The city of light and the city for love is a city you need to see. Paris is a fascinating place that lives up to all its hype. Many talk about Paris and say how lovely and wonderful it is, but can a city really be that fantastic? It sure can be. Its packed full of historic sites and modern museums. Artists line the streets showcasing their latest works. Behind them are cute boutiques offering the newest fashion trends. There are cafs, bistros, pubs and great restaurants at every corner. Although Paris is a city divided into 20 quarters, its quite easy to find your way around town. The River Seine divides the city into two halves, the left and right bank. Even though its important to understand how its sectioned and where the streets go, youll find that any path you take will lead you to an incredible place.
There are many attractions packed into this city. You can walk to all of them but be prepared for a few shin splints during the first few days. The cobblestone streets wind up and down so its best to wear good walking shoes. Because Paris is so jammed pack with interesting sites, its a good idea to look at a map before you come so that you can decide what you all want to see. Some of the musts are the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Champs lyses and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Again, wherever you go in Paris, youll find amazing museums, galleries and historic buildings. You really cant go wrong.
The Eiffel Tower is truly a magnificent steel structure, considering it was built for the Paris World's Fair back in 1889. Its surprisingly big and postcards dont do it justice. Youll be able to see this fantastic landmark from around the city, but nothing beats an up close and personal look. There are tours that can take you up to various levels of the Eiffel tower, but the view standing underneath looking up at its middle is a fascinating view as well. If your budget allows, theres also a restaurant in the Eiffel tower that provides a stunning view of the city.
The Louvre is a fascinating museum. The different types of art, sculptures and items from around the world are almost too much to absorb in one trip. Unless you know a lot about art, its a good idea to pay a few euros for an automated tour guide. Certain important pieces throughout the museum have a code located beside them. You punch in the code on the handheld device and listen to the meaning of the piece. Although not every single item has a code, there are many that do. Its a great benefit and enlightens your experience at the Louvre.
The Parisians know how to dress and youll soon see the latest styles walking by on every street. There are fantastic stores located throughout the city but the best shopping strip is the Champs lyses. This tree-lined avenue has a huge selection of stores all showcasing the latest trends. Good deals can be found at many but there are also the higher end boutiques where you can see the latest haute couture fashions up close.
The Notre Dame Cathedral seems to be a bit removed from the other well-known sites, but the walk there is quite enjoyable. Once you arrive youll be glad you made the trip. This stunning cathedral has recently undergone some major clean up and so the bricks are once again beige. The inside of the cathedral is beautiful, but dont miss the details on the outside when youre making your way inside.
Although not in the heart of Paris, Disneyland Park is a short train ride away. This magical kingdom is beautifully landscaped and resembles its American acquaintances. But theres a European flare about it as well. There are fantastic rides, parades, yummy treats and classic Disney characters to make this experience a trip of a lifetime.
After a long day of exploring, site seeing, and shopping youll find a huge selection of restaurants and bistros ready to please you. Enjoy a nice glass of wine to compliment any meal and finish it off with a delicious dessert. Dont worry, youll walk it off the next day. And you cant leave Paris without trying at least a few of their scrumptious pastries. If youre traveling with another person, choose different desserts and sample each others. This also works if youre traveling alone, especially because you can finish both desserts on your own. Its actually quite hard not to stop in at a pastry shop there are so many on every street its impossible not to be tempted. Your evenings can be spent strolling the streets, sitting at a caf watching the locals go by, catching a concert or seeing the Eiffel Tower. Although youve probably seen this historic landmark during the day, it takes on a new look at night. The entire tower is illuminated with tiny lights and at certain times in the evening, theyll twinkle and sparkle, almost making the tower look like a huge Christmas tree. Many locals and visitors make the trek to see this fantastic site.
You too will be able to say how wonderful Paris is and when people ask you if it really is that great, youll know the answer and encourage them to experience the city of light for themselves.