Merry Christmas from Paris! Surrounding you and extending all the way down the Champs Elysées to the Arc of Triumph is a glowing river of color, making you forget the chill in the air. Lights wink at you from the trees lining the majestic avenue, and it seems everywhere you turn something is glowing with gleeful brilliance. Christmas in Paris…there’s a magical flavor in the atmosphere, and the usual bustle of the big city is infused with something sparkly, festive,…
Paris A to Z….This post would be much too long if I were to include everything, so I’ll unfold a sampling of some known, unknown, quirky, interesting, and wonderful things Paris has to offer. Here you’ll find antiques, family-friendly ideas, flea markets, and open markets. I have taken these from my book, Magical Paris: Over 100 Things to do Across Paris. (special categories section) A is for Antiques and Vintage Marché aux Puces (See listing for Flea Markets, this section);…
I just thought it would be fun to take a stroll through some of my favorite slightly older photos of Paris. I tried to choose some more unusual viewpoints. Hope you enjoy them! Here’s one that surprised me as much as it probably did you!Park of LaVillette in the 19th district (northeast). This metallic ball is a planetarium. Look Closely…. Notre Dame Cathedral … notice how clean it is! It took about 2 years to…
Looking out from the Eiffel Tower to the west, you’ll see a far-away cluster of skyscrapers. You might wonder if a mini New York City was transplanted there. No, it’s La Défense. If you’ve taken public transportation in Paris, you’ve likely seen the words as a stop on the RER train or the Line 1 Métro, a station flung out to the extreme west of the city. What is La Défense? A neighborhood? A monument? Well, sort of… both.
In a city of 2 million residents, the need for more housing (not to mention financial opportunity) didn’t prevent the French government from prioritizing green spaces. Paris parks are not plots of grass or playing fields. The aesthetic design that has gone into the creation and maintenance of these oases will surprise and delight you. Including at least one picnic during your trip will balance the urban hustle of the city with a peaceful, floral getaway. Here are 10 Paris…
