The Palace of Versailles was one of the many guided tours I went on.  Although I loved the city tours, this particular trip to the palace stuck out in my mind when reminiscing about my trip to Paris. First off, the palace is HUGE and every inch of it, both inside and out, is gorgeous.  The outside had the most amazing gardens and fountains.  The overall structure of the building was imperial, lots of columns and stairs which reflected a royal entrance. Also upon arrival one can’t help but to notice the marble court, which is pretty much a slab of marble on the ground outside in front of the palace.

The Palace of Versailles was the official residence of the Kings of France from the late 16^th century to the end of the 17^th century.  The town of Versailles itself served as France’s political capital during this time.  Louis XIV motive was to move to the palace along with his nobles so that he could keep a watchful eye on them.  Louis XIV transformed a modest hunting lounge into the incredible structure we view today.  He drained swamps and moved whole forests to create 250 acres of formal gardens, tree-lined paths, lakes, and fountains.

The ceilings of the palace are covered in Fresco paintings, as are the walls and rooms which have art work everywhere. The Grands Appartements (State Rooms) of the palace are lavish showplaces filled with murals, paintings, sculptures, and velvet draperies  My favorite room was the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, also called the Galarie de Glaces. The room is simply what its name implies, a hall covered in mirrors with striking chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Not only is inside the hall beautiful but the view looking out is just as great.  When looking out the window I was able to view the Versailles Park. The room owes its name to the seventeen mirrors facing seventeen arcaded windows.  Each arch contains twenty-one mirrors with a total of 357 used in the decoration of the Hall of Mirrors. The room holds a lot of importance due to the fact that it’s the location of where the Treaty of Versailles was signed to end World War 1.

Another room I found interesting was Napoleons’ bedroom.  I found this room to be intriguing because I find interest in the story of Napoleons’ life.  The material they used to decorate the rooms showed how back in that century beds were much smaller and rooms much simpler.  Still each room in the palace represented elegance and royalty.

It is impossible to view the whole palace in one day, but if that’s all the time one has then it’s possible to see the most popular sections of the palace in a guided tour.  Versailles is so rich and beautiful that it is almost tiring! There are so many little cool things- for example, if you look at the floor in the hall of mirrors one way, the wood looks dark, then if you turn around, it is light!  Another great aspect is the town of Versailles itself.  After viewing the castle and gardens one should absolutely wonder outside the gates and grab lunch or a drink.  

Sources

http://www.parisdigest.com/monument/galeriedesglaces.htm

http://www.paris-tourisme.com/places/versailles/

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

http://www.a-castle-for-rent.com/versailles/ 

Whenever I travel, a major priority of mine is trying the country’s traditional food and drink.  Paris is the center for fine food and even better wine.  Something interesting I learned about the wine in Paris from a waiter was that it is way stronger than the wine we are used to in the United States because it is made locally.  Since the wine gets in the hands of consumers quickly, there is no need to add a lot of preservatives, making the wine stronger. 

Also, something I appreciate as a lady and found hilarious for my male travel partner was the fact that the menus in four or five star restaurants differed upon the sex of the customer.  Females received menus with no prices next to the items, and males received menus with all the prices listed next to each item.  I liked the old school chivalry shown in the restaurants.  Plus I couldn’t make a move without one of the many waiters asking me if I needed anything while they dusted every crumb off of the table!  I definitely felt like a valued customer. 

The French have an ongoing love affair with food, especially when it comes to bread, cheese, and wine.  While walking on the street during the afternoon it is very common to see Parisians walking around with a freshly baked loaf of bread cut down the middle with cheese in the center.  I usually ate this simple meal for lunch and it was great! The bread there was mind blowing! So crispy and fresh and overall just had a completely different taste than any bread I had in the states.  All it took was a little bit of cheese, or a few thinly slices of ham and I had myself one tasty sandwich. In the United States we usually buy all our groceries from one grocery store, in Paris they have this option as well but most go to specialty shops. For bread they go to a Boulangerie, for cheese they go to a cheese shop, etc.

