Paris

Paris, the City of Light still shines in the hearts and minds of those who’ve walked down its charming streets and experienced its dazzling sights and sounds. It’s a city thick with people, about 2.15 million in a relatively small area of just a little over 87 square kilometers, culture, beauty, and food, from wines, cheeses, bread to chocolate, seafood, and coffee.

Unlike New York or London, what is considered Paris proper has never really expanded the boundaries of its administration, so Central Paris, or Intra-Muros, is reasonably condensed into a nice oval shape, unevenly bisected by the Seine River with 20 districts circling clockwise.

In such a beautiful city, the sights, sounds, and tastes are nearly endless. North of the river lies the Arc de Triomphe, the world’s largest traffic roundabout. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to commemorate his triumphs, it now remains as the meeting point of 12 major avenues.

Since 1920, the body of an unknown solder from WWI lies beneath the arch. A memorial flame is rekindled every evening at around 6:30pm. There is a viewing platform at the top of the arch, allowing for a breathtaking view of the city and the sprawl of the avenues coming together.

The heart of the city lies in Cathédrale Notre Dame, a veritable masterpiece of French Gothic architecture and the center of many of the city’s ceremonial events. The interior is even more spectacular, with immense halls that can hold over 6000 people and some of the most beautiful rose windows ever seen.

But, the main eye-draw of the cathedral is the vast 7800-pipe organ that dominates the room. From the north tower, some 387 steps, you can come face to face with the famous gargoyle statues and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

Probably the most iconic structure in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 World Fair and almost torn down in 1909 due to the complaining elite until it was realized that the tower was useful for antennas.

Southeast of the tower is a large grassy expanse that is utilized by teenagers as a skateboard park. Three levels of the tower are open to the public with elevators that take visitors to the top for one of the best views of the city.

Just outside Paris lies the Île de France, housing many of the regions woodlands for hiking and outdoor excursions as well as the EuroDisney amusement park.

For something more tradition, there are several historical towns that dot the landscape, and then the massive, most elaborate structure of Versailles, or rather, the Château de Versailles, the grandest and most popular palace in France. Almost disgustingly opulent and elaborate, Versailles was built during the reign of Louis XIV in the mid-1600s to show off the wealth of a nation, littered with grand halls, bedchambers, gardens, ponds, fountains, and even a Hall of Mirrors.

Paris

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