Paris Travel Article

The City that lights up the world

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris …for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast." – Ernest Hemingway

The French have a term for Paris – ‘la Ville Lumiere’ – it means the ‘City of Light’. New York is often crowned the capital of the world, and I suppose that from the perspective of economy and its global powerbase, this is correct. However, there is one city, and only one, that can lay claim to the world’s heart. Paris is without dispute the romantic capital of the world and it will take your breath away for many reasons, for, as Hemingway stated so beautifully, Paris is a moveable feast. I can vouch for this because it took my breath away a long time ago, and I’ve been spellbound ever since.

Most stays in Paris are too short to take in the majority of Paris’ many, many charms, so a knowledge of the highlights is essential if you are to get the most out of your stay.

The first tip is to remember that Paris is made up of sweeping boulevardes and because of this, a map of the city can make it seem far easier to get to the next attraction than it actually is. So, when thinking of Paris, a good travel agent will help you map out a route that will allow you to take in the maximum amount of highlights without doubling back or losing too much time. The Paris metro is a must in this regard, and the world’s best rail system is a key asset in your pursuit of the maximum taste of this beautiful city.

Tip number 2. Food takes on almost a spiritual element in France, so remember when you’re dashing to and fro, to take time to complement your sightseeing and photostops (remember to ask me about where you can take the ultimate photo of the Eiffel Tower!) with some of the best food your taste buds will ever meet. A simple crepe or a fresh cheese and tomato baguette will leave you with an eternal memory of the capital of romance.

Tip number 3. And this one is important! Learn to say hello in French! The French have acquired a reputation for being rude that is wholly unjustified (cab drivers aside). They do have one sticking point. Most French citizens will tell you without hesitation that they would consider it incredibly poor manners to come to Australia and not attempt to speak a little English. A small attempt to at least say hello in the native tongue of their capital - a ‘Bonjour Madame’ or ‘Bonjour Monsieur’ with a genuine Australian smile - will get you farther than any pointing at maps and will clearly differentiate you from American tourists that assume that the French are ignorant or arrogant if they don’t speak English!

Tip number 4. Do venture out at nightime. Paris is equally beautiful in its evening gown! Too many travellers miss out on some of the most famous landmarks in the world when they are at their most elegant – the evening. The Arc de Triomphe and the Sacre Coeur are two landmarks that are at their most dazzling by night.

Tip number 5. Look up. History, art and culture are bursting at the seams in this wonderful place. You will often find rare and beautiful tributes to life, people and events all over the simplest of buildings.

I hope that in sharing ‘my’ Paris with you, I have helped extract more drops of joy from this beautiful place which has something for everyone, and rarely disappoints. One last thing… most will have heard the enchanting song “La Vie en Rose”. It is characteristic of Paris. It suggests life seen through a special tone of rose. Believe it or not, it’s not just a metaphor. Go to the area around the Sacre Coeur in the early evening and you will see that special rose hue in the fading light. I guarantee it will bring out the romantic in even the hardest of hearts.