Paris: The City of Lights
The site is instantly recognizable — La Tour Eiffel! Here, it is seen from the top of La Louvre — looking over the Seine, with the Musee d’Orsay in the foreground. Paris is a beautiful city during the day and is even more impressive at night. When in Paris, we walk — everywhere. The Métropolitain (or Metro for short) is an extensive, clean and reliable source of transportation and taxis must be caught at taxi stations and are expensive — but walking back, especially after a nice lunch or dinner is a must. The streets are frequently cobbled and the street map can be labyrinthian, but don’t let this scare you from bringing a good pair of walking shoes and exploring this city by foot — both night and day.
On a recent trip to Paris (this time for a family wedding instead of business), I was impressed by how vibrant the city remains despite the EuroZone crisis — the restaurants are full, nary a shop window is vacant. Certainly, the French sense of style and the French way of cooking contribute to keeping the stores open and the restaurants full.
What would I not want to miss in Paris?
- La Louvre — and don’t miss the new exhibit on Islamic Art (opened on September 18th, 2012)
- The Musee D’Orsay (or the Centre Georges Pompidou, Musee de l’Orangerie des Tuileries or another of the many amazing art museums throughout Paris).
- La Tour Eiffel — get to the top on a beautiful day, although it’s still impressive in less spectacular weather.
- Visit a Church: Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, La Madeleine
- Sit at a café and watch the people go by (Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots, both in the 7eme, are touristy but fun and worth a visit). Breakfast at a Café, Lunch at a Bistro.
- Fois gras, MouleFrites, Steak Frites, Croissants, Bread, bread and more delicious bread — why is the bread so much better in France?
- Montmartre and Sacre Coeur — soak in the neighborhood and have soup for lunch in a tiny restaurant on a side street
- Walk from La Louvre, through the Tuileries to the L’Arc de Triomphe
- Window shopping on Rue Faubourg Saint Honoré
- Real shopping at Le Bon Marché or a street market
Vive la France!
