Disneyland, Paris - Disneyland Paris is an entertainment resort located in Marne la Vallée about 30 kilometers from Paris. This place is one of the

Disneyland Paris
by: Jakob Jelling

Disneyland Paris is an entertainment resort located in Marne la Vallée about 30 kilometers from Paris. This place is one of the most visited spots of France, not only by children but by adults as well. Disneyland Paris is a complex resort, which counts with several different attractions and areas besides the Park itself.

There is a variety of ways to access this area and tourists always find a convenient one. One of the most efficient ways to reach Disneyland Paris is by train, due to the fact that there are several train lines and combinations which go through this area, coming from several different places of France as well as from other countries such as Belgium and England. Also, tourists can opt for going to the Resort by bus or renting a car, both of them very convenient as well.

Disneyland Paris' entertainment park started working at beginnings of 1992 under the name of Euro Disney. During its opening and its first months of existence, this park did not have as much success as it was expected to have, but this started to change at 1994, when its name and some of its characteristics changed.

Since 1994, the former Euro Disney became Disneyland Paris and an overall change in the park structure accompanied the new name as well. Since then, the Park started receiving a much higher amount of visitors and with them it started becoming more profitable as well.

Disneyland Paris consists on several areas which turn it into a very complete and convenient entertainment resort. The main spot of this resort is its Disneyland Park, which counts on five different areas based on different themes as well as a central beautiful castle. Another area within this resort is the Walt Disney Studios Park, very attractive for adults, as well as the area of Disney Village which counts with a central shopping complex. Surrounding these areas, there are several hotels, known as the Disneyland Resort Hotels, allowing visitors to choose one which properly suits their needs without having to travel from another point every day for visiting the Park.

About The Author


Jakob Jelling is the founder of Eurotomic.com.

Please visit http://www.eurotomic.com/france.php if you're planning a trip to France.

Weekend Getaways in Paris - As the second largest city of Western Europe, Paris is known as the City of Lights for its well-lit displays in the late

While Visiting Paris -Top Tourist Attractions for Weekend Getaways in Paris
by: Fionn Downhill

As the second largest city of Western Europe, Paris is known as the City of Lights for its well-lit displays in the late hours, which calls to visiting tourists from around the world. It is the home of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and many more vacationer attractions.

What can you see in a weekend in Paris? If you’re visiting Paris for only a short while, try these suggestions on the top hot spots. You can’t miss these!

Visiting Popular Attractions In Paris

Rising up over 300 meters tall, this steel structure, the Eiffel Tower, can be seen throughout most locations around the city. Elevators lift visiting tourists to the top to get a bird’s eye view of Paris. As it is lit up in the evening, it is one of the most beautiful sights in the entire city. Guided tours add to the thrill as you get to peek into history on how it was made and what it means to the French today.

The opera building, Opéra de Paris Garnier started its history back in 1862 when its construction began. It took over ten years to complete, because an underground lake was discovered under the location and was completed in 1875. Tours and shows continue to operate through this attraction for those visiting Paris, though now mainly used for ballet performances since the construction of Opéra de Paris Bastille, another distinctive entertainment tourist spot.

Visiting Museums In Paris

One of the largest and most famous museums is the Louvre of Paris, and visiting it is none other than an opportunity of a lifetime. With over 300,000 wonderful artistic works, you simply cannot see all of it in one day. An entire weekend could be spent simply gazing at the thousands of painting, including Leonardo da Vinci’s world famous Mona Lisa.

For something more exciting for children and families, try the Centre Pompidou. It not only contains a museum of modern art, but a bookstore and a library among other things. The museum, featuring the works of artists like Matisse and Picasso, holds one of the largest collections of cubist, surrealist and abstract art.

Photo Opportunities for People Visiting Paris

You don’t need to be Catholic to appreciate the majestic architecture of Notre-Dame. Its construction was made to fit a monumental scale, and plans were made to enlarge it even before the cathedral was completed. While not the biggest, it is the most famous and one of the grandest cathedrals in the entire world.

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, the Arc de Triomphe, it is engraved with the names of the generals that commanded his troupes. It now stands as a monument to the era and a popular photo spot for tourists visiting Paris. The Arc also features an observatory to take in surrounding views.

If you’re still looking for something that will arouse the attention of the entire family, try the Jardin du Luxembourg, a 224,500 square meter park. An octagon pond called the Grand Bassin is located in the center of the park. It is here that children can rent toy motorboats for a fun afternoon. You can also check out the puppet shows, chess games, it’s many statues and it’s two famous fountains, the Fontaine de Medicis and the Fontaine de l'Observatoire, at the north and south ends of the park.

Obviously, these are not the only tourist spots, but upon visiting Paris, these are the most popular and are certainly not to be missed. Most of these locations offer regular guided tours, some at little to no cost. Call your travel agent and make arrangements to visit these locations.

About The Author


Fionn Downhill is President of Four Corners Hotels offering discount hotels around the world. http://www.fourcornershotels.com/.

Top Tourist Attractions In Paris - If you are visiting Paris for the first time, you might be overwhelmed when planning your itinerary and deciding

Top Tourist Attractions In Paris
by: Claire Quaty

If you are visiting Paris for the first time, you might be overwhelmed when planning your itinerary and deciding which attractions to visit and in what order. Let’s take a look at the top attractions in Paris that are a must see when planning your visit.

First you’ll want to visit the Eiffel Tower. This icon of Paris is located at Eiffel Tower Champs de Mars. Admission to the tower is 10,70 Î . The phone number is 33 (0) 1 44 11 23 23. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1899 and was originally supposed to be a temporary symbol for the 1899 World’s Fair. If you really want to be “wowed” by this structure, visit it in the evening, as the lights of Paris are a breath taking view from the top floor. The tower includes restaurants and shopping. Tickets to the second floor and the top floor can be purchased at the information office at the base of the tower. Expect to wait for the elevator and expect to be a little confused by its configuration. Even with these slight inconveniences, a trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the magnificent Paris icon – the Eiffel Tower.

After visiting the Eiffel Tower, your next stop in Paris should be the Muse du Louvre. Admission is 8,50 euros. The phone number is +33 1 40 20 53 17. You may want to plan to visit the Louvre more than once during your trip, as it is impossible to see the entire 30,000 piece collection in the world’s largest museum. The Louvre was built in 1200 and in the 1500s became the royal family’s palace. The Louvre was opened as a museum in 1793. In the 1980s, glass pyramids were built to serve as the entrance and are a fantastic sight. Once inside the museum, be sure to stop at the information desk first to pick up a free map and to get the schedule of the 90 minute guided tours being offered that day. The museum can be confusing even with the map and a guided tour is recommended. The Louvre is broken up into three wings: Richelieu, Sully and Denon. Within these three wings, the museum is then divided into nine collections: the History of the Louvre and Medieval Louvre, Oriental Antiquities, Arts os Islam, Egyptian Antiquities, Sculptures, Objects d’art, Paintings, Prints and Drawings, and Arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Photography is allowed at the museum so don’t forget your camera.

The next stop on your tour of Paris, France should be the Notre Dame Cathedrale located at 6 place du Parvis Notre-Dame. The Cathedrale Notre-Dame was built in 1163 but was not completed until the 14 th century. This is a very historical sight in Paris. Napoleon crowned himself emperor here and General de Gaulle gave thanks here when the Germans freed Paris. One thing to be wary of is that the Cathedrale is under restoration construction and part of it may be unobservable.

