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Paris stimulates the senses, demanding to be seen, heard, touched, tasted
and smelt. From romance along the Seine to landscapes on bus-sized canvases
to the pick-an-ism types in cafes monologuing on the use of garlic or the
finer points of Jerry Lewis, Paris is the essence of all things French.
Gaze rapturously at its breezy boulevards, impressive monuments, great
works of art and magic lights. Savour its gourmet selection of cheese,
chocolate, wine and seafood. Feel the wind in your face as you rollerblade
through Bastille, or a frisson of fear and pleasure atop the Eiffel Tower.
Paris is a city to discover. So see the sights, visit the museums -
they're part of the experience. But then jump on the metro or a bus and get
off at a place you've never heard of, wander through a quartier where French
mixes with Arabic or Vietnamese, poke your head into mysterious shops, have
lunch in a local restaurant, or just perch on a cafe terrace with a vin
blanc and let yourself fall in love with your very own Paris.
Orientation
Both the capital of the nation and of the historic Île de France region,
Paris is located in northern central France. Central Paris - known as Intra-Muros,
or within the walls - is a nice, oval-ish shape, divided neatly in two by
the Seine, with 20 arrondissements (districts) spiralling clockwise from the
centre in a logical fashion. The area north of the river, the Rive Droite
(Right Bank), includes the tree-lined Avenue des Champs-Élysées, running
west to the Arc de Triomphe. East of the avenue is the massive Musée du
Louvre, the Centre Georges Pompidou and a lively district of museums, shops,
markets and restaurants. Immediately south of the Centre Georges Pompidou on
the Île de la Cité is the world-famous Notre Dame. The area south of the
river, the Rive Gauche (Left Bank), is home to the city's most prominent
landmark, the Eiffel Tower. To the east, in the Saint Germain de Prés and
Montparnasse districts, Paris' famous academic, artistic and intellectual
milieus waft in and out of focus through a haze of Gitanes smoke.
Lets face it, when it comes to style, cuisine and drink the
French do pretty well. Paris is a great place to do some sampling,
especially with so much else going on. Most people want to stay in the Latin
Quarter but you'll be able to find curios and decent bars and eateries
practically anywhere - even near the Gare Du Nord. Then, of course, there's
the culture. Besides the glorious depth of world music talent, you can't go
to Paris and not take in the Louvre, the Pompidou, the Musee D'Orsay, the
Opera, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower… it goes on! For bars and restaurants
it's always worth poking around the smaller streets for culinary gems – just
what you need after a morning's bargain hunting in the markets.
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