Paris
Paris. The mere mention of the name brings me back to one of my favorite European cities. I immediately begin thinking of the romantic bistros where couples sit and talk for hours over a carafe of wine and leisurely walks over one of the 32 bridges connecting the Left and Right Banks. I picture leisurely dinner cruises down the Seine watching as history floats by. While it may sound cliché and like a scene out of the movies, go to Paris and you will see that couple kissing under the streetlamp while a lonely musician plays his tunes in the distance. It truly is the city of lights, the city of romance and the capital of luxury.
My introduction to Paris initially was a startling one. After sleeping through my trans-Atlantic flight I arrived, made it through customs and hoped on my hotel transfer to the Left Bank. During the drive I was assaulted with fantasy versus reality revelations. Buildings were gray, there was graffiti, it was a city….like any other city I was thinking. Perhaps it was the jet lag that colored that first impression, but I remember thinking “where is the romance?”. After unpacking, and hopping on a city tour to get the lay of the land so to speak, I was able to better appreciate the architecture and the beauty of Paris. That night, however, I came to the realization that Paris comes to life at night. The city lights up with a million different lights. There is the music of street musicians, the sparkle of the Eiffel Tower, and lovers everywhere one looked lending to the sense of romance. It was that first night that I began my love affair with Paris.
Aside from the movie images of the city, Paris is a cultural goldmine for the traveler. The city offers over 70 museums and monuments that can keep one busy for weeks along with intimate boutiques, cafes, bookstores and shops that can entertain for years. The art of food is a French birthright and dining options are endless from the street vendors selling baguette sandwiches to the restaurants of the modern day French masters of culinary art. In the capital city of art, cuisine and fashion one can enjoy theater, opera, fashion shows, wine tastings or just the simple pleasure of sitting outside with a cup of espresso and watching the city go by…for hours.
From the Left Bank with its Latin Quarter, intimate bistros and Notre Dame standing guard; to the Right Bank with the Eiffel Tower and the bustling Champs-Elysées lined chic restaurants and haute couture shops; to one of the many gardens throughout the city filled with artists, this dream destination offers something for every traveler. So whether you are planning a romantic getaway or honeymoon, a luxury trip, or a cultural exploration; keep Paris at the top of your list and fall in love with a city.
~Melinda Webb-CTA, CSS, DS, LS
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