#498 Traveling to Paris 26 Septembre 2011

Paris

Paris is a place where you can easily find romance, good food and have epic moments. For those who are traveling to Paris, I started to put together a list of advices that can be used and abused.

It's a well-known fact among the travelers, Paris is a romantic city which happens to be a little bit rainy (have an umbrella) and where it's easy to lost yourself (have a map or a phone with a navigational system).

My favorite epic moment is a sunrise from Petit Pont, when the town is waking up and Notre Dame is ringing its bells. The scenery is even more epic during the winter when the tourist are almost inexistent. During the beginning and end of summer (end of may / end of september), the blank of the Seine are a great spot to do a picnic. You will meet a lot of locals, see a lot of students and you can once in a while have some music. Be aware that parts under bridges can be very smelly.

Close to Ile de la Cite, there are many bridges that are for walkers only. Pont des Arts is the most famous: it has a lot of lockers attached to it, it represents the love between two individuals. If you are going with someone you love, don't forget, it's a great spot!

As Paris is a very old city, you will have a lot of historical places to see. The Eiffel Tower is very touristy, you can wait in line for hours if you didn't arrive at the right time. The view from the top is gorgeous and you can have a clear sky during the fall. Champs Elysees is full of international shoppers, you have the famous brands and stores such as Channel and Louis Vuitton. Some religious places are worthwhile seeing if you have time: Notre-Dame, Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, and Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise.

The French cuisine is also something you must try while you are in Paris. Avoid the touristy areas (e.g. Rue Moufetard) and try to find an artisanal Boulangeries. Patries and breads are very different from what you can find in America (Olive bread, croissants, pains aux chocolate are delicious). If you want some French delicate macarons, go to LaDuree or Pierre Herme (the chocolate one is my favorite). I would also recommend you to try cheeses (all kinds) and charcuteries (eg. saucisson sec, jambon) as they are not easily findable in America. Even tho this is more exotic, I love going to Mosquée de Paris for amazing couscous and Aux 3 Elephants for great Thai food.

To close this already long list of things to do, I recommend you to walk a lot, that's the best way to discover new places. Place de la Bastille is a great spot for drinks and food, Eiffel Tower is great for picnic, Moulin Rouge is very fun for parties. If you like posh bars, you can go to the top of Centre Pompidou for an outdoor drink, the view is amazing. Galeries La Fayette has an amazing dome, highly decorated for christmas. And if you're just looking for a public park to chill: Jardins du Luxembourg are pretty cool.

Some great events you might want to attend: La fête de la musique (music festival) and La nuit blanche (White Night).

Get more advices for Paris directly on my Google+.

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