11.27.08
Posted in Sights in Paris at 3:58 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
Notre-Dame though best known from its front façade is equally inspiring architecturally when viewed from the rear and the Seine side of the cathedral. From here, you can see the flying buttresses and enjoy the gardens, which somehow bring this great edifice down to scale. Notre-Dame is one of Paris’ most visited sights. Built on the Ile de la Cité, the oldest part of Paris, construction of this gothic cathedral began in 1163 and took about 180 years to complete. In 1239, Louis IX purchased what was believed to be the crown of thorns that Christ wore on the cross and later placed the relic in Notre-Dame.
From the prayers of departing crusaders on the way to their holy wars, to the pillaging of its statues during the French revolution, this great cathedral has witnessed much of the city’s history. At one time, geographers even decided that Notre-Dame should be the center of France, and all distances should be measured from it. No wonder, it was here that Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804. In 1944, Charles de Gaulle offered prayers of thanksgiving for the liberation of Paris, and in 1970 his state funeral was held in the cathedral.
With its great stain glass windows that once told Bible stories to the common people, Notre-Dame has long served its city. Today, the cathedral is almost always filled with visitors, whether they are seated in the nave or climbing the 387 steps to the top of the south tower.
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11.25.08
Posted in Planning Your Trip at 3:55 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
I must say, I am constantly being asked what new treasure I have discovered to buy in Paris. Most shoppers, I guess, are motivated by the hunt for the newest fashion, the best deal or that no one-else-will-have-it prize. For years, we anticipated trips to Paris to have a larger selection of Lacoste shirts, Longchamp bags, or the premier perfume that had not yet reached our shores. But, alas, our global world is too small. French goods adorn our department stores, and some have even debuted in the outlet malls. So, every year I continue my quest to find what I cannot find at home.
Wandering down a quiet street in the 6th arrondissement, I discovered my favorite French find - a fabulous handbag line, Rue Princesses. Yes, the purse bears the same name as its address, 11 Rue Princesse, located in the heart of Saint Germain. The boutique, French in every way, called my name. When I saw the windows lined with striking bags, I immediately obliged.
Receiving a particularly warm greeting, I relaxed a little, not usually liking too much personal attention. Within moments, I knew my “just looking” was over. The discretion of not touching was also thrown out the window, as I was seated with 5 purses surrounding me trying to decide which one would do best.
Rue Princesse is now a must-do in Paris, but for a virtual visit, you can go to: www.RuePrincesse.com
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11.20.08
Posted in Sights in Paris at 4:21 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
Often a full trip to Paris requires accomplishing several things in one place - voilà! - shopping and lunch at Printemps! As one of Paris’ “grands magasins” or large department stores, Printemps welcomes international visitors with a 10% discount on many of their purchases. You may stop by the information counter and show your passport or a copy to receive your discount card.
When you are ready for lunch, you may take the elevator up to the 6th floor to Café Flo. The brasserie offers a tasty lunch menu offering something for everyone in your party. My favorite has always been the classic quiche of the day and salad, savored under the stained-glass dome of Café Flo. The dome was built in 1923 with 3,185 stained-glass windows. It was taken down piece-by-piece in 1939 during the Second World War and reassembled again in 1973.
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11.18.08
Posted in Planning Your Trip at 4:20 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
Planning a trip to Paris…trying to figure out which day trips to work into your visit? If it is May or early June, the choice is made for you; you must see Monet’s gardens and home in Giverny. Claude Monet, the Impressionist painter, drew inspiration for his paintings from his two-acre water lily garden and almost three acres of flowers. Carefully planned to give a beautiful show as the seasons change, the gardens are one of Monet’s greatest works of art.
The gardens are open from April 1st to October 31st from 9:30am - 6:00pm everyday except most Mondays. I have visited Giverny in late May and in early June, both of which were absolutely breathtaking. My pictures of the roses and the peonies in full bloom will keep the memories fresh. When I visited Giverny in October, the look was completely different with the gardens overgrown in autumn colors. You might enjoy going to the web site to see what is in bloom each month:
www.Giverny.org/gardens/fcm/calendar.htm
The gardens are spectacular! Don’t forget to bring your camera. Every area seems to have its own delights from the arched walkways filled with flowers, to the fruit trees, and on to the water lily pond. Monet’s home is also charming and gives unique insights into the artist.
