PARIS

It’s true, Paris is lovely all year round.

Each season brings with it a new look and experience; from winter markets spreading Christmas cheer, to spring time cherry blossoms that make the city appear like a princess dressed in pink lace, to the summer fun of picnics and runs or discovering the city on a bicycle, to sitting on a park bench in autumn watching leaves of red and gold replace the warmth of the sun. A little rain on any day of the year, just makes Paris cooler, figuratively and literally.

“You’ll fall in love with Paris, no matter when the rendezvous.”So be prepared to be swept off your feet, twirl around, pose a bit, drink the wine and make it memorable, plan well to take the snapshots that you’re going to look back at and say “yep, I captured my dream”. If you’re going to make it here for a special occasion, and wouldn’t want to miss out on classy pictures of yourself, I would recommend hiring a professional photographer. I’ve seen a lot of good photographers you can contact through social media and some websites that offer hospitality services include it under their experiences header. But if you’re good enough with a selfie stick or a tripod with timer, go with it.

As on any trip that you take, who accompanies you matters. It could be a solo trip or with your partner or with friends or the whole family. Whatever the case, you will have to customize your itinerary accordingly, for example a) where you stay – a hostel, a home stay, a bed and breakfast apartment or a fancy hotel, b) next it could be the timing of your visit to any monument or attraction in the city – early mornings may not be possible with toddlers and younger kids, but ideal for solo travelers and couples. My advice is to make the best of the holiday you’re on, enjoy it, soak it in, don’t rush from one place to another, just to tick off a bucket list of sorts.

Even if it’s a short visit, keep some time aside to just stroll the streets, walk on a bridge, eat at a random restaurant or have a quick bite from a boulangerie / patisserie, pick up flowers from a local florist, stare at the Eiffel at night as it sparkles on the hour. I’ve always felt that it is the small moments that become the more treasured ones.

The list of famous monuments and must see places in the city, can be endless in Paris. I’m giving you my take on a famous few to start with.

To make things simple, here’s a sketch of the city with some iconic snapshots  plotted on a rough map, just to help you get a feel of what’s where and how far apart. For accurate and practical purposes however, apps like google maps and RATP within Paris will be a good guide.

…Continue reading by clicking on the posts below that interest you.

Stay tuned as I’ll add to this list in the coming weeks.

The Eiffel tower / La Tour Eiffel

Avenue des Champs Élysées

Notre-Dame Cathedral

The Louvre museum and Tuileries garden

Montmartre

A SUMMER SUNDAY IN PARIS