chimes in that the tower has far too many vendors around the base. In their opinion, that gives it an unwelcome commercial feel that detracts from the wonder that should be there instead. Still others also share their feeling of frustration. They think it looks better when seen in magazines instead of in person.
This kind of reaction is quite common. Many travelers are stunned to realize that some of the most storied destinations in the world don’t look like much when seen in person. They’re also not always in touch with the history of what they’re seeing. That is why many people really like reading travel reviews. They love reading comments that give them a chance to think about the world around them in a whole new way. Such reviews will probably continue to be a staple of travel writing for many years to come.