Next on the tour is Basilique du Sacre-Coeur located at 35, rue du Chevalier-de-la-Barre. The phone number is +33 1 53 41 89 00. The main reason for visiting this church that sits atop a large hill just past Montmarte’s main square is to take in the amazing view of Paris that this location offers. While in the area be sure to walk around the streets of Montmartre’s Place du Tertre. It is almost as if this area has been frozen in time and remains very similar to the time when Van Gogh resided here.

About The Author


Claire Quaty was born in France and writes ebooks, articles and for magazines. Some of your work is located at: http://www.parislisting.com/.

Paris hotels - Travel forums are gold mines of information if you care to review the postings of enchanted and disgruntled travelers coming back from

Paris hotels: How to reduce your risk of being disappointed
by: Phil Chavanne

Travel forums are gold mines of information if you care to review the postings of enchanted and disgruntled travelers coming back from abroad.

As Senior Editor of http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/, I often peruse these forums to find out about the concerns voiced by fellow travelers headed to the 'City of Lights'.

Among the postings which keep coming back, one stands out from the crowd: what does a 3-star rating really mean? Travelers tend to be confused by the many star-rating systems in use. I felt the subject called for an educated explanation.

The meaning of stars in the US

First of all, let's be clear: there is absolutely no relationship whatsoever between the number of stars commercial travel sites award to hotels, and the hotel rating system in use in France.

The core business of commercial travel sites is to sell you hotel rooms, flight tickets, car rentals, and cruise packages. They purport to guide your choice by awarding stars to the products they peddle.

When you book a room on such sites, a significant portion of your money goes to the travel operator which presents the hotel - up to 50% on well-known websites.

For this reason alone, you could reasonably ask yourself: are these ratings unbiased, or tainted by corporate greed?

To make matters more complicated, each travel website uses its own rating method. Consumer Reports published an enlightening article on the topic in its November 2005 issue.

In other words, the number of stars awarded by commercial travel sites is not a fully reliable yardstick for selecting a hotel.

The meaning of stars in France

The French hotel rating system works on a completely different set of rules.

1.It is a standardized system: meaning, all hotels across France are categorized on the same unique basis.

2.The rating system was not born out of mercantile purposes: it was framed by the French lawmakers without any concern for profit.

3.Last but not least, the French hotel rating system does not measure quality. Instead, it uses 22 measurement criteria to assess the presence or absence of certain features in the hotel.

Among the main criteria used:

- Room sizes and numbers - Room soundproofing - Heating and air-conditioning - Design of bathroom facilities - Phone system - Electrical equipment - Elevators

Each requirement varies from one star category to another.

You can download the full list of criteria and a clear explanation of each at http://www.Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com/hotel-rating.html.

Subjective quality vs. objective quantity

The French rating system does not take into account subjective quality criteria.

And because of this limited approach, it does not guarantee your expectations will be fulfilled.

First, there are keen differences in perception between populations. For example, American travellers are used to larger sizes of rooms and beds than the average room and bed sizes offered in Parisian hotels. This can be a source of disappointment.

Moreover, the French rating system does not measure service quality - cleanliness, absence of smells, staff attitude, speed of service, etc.

It may thus be chancy to base your hotel choice solely on the French rating system.

The safer bet

To afford the best chances to pick the right hotel in Paris I recommend the following 4 steps:

- Have a basic understanding of the French rating criteria (see above link to download them) - Check guests' reviews on www.travelocity.com - Visit the hotel's own website - Do not hesitate to e-mail your questions to the hotel.

Many travellers use Travelocity.com to write reviews on the hotels they stayed at. No hotel satisfies 100% of its guests throughout the year, so both extreme judgments and moderate opinions can be found on this open forum. My advice: favor moderate reviews with some flesh on the bones. They will usually give you a useful picture of what to expect from the hotel - good and less good.

Visiting the hotel's website will usually allow you to see multiple views of its rooms and bathrooms. I insist on visiting the hotel's own website since it usually is the place which offers the greatest number of photos.

Lastly, e-mailing your questions to the hotel owners may or may not get you an answer, usually depending on the proficiency of the receptionist in your language. Receiving informative answers to your questions is a good sign that the hotel cares for his prospective guests.

Following these 4 steps should help you minimize the risk of being disappointed during your stay in Paris. This is no guarantee though. Remember that cultures differ from each other, and your expectations of service might not be fully understood. In such case, communicate with the owner. They are usually keen on serving you to the best of their means.

Have a safe and pleasant trip to Paris!


About The Author


Phil Chavanne spent 30 years in Paris. Share his breadth of knowledge at http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/. Download a simple explanation of the French hotel rating system at http://www.Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com/hotel-rating.html.

Budget travel to Paris - My first draft of this article began something like, “here are the top ten things to do and see when you travel to Paris.

Budget travel to Beautiful Paris:
by: Charles Brown

My first draft of this article began something like, “here are the top ten things to do and see when you travel to Paris.” My plan was to show how to plan a cheap travel excursion to Europe in general and France in particular. But three drafts later, I finally realized that the entire City of Paris is a stunning and unforgettable attraction.

Sure, there are a few places you have to see when you go there, or else one of your coworkers will make you feel like a dope because you traveled to Paris and didn’t see the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower.

But the point is, the entire City of Paris is one of the most beautiful travel destinations on the planet. You can travel to Paris on a budget without sacrificing any of its romance and excitement. Even if you wander off of the well-worn tourist paths, the charm and elegance of the city just seems to seep into your very pores. (Think of it as something like the anti-Detroit.)

Parisians, of course, have a reputation for being just a teensy bit boastful about their city, (“how dare you even speak of [insert your hometown here] in the same breath as Paris, you swine! I will spit on your toes.”) But it is hard to argue that their pride is not justified.

But if you insist on knowing my list of top things to do or see in Paris (particularly for travel on a budget), here it is:

· --The Louvre was first opened to the public in 1793 after the French Revolution and now houses the most enormous art collection in the world. If you are dead set upon seeing every exhibit, be sure to set aside the most convenient decade of your trip in order to do so.

· --The Palace of Versailles, is a fine example of what one man (King Louis XIV) can do with a Home Depot credit and the ability to impose crushing taxes on the French peasants.

· --The Eiffel Tower was originally built as an attraction for the 1889 Universal Exhibition. The tower was considered by many Parisians to be an eyesore, but they have since come to terms with it and merely hang sheets over it when visitors come to town. It was the tallest structure in the world until the Empire State Building was completed in 1931. But at least it can claim it has never had a giant ape climb to its top.

· --The Seine River. Here is where you can see and do it all without spending a bundle. Spend as much time as you can either walking along its banks or taking boat tours up and down the waterway itself. It is probably the most beguiling river in the world, and you will find almost every building of interest in Paris is on or near the Seine.

· --The Parisian cafes. Here again you can take in the sights and experience the essence of romantic Paris without great expense. Particularly visit the cafes in the St. Germain-des-pres district, so you can follow in the steps of Ernest Hemingway, Victor Hugo, Ezra Pound and F. Scott Fitzgerald. You may or may not develop the ability to write as well as these artists, but you be able to brag to your friends when you return home. Assuming of course that your kind of friends know that Hemmingway, Hugo, Pound and Fitgerald were writers and not a law firm.

OK I failed. I have touched only a very few of the highlights of travel to Paris. But when you go, be sure to take your time and stroll through the streets with the eye of a wanderer. Be sure to taste the foods and sample the wines. This is one city that organized walking tours are often worth your time, but you can also take your own walking tour with a guidebook in hand and a heart to behold its beauty.

