"A Passion for Paris" a Paris Travel Page by ExGuyParis

In many ways and on many levels, Paris is the most glorious city in the world. The city of light-- the city of love-- the city of food, the arts, and of "savoir-vivre." Remarkably safe (safer by far than just about any city in the US), saturated with beauty, abundant with culture of all modes and for all proclivities... to me, this is heaven on earth. Each day of living here is filled with new wonders.

Paris is a city made for wandering. Of course there are the famous monuments, museums, and tourist attractions, but the true joy in Paris can be found by wandering the various neighborhoods, hidden gardens, and the "off the beaten path" wonders. You will always find a surprise.

It is no wonder that so many people fall in love with this place, or in this place.

I have lived in Paris twice, for a total of eight years. I've been back in the US now for two years, and I hope that someday my heart will stop aching for Paris!

I worked in the heart of the city, and each day at lunch I spent time wandering and finding some new wonder.

J'ai deux amours-- mon pays et Paris: "I have two loves-- my country and Paris." This line is from a song Josephine Baker made popular a long time ago (recently resuscitated by Madeleine Peyroux), and it certainly hold true for me!

And furthermore...

Every time I look down on this timeless town
whether blue or gray be her skies.
Whether loud be her cheers or soft be her tears,
more and more do I realize:

I love Paris in the springtime.
I love Paris in the fall.
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles,
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles.

I love Paris every moment,
every moment of the year.
I love Paris, why, oh why do I love Paris?
Because my love is near.

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Cole !

It has been a painful departure.

Paris Plage is coming back. Take off your clothes! For one month, the dress code in the center of Paris changes significantly. The heart of the city becomes a beach, and the Seine is the “ocean.” For summer 2008, “Paris Beach” runs from July 21 to August 21.

My Friend Art and I spent a snowy winter day exploring the wintery wonders of the city. He snapped this shot from the rooftop terrace of Galeries Lafayette on Blvd. Haussmann. The city is typically quite cloudy in winter; the sun is a rare treat. The days are short.

This is compensated by the very long periods of daylight in the summer!