The Eiffel Tower and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

The Eiffel Tower
This is a truly special sight to behold in Paris - a must-see for any tourist. It's worth going to, simply because it's the icon of Paris.

But I personally didn't find the tower all that exciting - it looks small from below, there are a million tourists and there is a lot of litter.

To climb the tower by foot (the cheapest way) or to take the lift, you must arrive early, as the line for this can be huge. It's great to view Paris from the top, but only if you have the time to wait in line! I prefer by far, to see Paris from the top of l'Arc de Triomphe or from Sacre-Coeur at Montmartre.

If you're not going up the tower, there is actually very little to do at this attraction. Bring a lunch or something - I had seen more than enough after just 20 minutes! If you want to see the best sight of the Eiffel Tower, go to Trocodero Station and beside le Musée d'Homme you will see the Tower in it's full glory from across the river. It is from here, across the gardens and with the fountains that all the 'classic' postcard photos of the Eiffel Tower are taken.

During my time here in France, despite my unenthusiasm for the lack of activities around the tower itself, the Eiffel Tower has emerged as a centrepiece and an icon of Paris for me. Wherever you go in Paris - whether you are on the train, on foot, in the outer suburbs - there it is. You can orient yourself by it - you're always in the presence of this magnificent structure.

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Musée d'Histoire Naturelle


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Montparnasse
I've found this area of Paris excellent for restaurants and bars and shopping.

If I have not been meeting friends in the Champs-Elysées, it's usually at Montparnasse. I would recommend heading here for Happy Hour on Thursday or Friday, to any of the bars - it's a lot of fun and the streets are alive with people. To see the 'social' side of Paris, it's a great place to go.

From here there are a lot of interesting place to go, such as the famous Catacombs and Jardin de Luxembourg.

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This is a beautiful cathedral. My first impressions were at night - the church is lit up beautifull in the night sky, and you can catch elusive glimpses of it as you climb the tribillion stairs to get up there (of course you can take the escalator, but that costs money! lol!).

The view of Paris from this perspective, especially at night, is simply stunning. Thankfully the church itself has a policy of no cameras or videos, and they are very strict - helping maintain the spiritual feel.

I can't compare it in any way to the other spectacular church of Notre Dame - they are different in almost every way.

The experience for me was dampened by the amount of litter - it was very grotty and probably unfortunately the fault of tourists who just don't care. I was also frustrated and uncomfortable with the amount of people trying to do tricks for money, who were extremely insistent and agressive, and I expect that there is a lot of theft here. I left this attraction feeling disappointed and gripping my handbag tightly. It is better during the day for this. Just use common sense.

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Moulin Rouge
This structure is an icon of Paris, a munument to a sordid and sexy past - possibly an excellent representation of the lady, Paris, as a whole.

Despite being amongst the flashing lights and gaudy colours of this street, the Boulevard de Clichy, the red vanes of the windmill are still clear to anyone wandering down the street.

Moulin Rouge obviously translates to Red Windmill, and has had a very vivid and interesting history. The recent hit movie of the same name has rekindled interest in this sight.

Unless you go inside for one of the famous cabarets, there's not a huge amount to do. You can look at it, but that's about it. :) It's worth having a look at it in passing, but make sure you have other plans for the area - after seeing this I suggest a walk through the red light district and up to Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur.

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What can I say about this amazing place that has completely captured my heart? I won't give you a history, except to say that only a madman could have created this sensational place, and only a genius could have created this sensational place! Contradiction??? It's definitely not one when you see it!

Please check out my travelogue on this place, where I'm placing heaps of pictures!

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Directions: The chateaux is located in the suburb of Versailles. Everywhere within this area points to the chateaux - there are signs everywhere. You couldn't miss it. A train also goes directl
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More information, pictures and travelogues to come.

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Red Light District
This sometimes seedy, terribly trashy, but dramatically diverse part of Paris can be a lot of fun!

Filled with fabulous bars and restaurants, as well as some 'interesting' clubs and places which cater to... um... 'those' needs... :) But even for a fun night out, there are some great places to drink and eat, and I've found it fascinating to see the many various types of 'entertainment' that are offered here.

My first visit was with my boyfriend and his father. We wandered around a little, walked up to Sacre-Coeur, and I 'oohed' and 'ahhed' - then wandered back through this district towards where we were going to have dinner. We were walking past a particularly colorful shop and I was just thinking of the funniest way I could describe this place here in VT, and my boyfriends father turned to me and said with emphaticism - 'oublier!' (forget!). hehehe... I have not forgotten - I MUST return and take lots of colourful photos! (although my boyfriend has declared that he will not join me on THIS journey! lol)

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The soul of Paris is the Seine - the river that winds its way through the heart of the city...

The city grew around the Seine, and whilst now it is too polluted to swim in, it's still a magnificent river, which is constantly making its presence known - whether you're on the train or in the car - it seems that everything revolves around the Seine.

If possible, make a trip on one of les bateaux-moches (don't worry - I'm going to check my spelling on this! lol!), where you'll see a magnificent view of the City.

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