COPYRIGHT © 2005-06, Charles Brown. All rights reserved.

About The Author


Charles Brown is a former attorney who now spends his time indulging his passion for travel and shares the unique travel destinations and adventure travel bargains he uncovers on his blog, Guerrilla Traveler - Adventure on a Budget, http://www.guerrillatraveler.blogspot.com/.

Think budget travel equals boring travel? Think again! Learn the Guerrilla Traveler’s insider secrets to budget adventure travel to the world's most exciting places and experience the coolest travel adventures without spending a bundle.

Beauvais Airport - Paris - Over the last few years there has been an explosion of cheap flights to a number of high profile tourist destinations in

Discover the Paris-Beauvais Airport
by: Jeff Steiner

Over the last few years there has been an explosion of cheap flights to a number of high profile tourist destinations in France. Budget airlines like RyanAir and easyJet are now offering daily flights to such well-known French tourist destinations, as Paris, the French Alps, Toulouse and the south of France.

These cheap flights often arrive at out of the way unknown airports. Airports, that before the low cost flights arrived where little used. Take for example, Ryan Air’s flights to Paris. They arrive at the Beauvais-Tille Airport, a little known regional airport north of Paris.

Beauvais Airport is a small local airport typical of those used by no thrills airlines like RyanAir. You get what you pay for, space is limited. Never the less the Beauvais Airport has everything that any airport needs. There is friendly staff, restaurant and bar, overnight parking and of course because it is small you don’t have to walk far to get to your flight. There is also car hire on the airport grounds and local hotels nearby.

The best way to get to Beauvais Airport is with the regular shuttle service. This coach service runs between the Beauvais Airport and Paris and is timed to the RyanAir flight schedule. Buses leave from Paris three hours before each departure and from Beauvais Airport 20 minutes after each arrival. The coach leaves Paris at Porte Maillot (Metro and RER stop Porte Maillot) on Boulevard Pershing, near the Concorde Hotel. Coach tickets can be bought online (They need to be obtained more than 24 hours in advance. There is a 2-euro processing fee when you buy on the Internet) or at the coach station in Paris or of course at the Beauvais Airport. Seating for the coach is reserved for those passengers with a airline ticket.

The travel time to Beauvais from Paris is about an hour and a half. Don’t let this throw you, yes that sounds long but getting to Paris’ main airports - Orly and Charles de Gaulle can at times take over an hour, if not longer depending on how you travel. All the cost of getting to the Beauvais Airport is not that much more than travelling to either Charles de Gaulle or Orly.

There are a number of other budget airlines other than RyanAir that serve the Beauvais Airport, including BlueAir, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Sterling European Airlines and WizzAir. These airlines fly to many major European destinations: Barcelona, Dublin, Copenhagen, Rome and Venice, just to name a few.

So if you are traveling on a budget should you use the Beauvais Airport? Is it really worth it? That depends; the flights offered can be a great value at times. Just know what you are getting into, you need to add 15 euros and about an hour and a half to each way (the cost and travel time of the coach). Also make sure there are not any other cheap flights going to another Paris airport, like Orly.

For more information about the Beauvais Airport see - http://www.beauvais-airport.com/.

About The Author


Jeff Steiner - http://www.jeffsteiner.com/ is an American living in the French Alps. Over the last eleven years he has learned a lot about living and traveling in France. Which is why he created http://www.americansinfrance.net/.

Locations of The Da Vinci Code, Paris - Ever wonder what some of the Paris locations in the The Da Vinci Code look like? Saint-Sulpice Church for exam

Paris Locations of The Da Vinci Code
by: Jeff Steiner

Ever wonder what some of the Paris locations in the The Da Vinci Code look like? Saint-Sulpice Church for example, home to the Priory of Sion or the Pyramide Inversée, the maybe location of the Holy Grail? Now you can: Da Vinci Code Paris - http://www.da-vinci-code-paris.com/. Along with these lesser known attractions also discover recognized locations from The Da Vinci Code including: the Louvre Museum and Jardins des Tuileries.

The beginning of The Da Vinci Code takes place in Paris, visiting some of Paris most famous and visited attractions, notably the Louvre Museum and the Jardins des Tuileries. The Da Vinci Code visits other less famous Paris attractions: Saint-Sulpice Church and the Arago Rose Line.

Saint-Sulpice Church, the supposed home to the Priory of Sion is in fact Paris’ biggest church. Saint-Sulpice is larger than Notre Dame! The present church, built in the middle of the 16th century replaced a previous Romanesque church built in the 13th. Yes, Saint-Sulpice has a brass line on its floor and an Obelisk as The Da Vinci Code states. But it’s not the Paris Meridian (that’s about 100 yards away), what the The Da Vinci Code calls the Rose Line. In fact the line inside Saint-Sulpice is used to determine the winter solstice and Easter. At one end of the brass line is the Obelisk and the other end a marble plate. When the sun, passing through a Saint-Sulpice window with a lens in it, touches the Obelisk it is the winter solstice. When the sun touches the marble plate it is the summer solstice. When the sun shines on the metal plate in the middle between the Obelisk and the marble plate it is Easter.

The Arago Rose Line, simply called the Rose Line in The da Vinci Code is the once 0 longitude line, better known as the Paris Meridian. The world used the Paris Meridian to calculate 0 longitude until 1888, then Greenwich England became the first prime meridian. In the 1990’s 135 bronze disks were placed in its honor. The Arago Rose Line is named after French astronomer Francois Arago who recalculated the Paris Meridian in the early 19th and thus gave it greater accuracy. The Arago Rose Line runs north south through Paris for a distance of about 6 miles. Finding the Arago Rose Line can be a bit difficult but a lot of fun. I would try the Comédie-Française near the Palais Royal, also close to the Louvre. It might take time but you will find them!

For more information and lots of photos about Paris locations from The Da Vinci Code please visit Da Vinci Code Paris - http://www.da-vinci-code-paris.com/.

About The Author


Jeff Steiner - http://www.jeffsteiner.com/ is an American living in the French Alps. Over the last eleven years he has learned a lot about living and traveling in France. Which is why he created http://www.americansinfrance.net/.

Musée du Louvre, Paris - The Musée du Louvre is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest art collections, and there would be nowhere more fitting to

A Guide To The Louvre, Paris
by: Audrey Akeman

The Musée du Louvre is undoubtedly one of the world’s finest art collections, and there would be nowhere more fitting to house such a collection than the magnificent Louvre Palace, an immense Renaissance complex once used as the residence of French royalty. There’s so much to see that it would be possible to spend a whole day or more exploring it. Here’s a guide to the building and the splendid works of art within it, to help plan a visit to the Louvre and see the best of what it has to offer.

History

The original building on this site was a fortress constructed by King Phillipe-Auguste in the 12th century to protect the city from the Vikings. The Louvre then evolved over the centuries to meet the needs of its various inhabitants. The first significant alterations were made by Francois I, who had a brand new Renaissance palace built, and from then a succession of monarchs and rulers all left their mark, extending and altering it until it became the stunning vast complex that it is today. The most recent changes were made in the late 20th century to improve the building’s use as a visitor attraction. Architect I M Pei added a striking glass and steel pyramid in the main courtyard as a new entrance area, which has now become one of the most famous images of the Louvre.

