"The Queen of All Cities: Paris" a Paris Travel Page by kikita

In July of 2000, I had the great pleasure of visiting Paris for the first time. Immediately, I fell in love with this city, and I knew this would be the first of many trips! Here are some of my favorite pictures from my week in Paris...the Champs- Elysees, the Eiffel Tower, one of the beautiful bridges on the Seine, and the view from my hotel room (Le Meridien) of Montparnasse on the Left Bank (found in the Accomodations tip).
Any visitor to Paris will find lots to see, do, and experience. This is a CITY, in the truest sense of the word! You will not be cheated...Here's some recommendations...make it a rule to start your day with a cafe au lait and delicious croissants (we enjoyed these at Le Meridien Hotel, but you can also choose to have yours at one of the bakeries or restaurants that abound!) You will want to see the Luxembourg Gardens, enjoying a walk to appreciate the blooming flowers and immaculate landspcaping of what was once home to Marie de Medici. The Boulevard St. Michel is another great place for a promenade, as it is chock-full of wonderful restaurants and small shops that you can have fun visiting. Along the Seine, you will find the strikingly beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral, built in the 12th Century, and a shining jewel in the city's crown. There is a really good boat tour down the Seine that is narrated in the language of your choice (you wear headphones and set it to your preferred language). From this vantage point, you can take great pictures and see all that lies along either bank of this famed river as you learn about Paris's history. This tour also includes a visit to the Eiffel Tower, and I considered it was reasonably priced and quite professionally done. The views of the city from atop the Eiffel Tower are indescribable.
Guess what? I discovered a passion for bridges in Paris! I loved all the very different bridges. The statues, fountains, and gold accents on much of the ornate architecture make Paris the most beautiful city I have ever seen...my daughter was totally captivated & soon declared Paris her favorite city to date (although New York runs a close second!) Don't miss the Palace of Chaillot, Les Invalides, and Versailles. You will also want to visit the Musee d'Orsay on the Left Bank, and treat yourself to a leisurely promenade down the Champs-Elysees, making sure you get your picture taken with the stunning Arc d'Triomphe in the background :-) I really enjoyed walking around Montparnasse and discovering the neighborhood near the hotel one afternoon...I found many interesting little shops and restaurants, delicious bakeries, a very old/historic cemetary (I love history, and much to my family's chagrin, usually spend hours reading tombstones everywhere I visit), and a beautiful church: Eglise Saint-Pierre de Montrouge. Another nice church (and there are many to see and experience) is the church of Madeleine, with beautiful architecture that is inspired in the Greco-Roman style. Also, let me not forget the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur. I have to say that I also enjoyed meeting many friendly and interesting Parisians and even running into a family from my own neighborhood in Florida while at the Eiffel Tower...I thought that was so very neat!
All in all, Paris is a city of legendary beauty and charm...it speaks to all that is refined, elevated, and cultured in humanity and has a universal appeal to many of us throughout the world! Vive la France!
*Francophones: forgive the absence of accents...I didn't know how to put them in!

and one of the strikingly beautiful bridges that grace the city of Paris...unforgettable!

The famed Eiffel Tower from afar...taken from one of the many bridges traversing the Seine. It is easy to spend an entertaining hour just seeing the ships go by, people watching, enjoying the beauty of the city from a bridge such as this.