Around the Planet

No tour of Europe could possibly be complete without a visit to the romantic city of Paris.

Standing majestic over the city is the Eiffel Tower, which, once controversial, has now become the iconic symbol for Paris, and from La Tour Eiffel, you get a magnificent view over the whole city.

Another icon of Paris is the Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame, famous for its impressive stained glass, its flying buttresses, and its numerous gargoyles – images of ugly little goblin-type creatures that were put on the side of the building to scare the Devil away, but which now fascinate tourists, and look great on postcards.

Another great church of Paris is the Sacre Coeur, an impressive white domed basilica, situated high above the Montmartre, which is the artists’ quarter where Toulouse-Lautrec and his friends once drank absinthe and enjoyed the Bohemian lifestyle. Street artists are still to be found in here today, and, and if you care to pose for a while, you can have a good portrait of yourself sketched for a reasonable price.

No visit to Paris is complete without a visit to The Louvre, and of course the piece de resistance, the Mona Lisa with her secret smile. When the glass segmented Louvre Pyramid designed by Pei was built on the central courtyard of the Louvre it raised a bit of an outcry, but now people say they cannot imagine the Louvre without it.

Another favorite of mine has to be the Centre Pompidou, an eye-catching piece of modern architecture, which is both a library, a museum and a center for music. Equally fascinating is the area itself, like Covent Garden in London, there is a lot of street theater, with skilled performers and musicians busking for the crowds.

You may find it interesting to pay a visit to the famous Parisian cemetery Pere Lachaise where such celebrated people as Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Honore de Balzac, Sarah Bernhardt, Chopin, Yves Montand, Edith Piaf, and many other great people are buried.

The sheer beauty and atmosphere of Paris is so stunning, it always makes you want to come back.