A tour of the architecture

As you wander around the impressive art collections, don’t forget to look out for the wonderful architecture all around. You’ll see the glass pyramid as you enter the museum, but before you do, take a walk around the courtyards to have a look at some of the beautiful external features. Perrault’s Colonnade on the east side of the building is an impressive columned façade designed in the classical style by Claude Perrault at the behest of Louis XIV in 1679. The design was so popular at the time that it set a trend for other buildings all over Europe. The oldest part of the building can be seen in an excavated area under what is now the Cour Carrée. The Medieval Moats show the foundations of the drawbridge and towers of the original fortress. The Jardin du Carrousel is also worth exploring. It’s a wonderful open space with a formally laid out garden and a magnificent triumphal arch as its centrepiece. The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel was built by Napoleon in 1805 to celebrate French military victories.

The collections

The Museum holds over 35,000 works of art across an area of over 60,000 square metres.

Antiquities

There are three major collections of ancient artefacts: Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities; Egyptian antiquities and Near Eastern antiquities.

The highlights of the Greek, Etruscan and Roman collections are the Roman and Greek glassware from the 6th century BC, Roman silverware and mosaics from 1-3 AD, and clay and bronze Etruscan sculptures from the 9th to the 1st centuries BC. Also of interest are two exquisite Greek marble statues from the Hellenistic period (3rd to 2nd century BC) – Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

The Egyptian collection holds pieces from the late prehistoric period (4000 BC) to the early Christian period (4 AD). Don’t miss the religious and funerary objects such as embalming pots, urns, vases and busts, and the fascinating objects from everyday life.

One of the most fascinating objects in the Near Eastern collection is one of the world’s oldest legal documents, a Mesopotamian engraved tablet.

Paintings

The Louvre’s extensive collection of paintings covers every school of painting from all over Europe from the 14th century to the mid 19th century. French, German, Dutch, Flemish, Spanish, Italian, Scandinavian and English painters are all well represented.

Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck’s Madonna of the Chancellor Rolin is one of the oldest works, dating from 1435. There’s a great collection of Rembrandt masterpieces, such as Bathsheba (1654) and Disciples at Emmaus (1648).

The Italian section is probably the biggest crowd puller, though, which has some fabulous Renaissance paintings by Giotto, Raphael, Boticelli, Titian, Caravaggio and of course Leonardo da Vinci, whose Mona Lisa is the museum’s most famous and well loved painting.

Prints and Drawings

Works on paper, such as prints, pastels and drawings, are given a whole section. Some of the key works, which date from the 14th century to the 19th century, are those by da Vinci, Pisano, Michelangelo, Raphael, Albrecht Dürer and Hans Holbein.

Sculpture

The sculptures held by the Louvre date from the 12th century to the mid 19th century and are mainly European. One of the most impressive and unusual pieces is the tomb of Phillipe Pot, a 15th century Burgundian aristocrat, which is flanked by eight hooded monks.

Don’t miss the celebrated Marly Horses, housed in their own glass-topped courtyard, Cour Marly. These beautiful statues of wild horses were sculpted by French Guillaume Coustou in the mid 18th century. Around them are some of the museum’s other best French sculptures, including busts of key intellectual, literary and political figures such as Voltaire and Diderot.

Decorative arts

The applied and decorative arts include jewellery, ceramics, furniture, tapestries, clocks, glassware, ivories and bronzes, again dating from the Middle Ages to the mid 19th century. There are over 8,000 pieces. Some of the most exquisite objects are the French Crown Jewels, including coronation crowns, swords and sceptres. The stunning Regent diamond, one of the world’s purest precious stones, was worn by Louis XV at his coronation and is on display here. Other items include Charles V’s gold sceptre, made in 1375, and Napoleon’s coronation crown. The Hunts of Maximilian tapestries are one of the other most impressive parts of the decorative arts collection. This series of huge wall hangings was made for Charles V in the mid 16th century.

Islamic art

This is the museum’s newest collection, opened to the public in 2003. Over a thousand works from a period spanning over 13 centuries are on display. Most of the pieces are luxury objects of art which were created for the rich and powerful of various Islamic countries, such as sculptures, vases, glassware and carvings.

About The Author


Audrey Akeman has resided in Paris for over 20 years. She works as a freelance writer. Website: http://www.pariscityinformation.info/

Transportation For Travelers to Paris - Traveling in a new place is usually not an easy task. It would be much better to utilize your traveling time

4 Types of Transportation For Travelers to Paris
by: Sammy Ho

Traveling in a new place is usually not an easy task. It would be much better to utilize your traveling time more efficiently if you could have a more understanding on the transportation facilities of your destination. This article introduces four types of transportation facilities in Paris which gives travelers to have a more in-depth understanding on Paris’s transportation services.

1. Metro and RER

Metro is the subway in the city while the RER (Reseau Express Regional) is the railway in the rural area. The subway service of Paris is started in 1900. Up to the present moment, there are 13 routes of subway and 4 routes of RER with total 367 stations which covers most parts of Paris. Therefore, if you could get used to the subway systems of Paris, it would be much leisure to travel around without any difficulties. The ticket fair inside city is unified as 7 Frs. for a single trip (billet). Ten- piece ticket booklet (carnet) is charged at 41 Frs. Besides, there is a Paris-Visite Billet which is specially designed for tourists. It is a pass for subway, RER and bus within a pre-set period of time. If you are staying in Paris for a longer period of time, you could choose to use the monthly ticket or the weekly ticket so that you take the subway, RER and bus whenever you like. Please be reminded that you have to take with you a personal photo (27 mm x 30 mm) in applying the fixed-time ticket in the station (guichet). Besides, it should be aware that the effective period of the monthly ticket is fixed from the first day to the last day of the month, and likewise Monday to Sunday for the weekly ticket. Therefore, you should count on the date when you buy the fixed-time ticket that how much the effective period is remaining.

2. Taxi

Taxi is the most convenient transportation as you could take it in any place. Usually it is easier to get the taxi in the taxi station (Tete de Taxi) in the main streets, hotel or the stations. Most of the taxi drivers are very familiar with the streets, and they could take you to your destination as long as you could mention you address clearly. Please be aware that the front seat is not for passenger, and one taxi could take 3 passengers in principal.

3. Public Bus

Most of the Paris residents like to take the public bus, but it seems to be quite difficult for tourists as they may not recognize the place to take off. However, you could enjoy the street scenery in taking the bus whereas the subway could not offer. Please be aware that you have to buy the ticket rather than just put the coins in. If you do not have a ticket, you have to tell the driver your destination, buy the ticket and put in the ticket cutter. Actually, you could use the subway ticket in taking the bus. You could just show your fixed-time subway ticket to the driver and you could get on and take off at any station you like. There is no station broadcasting service inside the bus and you have to ring the bell in advance before taking off. Therefore, it is suggested to take a bus road map at the information counter in the subway station, and find out the bus station name of your destination before you take the bus.

4. Tourist Ferry (Bateaux-Paris-ens)

Departure pier is at the Pont d’Iena which is near the Eiffel Tower. The cruise services could be divided as with and without meal provided. A single trip without meal provided is about 45 Frs. and the service hours are 10:00- 22:00 in summer time (depart in every 30 minutes) whereas 10:00-18:00 in wintertime (depart in every 1 hour). A lunch provided trip is about 300 Frs., departs at 12:30 while a dinner provided trip is about 550 Frs. departs at 20:30. Passenger must make advance booking for the meal provided cruise service and with formal attire on the trip.