In my opinion French cuisine is a variety of foods prepared in an even larger variety of ways.  The cuisine mixes the best combinations of food from many different cultures and constantly evolves traditional recipes. The term “French Cuisine” is actually a misconception because the word “cuisine” is the French word for kitchen.  We Americans tend to think of French cuisine as really good French food, when in reality is simply means French kitchen. 

Foie Gras is a very well-known French delicacy and its flavor is described as rich, buttery and delicate. Foie Gras is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose. It is usually served with a side of apple sauce.  I tried it in France, and was honestly not a fan.  I had it another time, and the second time around the foie gras was cooked and I liked it much better. Other foods one finds a lot in French cuisine is truffles and ceps (both mushrooms) and escargot which has made a name for itself in the states. 

Cooked Foie Gras

Overall my dining experience in Paris was terrific.  I ate at some delicious restaurants with not so satisfying prices and I ate at other good restaurants with very reasonable prices.  The location of the restaurant will have a major effect on the prices of each meal.  Suggestions I have for those interested in a great dining experience, at every budget, would be to look for the secret cafes tucked away in parks.  They not only offer a serene atmosphere, but also a great meal at very reasonable prices.  Sometimes you’ll find a great little café where the waiter will not speak an ounce of English, and the menu will be written in French, don’t panic! You’ll be surprised at how far you can get in a conversation by gesturing.  Also, always ask what the waiters recommend. Most likely you will not be familiar with a majority of the items on the menu. 

For those who can afford to dig deep into their pockets and splurge on an expensive meal, definitely eat at Cafe de l’homme.   If the weather is nice absolutely sit outside on the terrace!  Your view is the Eiffel Tower, and it’s a very close view.  That by far was the most amazing place I ate at in the city.  I can’t tell you what I ate, I remember it being very good though and eating it all.  I can however remember the breathtaking, mesmerizing view.  That’s one dining experience I will never forget!

Sources

http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/Gourmet/gourmet.htm

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_to_buy_bread_in_paris

http://www.parisdigest.com/menus/restaurants-with-view-selection.htm

http://forkyou.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/foie-gras-dish1.jpg

When most of us think of the Statue of Liberty our minds automatically take us to New York Harbor.  Parisians on the other hand think to their local river, the Seine.  There on Swan Ally Island stands another Statue of liberty. The statue was given to the United States by the people of France after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representation of friendship between the two countries.

I was able to view the statue while on a dinner cruise during my stay in Paris.  The captain explained the statue to everyone as we sailed around it.  The statue in Paris is much smaller than the one I was use to seeing in NYC, but I still found it fascinating.  The statue located in New York was sculpted by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, and the same company who designed the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel engineering company, engineered the internal structure of the statue.

I had no knowledge that there was another Statue of Liberty in the World, so seeing the one located on Swan Ally Island came as a big surprise.  I couldn’t help but wonder the reasons for replicating the statue, and giving one back to the country who gave us our statue.  The answer was simply explained to me from the cruise commentator.  The statue height is approximately 35 feet tall and is a replica monument that was offered to the French by the American residents of Paris as a remembrance to commemorate the Centennial of the French Revolution.  The Parisian Lady Liberty is made of bronze instead of copper (the NY one is made of copper).  The Statue replica was inaugurated on November 15, 1889.  It was placed so that it faced the Eiffel Tower. 

The creator of the replica, Bartholdi was upset that the statue did not face the New York location of the Statue of Liberty.  After his continual persistence he finally got the statue turned to face America at the time of the World’s Fair in Paris. 

Most people have the impression that France and the United States do not get along, but the speech given to me by the cruise director seemed to be very different.  Not only do we share a statue that represents friendship, but many Americans live/stay in Paris and for long period of times to explore all the historic monuments.  It is very common to run into a fellow American, especially when participating in any type of city tour. 

Visiting the Statue of Liberty, the one located in Paris, was a highlight of my trip.  Although there were differences in structure and material used in creating it, it still highly resembles the one I was use to seeing in New York.  The best view of all was when the boat was creeping up to the statue and I was able to not only view the Parisian Lady Liberty, but also the Eiffel Tower and Pont de Grenelle, a bridge that crosses the Seine River.

