12.09.08
Posted in Sights in Paris at 9:38 pm by Paris Ambiance Blogger
Joan of Arc was the truest of French heroines. Though the French word héros is very similar to our English word, we seem to have no similar hero in our culture. Joan of Arc has throughout history been a reflection of the soul of France.
The media’s portrayal of her in recent years has not served Joan well. Often only seeming like strange girl crazed by mystical voices, one is more struck by her oddity than by the desperateness of her time and the significance of her cause. Over a century ago, one unexpected American particularly felt compelled to plead her case.
Mark Twain dedicated twelve years researching the life of Joan of Arc with sincerity and detail. Already famous for Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, Twain’s audience had come to expect and enjoy his humorous style. But Mark Twain was determined if this literary venture did not sell, he would write it for his love and passion for Joan of Arc alone. He considered it the finest and best of all of his books.
For holiday reading, you might join the narrator, the Sieur Louis de Conte, and hear Mark Twain’s version of the story that needed to be told - Joan of Arc.
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12.04.08
Posted in Sights in Paris at 4:37 am by Paris Ambiance Blogger
Trocadéro rests upon the site of the old village of Chaillot. Evolving with time, serving one purpose then another, Place du Trocadéro with the Palais de Chaillot has now established itself as a perfect place to view the Tour Eiffel.
The Palais de Chaillot was built for the 1937 World Fair. Today the palace, with its two large wings, houses several museums. Between the wings is a large terrace, which offers an amazing “photo op” on its far wall with the Tour Eiffel as the backdrop. With only a few places to get a clear close-up top-to-bottom photograph of the tower, this terrace is one of the most convenient.
This area is also noteworthy for another decadent hot chocolate stop. Across the Place du Trocadéro is Carette, the nostalgic site of my first French chocolat chaud. With its famous patisserie, Carette makes an excellent salon de thé and the ideal French café for relaxing, reading, or people watching, whichever you choose.
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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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11.20.08
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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11.11.08
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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