About The Author


Sammy Ho has been a specialist traveler who has traveled many parts of the world. His specialists are to study different culture and living hobbies of different countries, and to learn from each place he has traveled. To find more travelers tips, hotel information and flight information in Paris, please visit website: http://flightsparis.batcave.net/

Opera House - Paris- The Paris Opera House is thought to be one of the greatest pieces of architecture of its period. Located on the northern part

The Paris Opera House
by: Anne Morris

The Paris Opera House is thought to be one of the greatest pieces of architecture of its period. Located on the northern part of Avenue De L’Opera in the 9e arrondisement , it was founded in 1669 by King Louis XIV.

The idea of the Opera house was first proposed in the 1858 during the Second Empire by Baron Haussmann who was granted authorization for the project by Napoleon III. About 12000 square meters of land was cleared and a thirty five year old architect by the name of Charles Garnier was chosen to design the Opera House.

In 1861, construction began and 14 years later the building was complete. There were a number of significant delays however, first there were issues such as the Paris Commune, and the Franco Prussian War and then, there was a problem with the location. The ground was marshy and full of underground water.

For eight months, the site had to undergo constant pumping before the base could be put down and it was said to have formed an underground reservoir. This reservoir became the idea behind the setting of “The Phantom of the Opera”

On January 15, 1875 marked the opening of the Palais Granier (Paris Opera House). There was a performance of La Juive with Fromental Halevy and excerpts of Les Hugentos with Gaicomo Meyrebeer.

The editor John Norwich of Great Architecture of the World reports that a contemporary critic thought the Opera House looked like “an overloaded sideboard” The place is ornate and decorated with marble friezes of various colors.

The interior is filled with gold leaf and velvet. There are cherubs and nymphs everywhere. The chandelier is over six tons in weight. The ceiling itself was painted by Marc Chagall in 1964. The Opera House is 11000 square meters (11844 square feet) with a platform that can fit more than 400 artists and there are over 2000 seats for the audience.

The Opera House is now thought to be a masterpiece because Garnier had made wonderful use of the difficult and cramp site. The carriage ramps, the steps, the foyers and staircases were both planned and sectioned with skill and confidence.

Garnier was accused of being overly ornate, just like Napoleon and Haussman were criticized of having old and imperialist ideas but the critics forget to keep in mind that cities need their grand monuments and without Napoleon, Garnier, and Haussman, Paris could not have been thought of as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.


About The Author

Anne Morris writes articles about travel. Discover more information about travel at http://www.more-paris.com/ and http://www.sanibeltoday.com/.

Le Gourmet - Paris - Yet another interesting stop in our culinary adventures in Paris, the Le Gourmet restaurant offers great French cuisine for price

Eating (Way too Well) in Paris: Third Stop at Le Gourmet
by: Phil Chavanne

Yet another interesting stop in our culinary adventures in Paris, the Le Gourmet restaurant offers great French cuisine for prices I hadn't seen in Paris in 15 years.

Lunch time, where to go?

This is the third installment of the series of articles which I set about to write a couple of weeks ago on eating out well in Paris. I love food, I love good cuisine, and I want fellow travelers to enjoy Paris to the hilt. That's enough reasons to guide them to those places I am certain they will enjoy.

Lunch time in Paris is restaurant time. People who work in the city do not carry their lunch bags with them. They rarely enjoy the benefit of a corporate catering service, but even if they do, such catering is hardly a feat for anyone's eyes and taste buds.

Small restaurants perform a vital service: they feed the locals rather satisfactorily, inexpensively, and in record time.

What applies to locals applies to travelers, and your next culinary stop happens in just such circumstances. After a long morning walk in the quaint streets on the slopes of the Montmartre hill, you feel nicely hungry. Your steps lead you to Place de Clichy, a busy crossroads between the 17th, the 9th and the 18th districts (metro station: 'Place de Clichy').

Time for a gourmet experience!

Le Gourmet

You may be hungry, but you are no fool. You want to eat well, and spend your heard-earned cash on food worth this name.

In my considerate opinion none of the eateries positioned around Place de Clichy are worth the money they ask for. I find their cuisine either overpriced, or downright vulgar. I never had a satisfactory lunch at any of these places.

So where to go? Not far away.

When you are on Place de Clichy, turn yourself so as to face the downward slope, with the metro station in your back. Aim at Rue de Clichy, left of Rue d'Amsterdam. Walk down the street for about 200 yards, and turn left in Rue de Bruxelles. Walk another 200 yards. There you are on the right sidewalk.

Your next favorite food stop is located at No. 19 rue de Bruxelles.
Name: Le Gourmet.
Identifiable sign: its French bistro-style facade. And a crowd.

Entering the bistro

If you happen to walk in at around noon thirty, you may have to wait just a tad. The place is packed. I have been to this restaurant numerous times, and I still have to be there the day it is not packed at lunch time.

My advice: come at around 12:00 am, and grab a spot before everybody else does.

The place exudes old charm, with dark wood panels, old posters, menu slates marked with chalk on the walls, a traditional bar, a mosaic floor, bistro-style chairs and tables. It smells good, though cigarette smoke can become an issue at times when the facade door isn't left open.

The owner and chef bought the restaurant about 2 years ago from its first and long-time owners, an elderly couple who retired after having steered the ship for longer than any local can remember. The new owner liked the decor, and decided to preserve it as-is, except for the facade which was changed early in 2006.

In this very Parisian setting, patrons feel immediately welcomed and are quickly seated either by the boss or a smiling waitress. This is lunch time, and they know patrons are in a hurry. No unnecessary delay.

Seated, and menu in hands

The menu is in fact chalked on the slates that hang on the front and back walls. A remarkable feat for such small a restaurant, the menu changes every day.

Anyone who lived in Paris for some time knows that restaurant menus do not change beyond the 'plat du jour' - the main fare for the day. Even the 'plat du jour' does not change that much: from one week to another, the same courses tend to get back on the menu.

Not so at 'Le Gourmet': the menu changes everyday and no two weeks are alike. True diversity. Even if you were to eat there every day for 20 days, you could try 20 different courses.

Gourmet cuisine is a mission

The boss comes from the province of Touraine, in Western France. He likes to work on French traditional dishes, and his cuisine draws its main inspiration from the famous Burgundy and Lyons regions.

Among the 'terroir' dishes served at Le Gourmet, you can taste veal knuckle (souris de veau), prime cuts of veal (onglet de veau), roasted gilthead bream (daurade royale rôtie), stewed duck (pot-au-feu de canard), pike dumpling (quenelle de brochet). And the list goes on.

To get fresh products from his favorite suppliers, he wakes up at 3:30 am every day to go to the wholesale market (the Rungis market, situated south of Paris). He buys only what he needs for the day, loads up his truck, and heads back to his restaurant where he's spend the rest of the morning to cook for lunch.

The chef's motto is "fresh products, traditional preparation". He uses butter, not margarine. He doesn't buy frozen products, and no off-the-shelf sauces as he prepares his sauces himself. He is light-handed on spices which he thinks 'are all too often used to hide something'.

Appetizer, main course, dessert, wines

Le Gourmet's menu typically offers a choice of 4 appetizers (such as a warmed up goat cheese served on a loaf of country bread), 3 or 4 main courses (meat, fish, poultry), and 4 desserts.