The same sonnet is engraved on the inside of each statue.

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

I think it is important to understand why there is more than one Statue of Liberty in the World.  Overall it resembles friendship between the United States and France.  I also learned that there is a THIRD statue located in Paris’ Luxembourg Gardens, in dedication to the sculptor behind the statue, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.

Links to view all three Statues of Liberty:

New York: http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/new-york-statue-of-liberty-new-york-city-nyc001.jpg

Swan Ally Island, Paris:  http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/seine-allee-de-cygnes-paris-fp004.jpg

Paris’ Luxembourg Gardens: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/2418343073_94b49bbb11.jpg

Sources:

 http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/Statue_of_Liberty/statue_of_liberty.htm

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty

The Louvre is one of the most famous museums and houses some of the most stunning collections of artworks in the world. It is located in the city of Paris on the Rue due Louvre street.  From its beginnings as a royal fortress to the public institution we see today, one can take days in discovering all the Musée du louvre has to offer! 

“The Palais de Louve was originally built as a fortress in the 12th century by King Philip II Augustus along with the City’s first enclosure wall to defend the banks of the Seine river against invaders from the north. The Louvre was renovated frequently through the Middle Ages. Under Louis IX in the mid-1200s, the Louvre became the home of the royal treasury. The castle soon gained a dual function: in addition to its protective role, it became one of the residences of the king and the court, along with the chateau de Vincennes, the Hotel Saint-Pol in the Marais and the palace of the Île de la Cité” (wikipedia.com).

Not until Charles V became involved in the Louvre in the 14th century was the fortress enlarged and beautified.  His acts has made it a celebrated royal residence in Europe of its time.  Unfortunately All of Charles V work was destroyed during the course of the Hundred years War.  What did survive the war was demolished by King Francis I, to make a new structure in a renaissance style.

The mid-18th century was a time where an increasing number of proposals were made about the gallery.  Many wanted to make it a public establishment that displayed royal collections of art.  Louis XV agreed to a proposal and the hall was open for public viewing two days a week, but still the museum remained incomplete until the French revolution. 

The French Revolution officially transformed the Louvre into a public museum.  May of 1791, the Assembly declared that the Louvre would be, “a place for bringing together monuments of all the sciences and arts” (wikipedia). With the imprisonment of Louis XVI, the royal collections of art became national property.  Soon after the assembly began collecting art to display in the museum.

The museum opened on August 10th, 1793.  The public was given free access three days a week.  The collection showcased 537 paintings and 184 objects of art.  Most of the work was derived from the royal collections, the remainder from church property.  To help in expanding the art work, France’s revolutionary armies began bringing pieces from across Europe.  Unfortunately the museum was shut down in 1796 due to structural deficiencies.  It reopened in July of 1801, with the painting and art objects arranged chronologically and with new lighting and columns. 

During the tours I signed up for at the Louvre, my tour guide explained, in short, everything I wrote above, that a majority of the art work in the museum was gathered throughout many conquers and battles.  Napoleon was a frontier in gathering a majority of the art work we see today.  The Louvre not only expresses art throughout the centuries, but it also tells a story on how each piece of art became apart of the collection.

Today the Musée du Louvre contains more than 380,000 objects and displays 35,000 works of art in eight curatorial departments.  The museum offers viewers a wide variety in sculptures, paintings, drawings, and archaeological finds and is the Worlds most visited museum.  An interesting fact, the popular book, The Da Vinci Code, was made into a movie and scenes were filmed in the gallery. 

The Louvre is an art and history lovers dream place.  One is overwhelmed by each gallery and the overall dynamics of the building.  The popular painting, The Mona Lisa is housed and highly protected in the gallery.  People crowd in line to walk pass the magnificent painting, but viewers are not allowed to take pictures of the painting due to the fact that the light exposure can damage the piece of art.  Although I loved everything about the museum, viewing the Mona Lisa was by far the most memorable part. 