Make sure you save time for a visit to the gift shop. Gardeners will especially enjoy the books that describe Monet’s planning for all of the seasonal blooms. The one I purchased was Monet’s Passion, which details how you can bring Giverny home. What an inspiring thought!
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11.13.08
Posted in Planning Your Trip at 4:40 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
What history lives in the Louvre! Originally built as a medieval fortress, the Louvre first served as protection for Paris. The Louvre would then become the palace of the French kings, until Louis XIV moved his court to Versailles. In 1793, the Louvre became an official museum of the French Republic, currently receiving over 6 million visitors a year.
Endless hours could be spent drinking deeply of all this museum has to offer. I can remember on my first trip to Paris as a college student; we had 4 hours do Paris. Being the optimistic youth that I was, I felt confident we could give it a good shot. One of our most strategic moves was to buy a ticket to the Louvre and quickly find our way to the Mona Lisa. Upon beholding her beguiling smile, we turned around and exited the museum.
Since then, I have discovered that many people have very similar “quick trips” to the Louvre. Our visit was accomplished in less than an hour, but a full exploration would require several days and to study it all, perhaps a lifetime! May I give you my fullest confession? The several hour visit to the Mona Lisa and a few other stops is still my most requested tour for first time visitors. For some reason, most of the friends that I take only want the “quick trip.” I think that with only a short time to see Paris, the museum can seem somewhat overwhelming.
In other words, there are many ways to do the Louvre, depending on your interests and desire to peruse the museum. The best idea is to decide before you go what you are most interested in seeing. The museum offers an online site where you can get an overview of the different exhibits at: www.louvre.fr After the flash, select English and under Museum choose the virtual tour. You may click on the exhibit that interests you and plan your visit.
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11.11.08
Posted in Sights in Paris at 4:36 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
Place de la Madeleine is a wonderful area for food lovers, especially for those of us who love chocolate! A trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to the signature awnings of Fauchon. Fauchon has a tearoom, as well as another shop for buying all of its goodies a little further down. My personal favorites are the dark chocolate covered almonds. They cost more than lunch, but they sure make delicious nibbles for the whole trip!
Hédiard, on the other side of the Place de Madeleine, has the most fabulous fruit baskets and an extensive selection of teas. In these markets, one can also purchase truffles, caviar, and other French delicacies. The French have a wonderful custom of bringing gifts to their hosts, and Hédiard offers some wonderful suggestions.
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11.06.08
Posted in Planning Your Trip, Sights in Paris at 5:01 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
The Tour Eiffel is an international symbol of Paris. Built by the engineer, Gustave Eiffel, for the Universal Exhibition in 1889, the tower was not always a favorite among Parisians. During its initial construction, many Parisians worried that it would endanger French art and history, and wrote a petition against this “monstrous” Tour Eiffel. However, upon its completion, the tower met with enormous popularity. Today, a trip to Paris would not be complete without a view of the Tour Eiffel.
The Tour Eiffel has three levels. Tickets may be purchased at varying rates for each of these levels. Unless heights bother you, going to the highest level is quite an adventure. Some may enjoy the “stair master” approach. With 360 steps to the first level, 700 steps to the second level, and a whopping 1,652 to the top, be my guest. Actually, the stair access is only open to the first and second levels. That is my excuse!
The view from the top is wonderful by day and glittery by night. Since the millennium celebration in 2000, this amazing landmark gives a special light show after dark on the hour for ten minutes until 1:00am (2:00am in the summer). So don’t forget to check your watch for this beautiful display.
The restaurant with the most spectacular views is Le Jules Verne Restaurant on the second level. Because of the restaurant’s popularity, a reservation of several months in advance is often required. Don’t forget to request a window view!
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11.04.08
Posted in Sights in Paris at 4:00 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
Often we arrive in Paris in the late morning or early afternoon. Our first stop after dropping off our luggage is a stop at Angélina on Rue de Rivoli. Angélina is famous for its “Le Chocolat Africain,” said to be the best hot chocolate in Paris.
Our first experience with French hot chocolate or “chocolat chaud” was amusing. We thought the pot filled with thick dark chocolate was the hot chocolate, as we know it. We were amazed! It seemed more like a thin pudding than a drink. We did not realize that this real hot chocolate was only meant to fill about a third of the cup. The rest of the cup is filled with hot milk, or in the case of Angélina, whipping cream. How incredible it is! Angélina even sells their special mix, which can even be taken home to recapture the experience or shared as gifts. You won’t want to miss it!
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