Paris, je t'aime!

From the busy streets of Paris to the lush beaches on the French Riviera, France is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. A country known for its romance, food and beautiful country side, you will not leave France unhappy.  But as a European traveler I must say that one’s trip would not be complete without stopping off at a small street corner cafe to buy an espresso and a croissant while looking down the Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe with the Eiffel Tower peeking up above the amazing buildings in Paris.  A city with lavishly built historical streets and some of the most famous landmarks in the world, Paris, France has something to offer for everyone.

 If its history and art you seek, then don’t look further than the Paris which is full of famous museums and beautiful architecture.  Some museums include Musée d'Orsay, Musee D'Art & D'Histoire Du Judaisme, and of course the Musee Du Louvre. I highly recommend the Musée d'Orsay because it is in an old train station. Not only is the art amazing the building itself is a masterpiece.  The other museum I highly recommend is the Musee Du Louvre or the Louvre. The museum is in the old royal palace and is like no another museum in the world. Quick tip on entering the Louvre, don’t enter through the main entrance. Instead there are stairways across the street the lead you underground into the Louvre. This will not only save you time with lines but it feel kind of seeky as well.

Paris is known for its fashion! A city with the cutting edge of fashion design you will not have a hard time making yourself look good in Paris. The only thing you might have a hard time doing is paying for it all. The Champs-Élysées is not only Paris’ “main street”; it is full of top designers with a passion for fashion, no rhyme intended. Yet, there are many other locations around Paris for great clothing that won’t put a hole in your pocket. Great places to shop in Paris are outside of the city center. Not only will you find cheaper fashion store, you may get more help and the people may be nicer.

There are so many sites to see in Paris. One major site is the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Notre Dame is best to be seen in the day time because you’ll not want to miss the light shining in through the staind glass windows. Another Great site to see is the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Not only is this basilica an amazing site, if you go to the top you‘ll get a view of all of Paris. I recommend paying to go to the top of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur over the top the Eiffel Tower because you’ll get the Eiffel Tower in your view. It’s also cheaper. I feel the best way to see most of the sites throughout Paris, is by taking a Seine River Cruise. I would do this at night while everything is lit up and make sure you bring a jacket, it gets cold!

Food is a top priority in Paris. There are millions of places to find food in Paris, but the most famous area to go is the Latin Quarter. Full of all different types of cuisine, the Latin Quarter has everything you could imagine for food. You’ll see French restaurant hosts standing outside the restaurants or bistro trying to get you to go inside. Be careful though some of these places in the Latin Quarter can be a bit pricy. When I go to Paris I am content with finding a little sandwich or crepe stand on the corner and walking around while eating. One great thing to do is grab a bottle of wine and a baguette and sit in the park under the Eiffel Tower in the summer. It is very relaxing and amazing to be hanging out in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

From the fashions designers on the Champs-Élysées, to the Catholic monks in the French Basilicas, the French possess a culture like no other and they are proud of it. The Parisian, are known to be rude, yet I have been to Paris multiple times and have yet to run into someone who was rude. I did almost get ripped off in a café one time but other than that the Parisians are nice.  I could on adding pages among pages to this review about the things to do in Paris, but I am a strong believer that the best trip is a trip where one figures out where to go and what to do on their own. So ultimately the best way to see Paris is to explore it yourself.  I highly, highly recommend going to Paris. You’ll never regret it!