If short on time, I definitely recommend getting a tour guide.  A guided tour takes viewers to the most important and famous places of the museum and explains every detail from the structure of the room, time period of art work, and if it’s known, the artist of any given piece of work.  One can get lost in museum due to it’s overwhelming size, and numerous halls.

A picture of what the museum looks like today.

Sources:

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/mona_lisa_is_the_only_beauty_who_went_through/256533.html

http://kilby.sac.on.ca/towerslibrary/pages/users/Video%20-%20A%20tour%20of%20the%20Louvre.jpg

http://www.monalisamania.com/aammain.htm

 http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.focusmm.com/museum/france/louvre/louvre1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.focusmm.com/museum/france/louvre/louvre_h.htm&usg=__bNjQUuLR0qvSI6OnsZFuhptd3Yw=&h=319&w=528&sz=36&hl=en&start=21&tbnid=NeTQ8NVhkbOgxM:&tbnh=80&tbnw=132&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Blouvre%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20

 www.wikipedia.com

For reasons that elude most of us, Parisians seem to make impeccable fashion sense look like a walk in the park. It’s no surprise, then, that Paris remains the reigning center of all things haute couture. After museums and monuments, shopping is one of the main reasons Paris draws millions of visitors each year.

When packing for my trip to Paris I made sure to leave the comfortable walking shoes at home and instead grab my most stylish pairs of heels.  Girls growing up have always heard the saying “pain is beauty” and that’s a statement I stand by today.  Never did I see a frumpy outfit while walking on the streets of the very fashionable city.  Needless to say Paris style was all the glitz and glamour I imagined it would be. 

The woman of Paris walked around with a “don’t hate me because I live in Paris” demeanor and I loved it.  I never found the Parisians to be snobbish, only very sure of themselves.  They walked as if they always had a destination in mind, a destination they were late too.  I could easily tell who was a foreigner by the way they slowly walked the streets constantly stopping to look up and around at the magnificent structures that surrounded them.

There was a decent amount of high end designer stores located on the avenue called the Champs-Élysées.  The Champs is the second richest street in the World, after New York’s fifth avenue.  The street prides itself on sophistication, making it impossible for any “ordinary” store from moving in.  Louis Vuitton is one of the biggest stores on the street and a major spearhead in preserving the streets beauty.  As time passes the avenue has become more diverse and includes lower end retail stores, plus a mix of cafes’ and restaurants. Unfortunately the Champs-Élysées has taken a turn downward as far as glamour is concerned.  Although there are still beautiful parts of the long road, there are also a fair share on fast food chains, travel stores and thrift shops.  Must still a very mesmerizing view is offered on this street.

The normal shopper can’t afford Louis Vuitton or Chanel.  That’s where the wonderful world of flea markets and designer depots come into play.  A lot of the flea markets have a variety of products ranging from the freshest fruit, vegetables, and livestock one can find, to handmade jewelry and clothes unlike anything seen in the states.  I feel in love with flea markets and felt like a true Parisian shopping there.  I bought most of my gifts for friends back in the US from flea markets.  Some of the jewelry I bought looked very original, and some mimicked high end designer pieces from Coco Chanel’s jewelry line. When buying products from these jewelry artisans one is able to find out how the piece was made, what material, how long and even have things custom designed right there on the spot.  It was interesting speaking with the locals and supporting their business.  The best part was buying rings and other pieces that resembled some of my favorite designers for fractions of their designer prices!

Another great place to buy great things from Paris are at Designer Depots.  Designer depots resemble U.S. Salvation Army-type stores in the sense that one is able to bring clothes they do not want anymore, and get a little money from the shop owner.  The shop owner will then resell the garment for a little more money.  Keep in mind Parisian designer depots are usually owned by ladies with a flair for fashion.  A number of them even have professional experience in the fashion industry.  These depots offer designer and couture clothes are extreme discounts, something one should not shy away from.  The managers/owners will not buy anything from people looking to make a buck, they want the best.  Do not expect to go in there with your last season hooded sweatshirt and receive money for it. Instead expect a disapproving stare and rejection. Even the thrift stores that float around the city demand style.

