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| Say oui to Paris | |||
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 here's a reason why France is one of the most popular destinations in the world. It is a country that offers delights of every kind: from beaches to skiing, ancient to modern wonders, as well as great food and beautiful women.
It almost goes without saying: Paris 'the City of Lights' is not only one of France's top draws, but a must-see worldwide. Both the capital of the nation and of the historic Île de France region, Paris is located in northern central France. Central Paris - known as Intra-Muros, or within the walls - is a nice, oval-ish shape, divided neatly in two by the Seine, with 20 arrondissements (districts) spiralling clockwise from the centre in a logical fashi The area north of the river, the Rive Droite (Right Bank), includes the tree-lined Avenue des Champs-Élysées, running west to the Arc de Triomphe. 
East of the avenue is the massive Musée du Louvre, the Centre Georges Pompidou and a lively district of museums, shops, markets and restaurants. Immediately south of the Centre Georges Pompidou on the Île de la Cité is the world-famous Notre Dame. The area south of the river, the Rive Gauche (Left Bank), is home to the city's most prominent landmark, the Eiffel Tower. To the east, in the Saint Germain de Prés and Montparnasse districts, Paris' famous academic, artistic and intellectual milieus waft in and out of focus through a haze of Gitanes smoke.
Paris assaults the senses, demanding to be seen, heard, touched, tasted and smelt. From romance along the Seine to landscapes on bus-sized canvases, Paris is the essence of all things French. Gaze rapturously at its breezy boulevards, impressive monuments, great works of art and magic lights. Savour its gourmet pastiche of cheese, chocolate, wine and seafood. Feel the wind in your face as you rollerblade through Bastille, or a frisson of fear and pleasure atop the Eiffel Tower. Paris is a city to discover. So see the sights, visit the museums - they're part of the experience. But then jump on the metro or a bus and get off at a place you've never heard of, wander through a quartier where French mixes with Arabic or Vietnamese, poke your head into mysterious shops, have lunch in a local restaurant, or just perch on a cafe terrace with a vin blanc and let yourself fall in love with your very own Paris. Get these sites, and a walk along the Champs Élysées out of the way, and then take a day (or more) to get lost in the Louvre, the world's best art museum and home to the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. 
Do the prerequisite tour of the Notre Dame Cathedral (Quasimodo's home), but don't overlook the cultural value of the Catacombes and the Place des Vosges, a former aristocratic center now filled with great architecture and interesting shops. Centre Georges Pompidou is one of Paris' most visited sites and an absolute wonder, considering its wide array of art galleries, theatrical venues and neighboring city square. For fun, don't forget about the vixens at the Moulin Rouge or a canal boat ride on the Seine River.
Don't miss Musée d'Orsay as it houses some of the world's best Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Paris, quite simply, it is heaven for the culturally minded, a place to savor and visit over and over again Worldroom: Paris City Guide Paris Weather: | |||