The choice of desserts is also 'old-school': depending on the day, your selection may include chocolate whipped cream, baba au rhum (a spongy cake saturated with dealcoholized rum), biscuits with ganache (a mix of chocolate, cream and butter), orange cake, fondant cake, floating island (beaten egg whites floating on a French custard), red fruit pies, and so forth.

Light wines get the lion's share of the wine list. The chef's hometown is Valencay (in the heart of the Touraine region), and he purchases his bottles directly from local producers. The list comprises a variety of well-thought-of vines: Gamay, Cabernet, Valençay, Bourgueil, and Saumur-Champigny.

All this for how much?

Beyond the quality of the food you are served at Le Gourmet, the check is another pleasant surprise. For a meager 13 Euros (about $16), you have a full meal served in record time in a most pleasant atmosphere. For just a few more bucks, you have the wine to complete your experience.

To be honest, there are very few Parisian restaurants which will give you that much for such a low price. Le Gourmet wins my vote any time, any day. I recommend it to you wholeheartedly.

Where?
Le Gourmet
19 rue de Bruxelles
75009 Paris
Tel: 33 (0)1 48 74 53 42
Subway station: Place de Clichy
Lunch and dinner


About The Author

Phil Chavanne shares lots of useful advices and travel information on Paris with the help of his Paris experts team.

Click here: http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/paris-restaurants.html to find now about French food and Paris hotels.

Chez Tante Alice - Paris - Eating out right in Paris: in this second installment of my new series of articles, I introduce you to Tante Alice, a fine

Eating Well in Paris: Second Stop at Chez Tante Alice
by: Phil Chavanne

Eating out right in Paris: in this second installment of my new series of articles, I introduce you to Tante Alice, a fine restaurant which deserves a place in the pantheon of French provincial cuisine. Yummy!

Life after Chez Georges

In an article written earlier on the 'Eating well in Paris' theme, I described the grandiose experience I had at 'Chez Georges'. The owners of Chez Georges carry the French cuisine flag with pride, and their number is outstanding.

After such a gratifying meal I was wondering who could rise to the challenge of getting my taste buds as excited. Rescue came in the form of a dinner invitation by my partners in crime, Angelo and Vinni.

"To Tantalis!" was their battle cry.

Tantalis... or not

Tantalis. With such a name I didn't know what to expect really. Tantalis does not mean anything in French. It sounded like a coined word, made up maybe to don some Nouvelle Cuisine joint. To me, Nouvelle Cuisine means product puffery, very little substance, and high dollars. Not so promising. Yet I rallied their flag, thinking they would know better.

Arriving at the scene I realized I had erred in my linguistic assumptions: Tantalis wasn't at all -- Tante Alice it had always been.

Now, Tante means aunt in French, so Aunt Alice. Alice is one of those names which girls used to receive in the 1930s, but which very few people dare giving their offshoot today. Aunt Alice brings back pictures of the old relative from the boondocks adorned with an unlikely (and unsightly) moustache, but endowed with a golden motherly heart. The kind of aunt who used to serve you and your friends delicious home-made berry jam on large slices of fresh bread at the end of a mid-summer day.

Outside and inside

There we were, at Tante Alice's door. From the outside, the place makes a favorable impression. The building is modern, the restaurant sign above the door is drawn in a classic font, in a deep burgundy red. The street environment is nice, with numerous clean-looking stores. We are in the Southern section of the 10th district, about 10 minutes on foot from Place de la République.

Patrons entering the place face the wooden bar. The decor appears tastefully simple. The abundant use of wood and the Vichy-style tablecloth reminded me of a Normandy inn. Though the restaurant room isn't that large, tables are far enough apart from each other that you may be comfortable having a private conversation with your better half or love interest.

We were welcomed by one of the two owners of the restaurant, and speedily led to our table. There is a second room upstairs, which I was told is used at lunch time when the neighboring businesses' staffers invade the place. It was about 7:30 pm, and at this time the first floor operated at 80% capacity. The noise level was very acceptable, local patrons were quiet.

Ordering

As we sat down our hostess handed us over the menu and asked whether we wanted to start with the aperitif, the lightly alcoholic beverage which French people usually consume right before lunch and dinner to open up their appetite. I ordered a Kir Royal, a mix of blackcurrant cream and champagne. The owners of Chez Tante Alice offer their own version of a mint cocktail, which my friend Vinni ordered.

Tante Alice's menu is simple, with a selection of 5 to 7 fares per section. Every dish on the menu spells French terroir cuisine, viz. traditional cuisine from the countryside. For appetizer I opted for a dish of pan-seared cepes (boletus). My entree would be a refined delicacy: a pan-fried steak of duck liver.

While we sipped on our aperitif, our second hostess came to take our order. She was the chef, and she lent herself amicably to our questioning. The lady is of good advice.

Did we want wine? Yes please, a half-bottle of a light red Reuilly or Chinon -both wines are from the Touraine region- to accompany our entrees. The chef pointed out that the one we had picked was the most expensive, and we might want to re-consider. A very honest attitude worth mentioning in a business known to rake in hefty profits on wine orders. We chose to stick to our half-bottle of red Chinon though.

Here comes the food

We had plenty of business to discuss about with my friends, so we didn't keep our eyes on the watch. It was probably for the better since Tante Alice has a rhythm of its own. You should not expect record-breaking serving speed. Food is prepared on order, so everything takes a bit of time. My appetizer came in just when I was starting to be hungry.

Smell and sight are the first senses you use to evaluate your meal. Fresh cepes should have a very strong earthy odor and taste. Indeed they had. And their look was mouth-watering. My serving was voluminous, something of a surprise. Go to a restaurant in the French countryside and for the same price you would pay in Paris, they serve you three times the quantity of food. The portion I was eyeing was worth every dime I would pay for it.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. My cepes were savory, with rich tones of earth and wood. They were pan-seared to a light black, and as juicy as they should be. A sip of light, fruity red wine helped them go down in style. What a satisfactory start!

The entree

Our entrees came by not too long after we had wiped our plates clean.

The pan-fried steak of duck liver is a French countryside delicacy. Recipes vary from chef to chef, but basically the cook dips the raw duck liver in flour, pans both sides in oil for less than a minute (the steak may not be burned); then sets the pan-fried steak aside, throws away the oil, pour a bit of raspberry or balsamic vinegar in the pan, and reduces it; then adds a base and a nut of butter, and brings this sauce to a short boil. The sauce is then spread over the steak.

If prepared correctly with excellent ingredients, the steak of duck liver melts in your mouth. So much so you don't even have to chew it. Its refined taste can easily be overpowered, so it is served with light sides such as artichoke hearts, mango chutney, raisins and cooked apple slices, or dried plums.

Tante Alice's chef has a very good hand, and her fried steak of duck liver lived up to expectations. Its taste was delicate, and it melted on the tongue with no chewy parts. The Chinon was a good choice to accompany it. Some people will prefer a white wine such as a Gewürtztraminer (a wine from Alsace), a Loupiac or a Sauternes (Southwest and Bordeaux wines, respectively).

Dessert and check please

To end up this satisfying meal on a cool note, I ordered 3 scoops of vanilla and coffee ice cream. The menu describes the vanilla and coffee flavors in such terms your curiosity cannot but be titillated. I was not to be disappointed: the coffee really tasted like coffee (not like licorice), and the vanilla had a very rich natural flavor. I had a double espresso to top it off.

The check came to about 35 Euros per person ($43), wine included. For such an evening feat, this price was very reasonable. The after-meal was perfect, no digestion problem. The products were fresh, and both our hostesses granted us the right amount of attention during the meal.