There is an explosion of style and ideas for fashion.  I stayed In Paris during the summer, and shopped my way through my stay.  When I returned to the states, Paris showed me how evolved they were compared to the U.S.  Every piece of jewelry I bought, every outfit, even my CD’s were all just becoming popular in the states a few months after I returned home.  It was weird to think that the popular styles of “now” were the popular styles of Paris months ago.  There is something mystifying about being in the lead when it comes to fashion.  I am still unsure why Paris is such a place of inspiration; it may be the influence from successful designers, the views seen around the city, or possibly the inspiration derived from the past that seems to reappear in our present. Paris has been the leading role model in fashion for many decades. Fashion Week, held in Paris every year, is a great example of trends that will soon overwhelm our stores.

Sources:

http://www.letsgo.com/9666-france-travel-guides-paris-sights_and_activities-along_the_champs-%C3%89lys%C3%A9es-c

This blog will express the essence of Paris, France. My love affair with Paris started when I was 18 years old.  After graduating from high school my father surprised me with a father/daughter trip to the city of lights, Paris, France! As someone who always loved to travel i found myself overwhelmed with joy. I grew up dreaming about visiting this city, mainly for its front lead in fashion and historic aspects.  I am currently a 22 year old attending Rowan University.  I am a Writing Arts major about to graduate and face the real World, unfortunately.  I have continued to travel over the past few years but my trip to Paris has been by far the most memorable and enjoyable trip ever.  Four years later I now have the opportunity to share my experiences from my trip to France. 

Regardless of the season, Paris offers tourist the best in dining, nightlife, shopping, art, history, and amazing scenery. The trip lasted one month, just enough time for me to begin feeling like a true Parisian! One cannot help but to feel the culture streaming through their veins when walking on the gravel ground of the city. 

When traveling anywhere I feel as if one should stay for as long as they can.  A week in Paris is enough time to skim through the main attractions like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower during the day, catch a few shows like Moulin Rouge at night and be wined and dined at dinner.  But to really experience the true essence of the city one has to go to the weekend markets, spend a few days at just the Louvre, have dinner at typical, small, outside terrace of restaurants over looking the Eiffel Tower, or any of the other magnificent scenery.  I was able to live in Paris for a month, and through the amount of time i spent there i was able to steer away from the touristy sites and experience the local perspective of Paris!

The city of Paris is a million different things to a million different people! The style of the city ranges from ultra-modern fashion temples to traditional, mirrored palaces.  After dark, the city’s theatres and concert halls host world-leading productions of theatre and dance.  The city’s vibrant cultural mix puts it at the forefront of the world music scene.

Paris is broken down into two sections, the Left and Right Banks and has more familiar landmarks than any other city in the world. As a result, first-time visitors often arrive in the French capital with all sorts of expectations: of grand vistas, of intellectuals discussing weighty matters in cafés, of romance along the Seine, of naughty nightclub revues, of rude people who won’t speak English. If you look hard enough, you can probably find all of those. But another approach is to set aside the preconceptions of Paris and to explore the city’s avenues and backstreets full of secretive little nooks tucked away from the Grands Boulevards as if the tip of the Eiffel Tower or the spire of Notre Dame wasn’t about to pop into view at any moment.

Don’t be afraid to get lost in Paris. As long as you have a map with you and you ask a passerby (even in English or fractured French), someone will put you back on track. I’ve made some great finds while being lost

You’ll soon discover (as so many others before you have) that Paris is enchanting almost everywhere, at any time, even ‘in the summer, when it sizzles’ and ‘in the winter, when it drizzles’, as Cole Porter put it. And you’ll be back. Trust me.

I decided to write a blog on Paris to share my experience there with others, give advice, and just to overall inform others on the beautiful, historic city!

The Basilica of the Sacre Coeur

Sources:

http://www.world-city-photos.org/Paris/photos/paris_black_and_white/Basilica_of_the_Sacre_Coeur/

http://www.aviewoncities.com/paris.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris