Travelers Best

Paris is known to be the greatest city on earth. New Yorkers and Londoners may not agree with this, but when it comes to art history, architectural beauty, sheer extravagance and especially the cuisine, it is Paris all the way! Paris has more than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. A few days in Paris are all that it takes to learn how to live! The finest things in life can be appreciated when you seat yourself in a corner café or stroll along the River Seine. There is no unnecessary hustle and bustle; you don’t see people swallowing their lunch; children leisurely play around; hairdressers are mostly busy. This is the wonderment of Paris.

When you visit Paris you must learn to indulge in their culinary magic. From flaky and light croissants to rich foie gras, people in Paris love their food! Dining out in this city is a real joy! Paris is the Holy City for the genuine connoisseur.

History
The “Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens talks about the French revolution. There have been times when Paris was struck into poverty, wealth, terror, riots and the guillotine. Today, Paris is the city which attracts the most number of tourists in the world. However, it has its own share of problems. There are issues with immigration, and the city occasionally faces violent behavior. But, Paris is not in danger of losing its appeal anytime soon.

Things to Do
Tourists can make their way to the famous Le Bastille fortress. For centuries the Bastille was part of the defense in the city, but its strategic importance was lost over time and soon became a prison. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 for the “Exposition Universelle” in order to commemorate the French Revolution. It stands at 320.75m in height and weighs 7300 tons. The Les Invalides was constructed by Louis XIV as a house for crippled and invalid soldiers. By the end of the 17th century, over 4000 disabled people had lived in this house. Tourists can visit a place of importance to pilgrims known as the Basilica. It was built over Saint Denis’ tomb, and during its time influenced historical, artistic, spiritual and political life.

Night Life
Paris is said to be more beautiful at night with its illuminated monuments and streets. This is why Paris is known as the City of Light! The Moulin Rouge was built in 1885 and became a dance hall in 1900. The most famous shows are put on at night in this hall. There are casinos and plenty of bars around. Bars in Paris are open almost all day, which means that you can have an early morning breakfast. Paris has two Opera houses, the modern opera Bastille and Opera Garnier. These Operas put on shows of a diverse range including classic, ballet, modern and opera.

Weather
Paris is generally warm and dry during the summer months. Paris is also wonderful in the springtime and autumn and considered some of the best times to visit the city. December and January are winter months, with temperatures dropping to 3 degrees Celsius.

M.A.H.

Paris commonly referred to as the city of light has always been associated with romance and the finer things in life. Paris is a city with a rich history with lots of places to visit and with limited time one can never see them all.

A trip to Paris is not complete without exploring the old Paris with its nostalgic cobblestone paved streets, alleys and atmospheric cafes. Walking past the ancient fountains will invoke the feeling of time travelling as you are visiting a part of the city where life has never changed for centuries. The rich history of Paris surrounds you from all sides, visiting the same places the likes of Ernest Hemminway have visited before you along with many other famous names in history. While there be sure to experience the Pantheon after which a visit to the famous Notre Dame is an absolute must. These are just a few highlights that a visit to Paris holds in store, there are many more famous sites to visit and explore.

After a day filled with exploring the sites have a seat in one of the many cafes that are always nearby. Should you be a traveler originating from the United States, tasting the typical French coffee is recommended, you will find it to be very different. All the places are easy to visit using the famous Metro system in Paris, so go and visit “Place Monge” for some typical French cuisine. France has always been famous for its kitchen and not just because of its wines. You will find the prices very reasonable.

Paris was built on the two sides of the Seine and its best known monuments are nearby. As darkness falls these are covered with lights, so get on a cruise down the Seine and experience how Paris got its nickname. The site of a completely lit up Eiffel Tower is majestic to say the least, and so are all the other sites. The sight of these will be engraved in your memory forever.

A visit to Paris is not complete without a visit to Montmartre, a large community built on the top of a large hill. From there one can oversee all of Paris. Especially when looking over Paris from the large church which gives an overview of Paris of approximately 30 square miles. Montmartre became famous during the 1860’s when practitioners of the fine arts sought it out in order to experience the gorgeous sights first hand. The fame of the area was made complete by the paintings of the area from the hand of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Another site in Paris one must visit is without a doubt the Louvre, home of a collection of art that is unrivaled. One could spend a day at the Louvre and never see all the pieces in their collection. The pieces the museum is most famous for are the Mona Lisa and the legendary Venus de Milo.

Besides the arts, the food and the wines there is one other thing Paris is famous for, which is fashion. With this premise it is safe to say the shopping is fabulous in Paris, especially their large department stores and shopping malls.

M.A.H.