Chez Tante Alice is a restaurant I can recommend without any second thought.

Where?
Chez Tante Alice
31-33 rue du Château d'Eau
75010 Paris
Tel: 33 (0)1 42 40 62 34
Lunch and dinner


About The Author

After 30 years spent in Paris, Phil Chavanne gives scores of tips and advices on Paris hotels, restaurants, and monuments in his free city guide: http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/paris-restaurants.html.

Chez Georges, Paris - When you stay in Paris for a short while only, eating out at a decent, reasonably priced restaurant may become a silly game of

Eating Well in Paris - First Stop at Chez Georges
by: Phil Chavanne

When you stay in Paris for a short while only, eating out at a decent, reasonably priced restaurant may become a silly game of trial and error. In this new series of articles, I will recommend several places no traveler will ever regret having tried out!

Facing the eating-out issue

When it comes eating out in Paris, travelers unfamiliar with the city may have a hard time finding the right place to eat out. Consider it this way: you are to live, breathe and eat for a short while in a city which counts over 1,500 restaurants, in a country internationally known for its exquisite food. Where do you start from? And what guarantee do you have to hit the right spots for lunch and dinner?

A large number of my American friends select to follow their favorite travel guide's recommendations. Good thinking. But there's a downside to it: travelers tend use the same travel guides. And too many tourists kill authenticity.

The so-called 'French cuisine'

Being born and having lived in France for 30 some years before I found my true home in America, I have an in-bred tendency to be extremely picky when it comes to food. When I travel back to Paris, I especially dislike being served so-so cuisine at over-inflated prices.

By the same token I find it very hard to accept that any of my American friends touring Paris be served run-of-the-mill food posing as 'French cuisine'. Hence this new series of articles.

In the course of several recent trips to the French capital, I was introduced by local friends to a few restaurants I found to be absolutely noteworthy. My first stop will be 'Chez Georges'.

The set

'Chez Georges' stands out tall amongst my recent discoveries.

I had received an invitation for lunch from Philippe H., an attorney-at-law who specializes in brokering deals in record time. Philippe has been lunching at 'Chez Georges' for the last 20 years or so, he is a fixture of the place. He even has his own table there. A very practical state of affairs, mind you, as 'Chez Georges' always operates at full capacity, and one needs to book at least 48 hours in advance to get a table.

The decor is typical French 1920-30, with a mosaic floor, large mirrors on the walls, dark brown wood panels, and sandish paint. The restaurant is divided in two rooms, both very narrow. The first room features a bar and a row of small square tables. Being close to the door and window panes, it is well lit. The room in the back is larger, with two rows of tables. It's also darker, without any windows. The (small) kitchen is situated at the back of this room, and the restrooms another step behind.

The place is obviously packed, and very busy. It smells good food, and though guests are allowed to smoke I didn't find cigarette smoke to be an issue. The whole atmosphere is congenial, vibrant and lively. No elevator music to bother you, but your neighbors' voices may cover yours. Very Parisian, no doubt, but I saw several American folks having lunch there.

The feat

Our party of six was soon tended by Zoe the waitress, a sight for sore eyes. This smiling brunette is married to the restaurant manager, a friendly fellow who tends the bar and the cash register. Zoe has a nice word for everyone, can explain the menu in details, recommends what's right for you, and moves about diligently.

The menu at 'Chez Georges' is as varied as appetizing. Everything on it spells French tradition. We decided to order a large selection of appetizers to share, including rillettes (a sort of pate made with pork, duck or goose), pink radish, herrings, museau (beef head pate), potato salad, and other delicacies.

The goods came in generous portions, and a couple of bottles of white Sancerre helped us gulp all this down. (Sancerre is a light red or white wine. It is made from black pinot or white sauvignon, and is grown in the Touraine region.) We were served two different types of fresh bread, including a delicious Poilane bread

We then attacked the entrees: duck filet with potatoes for me, please, served pink. (In my book, duck cooked to 'done' is unpalatable.) Soon came the plates, full up. My duck filet was perfectly cooked, and thick and tender as it should be. A wonderful abundance of gorgeous food! We accompanied the main fares with a bottle of red Chinon, a wine grown in my hometown. Things to get damned for!

All is well that ends well

The dessert was as succulent as the rest of this hearty meal. I had a Tarte Tatin, an caramelized apple pie baked 'upside-down'. Apple slices are first baked on sugar, then covered with dough, and put in the oven again for a short while. When baked, the pie is turned over so that the dough now supports the apples. The result is a very tender pie, with a sweet but not overpowering taste of caramel. It is served with vanilla ice.

We all finished the meal on a good espresso. The check was very reasonable: it came to about 60 USD per person, for an unforgettable meal that included a ton of appetizers, six main fares, seven servings of dessert, 3 bottles of wine, and espressos for everyone. Expect to pay USD 30 on a lighter fare and less wine.

Though very hearty, my meal was easy to digest. I didn't feel bloated afterwards, just slightly tipsy thanks to multiple servings of light wine. The products used were of very good quality, the bread freshly baked. The service we received was diligent and friendly.

Definitely a place I recommend you, my traveling friends!

Where?
Chez Georges
1 rue du Mail
75002 Paris
Tel: 33 (0)1 42 60 07 11
Lunch and dinner
Closed on week-ends and holidays
Book a table at least 48h in advance


About The Author

After 30 years spent in Paris, Phil Chavanne gives scores of tips and advices on Paris hotels, restaurants, and monuments in his free city guide: http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/paris-restaurants.html.

A City of Love - Paris - The first time I visited Paris, I had just turned 18. I remember vigorously walking the streets and feeling a connection with

Paris, A City of Love
by: Yana Berlin

The first time I visited Paris, I had just turned 18. I remember vigorously walking the streets and feeling a connection with the city and its inhabitants that I could not explain. Every part of old Paris held something very dear, and every brasserie that looked like it had been there forever somehow seemed very familiar.

Frenchmen sitting in cafes and drinking their espressos had an air of peacefulness and assertiveness around them. No one appeared to be in a rush. As I sat among the madams and messieurs, enjoying each bite of my baguette while observing the crowd that slowly moved in front of me, I couldn’t help but ask myself: what was so special about Paris?

Was it the culture, so readily apparent in every square, every narrow street and every corner? Was it the architecture, which I grew up with and could so easily relate to? Or was it that life in Europe was so different from life in the U.S.?

As I searched for the answers within me, I sat for hours pondering the direction of my life. I recall wishing that I could get my hands on a crystal ball and peer into what my life would be like in 10 or 20 years. As with every teenage girl, I wanted to know who would I be when I grow up? Who would I marry? What was in the stars for my family and me? Would I be happy with the life that awaited me?

Fast-forward 25 years and the pace in Paris seems a bit faster. The fashion is a bit more audacious, and people are a lot friendlier than I remember from more than two decades ago. Aside from that, not much has changed. Tourists still line up to get into the Eiffel Tower. Frenchmen still sit in the brasseries, enjoying their croissants and smoking their cigarettes. People still come from all over the world to see the Mona Lisa. Only now instead of marveling at her smile, they debate whether it is a self-portrait of Leonardo DaVinci.

At two in the morning, the nightlife is still in full swing. Frenchmen continue to take pleasure dining late into the night, while they sit for hours observing and enjoying the ambience that is so prevalent in every Parisian establishment. Yet, there is an undercurrent of rumbling and discontent in this fair city.

