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According to historians, Paris is more than 2,000 years old. In that span of time, it has managed to become a thriving metropolis and a center of intellectual and artistic achievement. It started out as a small Gallic settlement but eventually grew into a multicultural capital of a modern European state; it is now one of the world's major global cities.
Aside from this, Paris also played a major role in the revolutions of 1830 and 1848. In 1871, during the Franco-Prussian war, the city was besieged for four months until France surrendered. After German troops withdrew, the Commune of Paris was briefly established. During the First World War, the Germans could not reach Paris. They were, however, able to occupy the city during the Second World War. In the end, Paris was liberated by Allied forces. day@paris., 3:00 PM
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3. The Marais
Of course, not everyone is a fashion enthusiast. For shoppers with an eye for the arts, the historic Marquis quarter is the ultimate shopping haven. Filled to the brim with unique and finely-crafted products, the Marquis satisfies the cravings of those with a more sophisticated taste for culture. Here we can find the Place des Vosges where visitors can shop for antiques or fine-arts. The Marquis also houses jewelry boutiques like Satellite on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, and boutiques featuring up-and-coming designers on Rue des Rosiers.
day@paris., 6:08 AM
France is blessed with sunny weather, beautiful countryside, a nice selection of beaches, historic cities, ornate churches, picturesque chateaus, and some of the best food and wine in the world.
Cuisine from all over the world can be found in Paris, including Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and other international tastes.
The wide variety of food in Paris is sure to overwhelm every food lover with delight.
Paris is a heavenly destination for gourmets as the city offers a wide selection of culinary delights.
These are just some of the many, many descriptions of the food in the city of Paris, France. There are others, definitely, but all of them probably say basically the same thing -- that Paris food is known throughout the world for its unequalled quality and taste. But what is it exactly that makes Paris cuisine distinct? What is it that makes it so special? Why do people like it so much?
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Well, apparently, the answer comes with taste. Unfortunately, none of us have really been to Paris, so there isn't much to go by. However, here are some teasers. What better way to prove your point than to bring on the visuals, right? (WARNING: This post may contain more visual representations than textual ones; severe mouthwatering may occur -- you have been warned)
SNACKS
Pain Au Chocolat - A slice of brioche with jam, or a bar of chocolate. Possibly better with chocolate.
Escargot - Snails. They're supposed to be really good.
Quiche Lorraine - A cream and cheese tart with bacon bits.
COMFORT FOOD
Boeuf Bourguignon - Literally means Beef Burgundy. A favorite during the winter months, it is a beef stew prepared in burgundy wine.
Coq au Vin - Chicken simmered in wine. Another winter favorite.
Cassoulet - A specialty of the Toulouse region, cassoulet is made with beans and sausage.
SEAFOOD
Moules (Mussels) - These mussels are normally much smaller and very sweet tasting. ‘Mouclade’ is a tasty preparation of mussels baked in a cream and white wine sauce.
Huitres (Oysters) - Oyster bars are popular in Paris. They have tons of this.
DESERTS
Iles Flottantes - 'Floating Islands' are mountains of meringue floating on a lake of ‘Creme anglaise’ or vanilla cream sauce.Light and "almost" calorie free.
Clafoutis - Sponge cake type texture filled yummy fruits of the season.
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Now that you've got a small look at the type of food they have in Paris, are you convinced enough to go there and taste them someday?
day@paris., 12:09 AM
For the latest in subway technology, try the express stations' computerized routefinders: at the touch of a button, you'll be shown four alternative routes to your selected destination, on foot or by public transport.
Metro Lines Explained
Always determine which direction you need to go relative to the line's endpoints. If you are at Chatelet and need to get to Odeon, you'd look at the map and see that Odeon is located south of Chatelet, toward Porte d'Orléans. This is important because once you take the metro in one direction, it's impossible to change directions without exiting the turnstile and going through again. This is costly if you have single tickets.
How To Use Passes On the Métro & Buses
The Mobilis, Carte Orange, and Paris Visite passes all come with a plastic sleeve in which to keep the ticket portion of the pass — which is the same size as a regular ticket, but more durable. When entering a métro or RER station, simply remove the ticket from its sleeve and insert it into the slot on a turnstile. The ticket will be returned to you from a second slot; replace it into its sleeve and pass through the turnstile. (Note: the ticket is also required in order to exit from RER stations.) When boarding on a bus, however, simply show your pass to the driver; do not insert the ticket into the machine on a bus, as this will invalidate it.
Hours of Service
Métro trains run from 5:30 a.m. to approximately 12:45 or 1:00 a.m. (this varies, so don't push your luck), at which point they are brought to various depots for daily cleaning and maintenance. You'll know whether you caught the last train for the night, if you see that the two lights placed above the windshield on the front of the train are flashing slowly (as opposed to just being on) when it pulls into the station.
Overnight Transport Options
If you happen to be out after the Métro system shuts down, and you're across town from your lodgings, the Noctilien nighttime bus service can get you closer to your destination.
Effective September 20, 2005, Noctilien replaced the old Noctambus system — both doubling its number of routes and the total kilometers covered by the network. While all 18 Noctambus routes emanated from one central hub at place du Châtelet, the 35 new Noctilien routes run from five different hubs: Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse, Gare Saint-Lazare, Gare de l'Est, and Châtelet. The service runs from 12:30 to 5:30 a.m., 7 days a week, covering 1,950 stops in Paris and 175 towns throughout Ile-de-France, including routes to Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
The frequency of Noctilien buses varies according to the route and the day of the week (extra service is offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings). Various passes are honored for travel, including the Carte Orange, Imagine R, Intégrale, Mobilis, and Paris Visite. If you don't have one of these passes, individual tickets may be purchased on board (€ 1.60 each) — though the drivers do not sell carnets of 10 tickets, which are only available from ticket agents in stations.
The number of tickets required for your particular passage is equal to the number of zones (1-5) you traverse on the route, after the first two zones; find examples of typical fares on the web site. Connecting with a different bus also requires a new fare.
Taxis
For nighttime travel, you can also try hailing a cab, either on the street or from the 745 taxi ranks around Paris and the suburbs. Look for the large white "Taxi Parisien" light — if it's on, the cab's available; a glowing orange light below it means it's engaged.
Overnight rates (Mon. - Sat., 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.) are €1.06 per kilometer within the city, €1.26/km to the suburbs; Sunday rates between midnight - 7 a.m. are €1.26/km to all destinations. The minimum fare for a taxi is €5.20 for 1 - 3 passengers, plus a supplement of €2.70 for each additional person, and €0.90 for each piece of luggage after the first.
Keep in mind that if you phone ahead for a taxi, the amount showing on the meter upon its arrival will reflect the distance it traveled to get to your pick-up point from its previous location. Do not be surprised if that amount is already €7 (or more) when you board.
day@paris., 12:57 PM
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There are a lot of hotels and apartments in Paris, France where everyone and anyone can stay while they are in the City of Love. Some of them are Hotel Lancaster, Hotel Chateau d'Augerville, Hotel Hilton Paris la Defense and a whole lot more. But one of the more famous hotels is HOTEL REGINA PARIS. They offer elegant Belle Epoque accomodations for visitors to central Paris. Located just off the Rue de Rivoli at the Place des Pyramids, this hotel is a short walk from the Louvre MuSeum and the Place de Concorde. The hotel's impressive historic facade give way to interiors characterized by restored frescoes, dramatic moldings and cornices, antique furnishings, and artwork.
DINDI: Ah~ A good night indeed. *wink*
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