Though not many will discuss the change that’s about to take place, everyone agrees that it will definitely rock their world. The French government has ruled that, starting next summer, restaurants must be entirely smoke-free. Of course, Parisians are distraught and dismayed. How will they now enjoy their espresso without puffing on their precious cigarettes? And what will they do with their hands while sitting and watching the world go by?

In time, Parisians will eventually embrace the painful fact that smoking is a bad habit and should not be imposed on others sitting next to them. There’s always the opera, theaters, symphonies, museums, shopping and much more to occupy their free time. And I’m sure they will find another hobby to occupy their manicured hands while sipping their espresso. Who knows? Perhaps they’ll take on writing a daily journal to capture their new smoke-free life?

As for me, this visit to Paris has special meaning because my husband brought me here to celebrate our anniversary. After so many years together, he is very much aware that Paris still occupies a special place in my heart. And what better way to celebrate our continuing love for each other than a romantic getaway to the City of Love?

These days, I don’t need a crystal ball to know who I am and where I’m going. I’m happy with my life, one that I worked very hard to design. I no longer stress about not being able to fit into the dress size that most French women deem necessary. Nor do I fret about my future.

As I sit at the brasserie, surrounded by my fellow Parisians, sipping my espresso and looking into the eyes of the man I adore, I feel empowered knowing that the best is yet to come.

All the best,

Yana



About The Author

Yana Berlin is the founder and CEO of www.fabulously40.com, devoted to the celebration of all things, primarily women and the challenges and joys they face juggling their careers, children, relationships, and life’s other issues. Fabulously 40.com is a social network for women that catalyzes its members to celebrate and embrace their life. Since launching http://www.fabulously40.com/. Mrs. Berlin has been connecting, and supporting women all over the world. Her unique background as a successful business woman in the field of mortgage finance and the creative arts, coupled with being the mother of four rambunctious teenagers, provides for her distinctive insight into the daily joy, challenges, and circumstances women face today. Mrs. Berlin has published many articles on Fabulously40.com addressing these issues and offering solutions, strategies, and tips on how women can interact with one another to solve any obstacles they face in today's hectic world. Join us as we embark on our journey to the best times of our lives at http://www.fabulously40.com/.

Mrs. Berlin resides in San Diego, CA with her husband and children.

http://www.fabulously40.com/

I Love Touring Paris - The 5th arrondissement is on the Left Bank of the Seine River in central Paris. It is often known as the Quartier Latin

I Love Touring Paris - The Fifth Arrondissement
by: Levi Reiss

The 5th arrondissement is on the Left Bank of the Seine River in central Paris. It is often known as the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter) although it's been a long time since many have spoken Latin there. Its population is slightly under sixty thousand and the district provides almost fifty thousand jobs. It is fairly small; less than a square mile (about two and a half square kilometers). This is one of the oldest districts in all Paris and offers some attractions dating back to the time of the Romans who never called it the Latin Quarter. The Roman town Lutetia was built in the First Century BC.

The Arenes de Lutece (Lutetia Arena) once held at least fifteen thousand spectators and considerably fewer gladiators. It was built in the First Century AD and included the longest Roman amphitheater. The 135 foot (over 40 meter) long stage hosted both plays and gladiator fights. There were probably animal cages as well, surely not for the plays. The upper level held the poor, the slaves, and women while the lower level was reserved for the big shots. Just in case the spectators got bored they did have a great view of the Seine River.

The city was sacked by barbarians in the year 280 and some of its stone was removed to build up the defenses. The arena was subsequently transformed into a cemetery, and then filled with the construction of city walls in the early Thirteenth Century. The arena was more or less forgotten; nobody knew where it was but neighborhood kept its name. The arena was accidentally rediscovered in the 1860s during the construction of a streetcar depot on the site. The famous Nineteenth Century writer Victor Hugo played a major role in preserving these ruins. The area became a public square in 1896 and is open to the public daily and evenings in the summer.

The Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) was established in 1980 by eighteen Arab countries and France. This Institute provides extensive information about the Arab world and promotes its cultural and spiritual values. The Institute also supports cooperation and cultural exchanges between France and the Arab world, especially in science and technology. In 1989 it won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

The Jardin des Plantes is France's main botanical garden. It includes an aquarium, and a small zoo founded with animals from the royal menagerie at Versailles (not the two-legged variety). Its gardens include a rose garden, an alpine garden, an Art Deco winter garden, Australian and Mexican hothouses, and a maze.

The Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle (National Museum of Natural History) was founded during the French Revolution. It was quite a center of scientific research. One of the winners of the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics, Henri Becquerel, held its chair for Applied Physics when he accidentally discovered uranium's radioactivity. Four generations of Becquerels held this chair from 1838 until 1948, which must be some sort of record.

The Musee de Cluny, officially known as Musee National du Moyen Age (National Museum of the Middle Ages) is perhaps the most outstanding medieval building in Paris. It was the town house of the Abbots of Cluny, dating back to 1334 but was rebuilt in both Gothic and Renaissance style starting near the end of the Fifteenth Century. The Musee de Cluny has a fine collection of important medieval artifacts, in particular tapestries, Gothic sculptures, and illuminated manuscripts. Herman Melville mentioned this museum in his famous novel Moby Dick.

The Thermes de Cluny are what remains of Third Century Gallo-Roman baths. Its best-preserved section is the frigidarium, the cold-water pool in which bathers dipped to close their pores after enjoyed the hot-water sections. Some of the original decorative wall painting and mosaics remain intact. These baths were poorly defended and probably destroyed by barbarians, those dirty barbarians, towards the end of the Third Century.

The Pantheon (from a Greek word meaning all the Gods) was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. It sits on top of Montagne Sainte-Genevieve and overlooks all Paris. While this is a great-looking building the architect died before its completion, and not all his plans were followed. The building was intended to be a church in honor of King Louis XV's recovery, but the French Revolution intervened and the Pantheon was transformed into a mausoleum. In alphabetical order, some of the great buried here include Braille, Dumas, Hugo, Marat (French Revolution leader disinterred after little more than a year), Moulin (French Resistance leader), Sklodowska-Curie, Soufflot (Pantheon's architect), Voltaire, and Zola.

The Latin Quarter is home to many universities and other centers of higher education, and naturally scads of bars, bistros, restaurants, and nightclubs. Some schools have relocated to more spacious quarters in other parts of the city or region, surely to the regret of their student population.

Of course you don't want to tour Paris without sampling fine French wine and food. My article I Love French Wine and Food - A Maconnais (Burgundy) Chardonnay reviewed such a wine and suggested a sample menu: Start with Pate en Croute de Grenouilles au Bleu de Bresse (Frog and Bresse Blue-Cheese Pie). For your second course savor Poulet de Bresse a la Creme-Trompettes de la Mort (Free-Range Bresse Chicken in Creamy Sauce with Horns of Plenty Mushrooms). And as dessert indulge yourself with Ile Flottante (Floating Island, a Meringue Island in a Custard Sea.) Your Parisian sommelier (wine steward) will be happy to suggest appropriate wines to accompany each course.



About The Author

Levi Reiss

Once upon a time Levi Reiss wrote ten computer and Internet books either alone or with a co-author. And yet, he really prefers drinking fine Italian or other wine, with the right food and friends. He knows about dieting but now eats and drinks what he wants, in moderation. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website http://www.travelitalytravel.com/ which focuses on local wine and food.