Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Paris’

Visit Paris and Learn About Its Modern Art and Architecture.

September 9th, 2009 No comments

In Paris France, the earliest sign of civilization dates back to 4,200 BC. This was when the Parisii of Gaul, which was a Celtic tribe of boaters and traders, dwelled there. The Romans brought their culture to the Left Bank, bringing palaces, baths, temples and theaters. Once the empire collapsed, rule of the city passed from Germans to the Franks to Burgundians and to the English. Finally, French kings assumed the throne again in 1436. Paris survived a number of upheavals, power struggles, revolutions, wars and disease outbreaks over the centuries. Today visitors staying in Paris hotels can see bits of history all around them, if they know where to look.

Architecture buffs have a number of places to see when they visit Paris France. You’ll see palaces like the Palace of Versailles, which was built in the French Renaissance tradition circa 1678; Chateau de Villette, another 17th-century palace, crafted in French Baroque style for Louis XIV’s ambassador, Jean Dyel; or the Palais de Chaillot, a stripped classical structure designed for the 1937 World Exposition. Other French Baroque palaces include the Chteau de Maisons, Chteau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, the Jardins des Tuileries, Palais du Luxembourg and Palais Royal-Muse du Louvre. In addition to palaces, there are churches in Paris that date back to the 12th and 13th Centuries, such as the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral (1163), La Sainte-Chapelle (1238), Basilique Saint-Denis (1136) and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres (1140). Mont Martre, St. Louis des Invalides, the Church of Saint-Sulpice and the Paris Pantheon are other beautiful, historic churches.

Anyone who professes to be a lover of art simply must visit Paris France to see the Louvre, the second-largest art collection in the world (next to Moscow’s Hermitage). The Louvre was originally a fortress for Philip II in the 12th-century and it later housed kings like Charles V and Francis I. In 1791, during the French Revolution, the structure became a museum, which today holds more than 380,000 pieces of art. Visitors will see over 50,000 pieces of Egyptian art dating back to 4,000 BC, Near Eastern antiquities, Greek and Roman sculptures, Islamic art, ancient architecture, decorative arts from the Middle Ages and famous paintings by Michelangelo, Raphael, Da Vinci, Monet, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Cezanne. People staying in Louvre Paris hotels may also wish to visit tremendous libraries like the National Library of France and the St. Genevieve Library, as well as smaller art museums like Muse d’Orsay (which showcases French furniture, photography, paintings and sculptures) and the underground Musee de l’Orangerie, which houses original Monets.

Paris France is known for its wine, brie cheese, beets, asparagus, mushrooms and chocolates. Cakes and pastries like Niflette, Paris-Brest, Puits d’amour and tart bourdaloue are popular at the cafes. Breakfasts usually consist of croissants, coffee and fruit. Lunch is the big meal of the day around noon and dinners are eaten late at night, usually around 8 p.m.

If you are passionate about food, then you can come to Paris and request a food tour from www.edible-paris.com, www.viator.com/paris-food-tours, www.poshnosh.com/tbkaf/foodlover-paris.html, www.meetingthefrench.com or circatours.com/tours-wine-cuisine/paris-food-fairs.htm.

Whether you stay for a romantic weekend at hotels in Paris or you spend several weeks soaking it all in, you’ll find Paris outweighing most European cities in what it can offer you.

Get the latest on Luxury Travel Specials. Read about Visiting Europe- London, Paris and Rome Tours.

The Top 5 Cities to Visit in France

May 2nd, 2009 No comments

Being the most popular visitor spot in the world, France has something to present to every traveller that comes its way. When you think of France, the foremost place that comes into your mind is Paris. The most amazing capital city, the home of Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees and Notre Dame is the idyllic spot for city slickers.

Being a cosmopolitan, Paris is the excellent mixture of modern as well as the cultural. Your visit to Paris would be incomplete without a visit to the Louvre Museum. Seeing the portrait of Mona Lisa is an experience not to be missed. Then you should head towards the River Seine. Take a boat ride while listening to the tunes of ‘Les Champs Elysees’ and you would also have the chance for a quick look at the Notre Dame.

Done with Paris, head towards one more stunning city of France, Lyon. Lyon is home to exceptional galleries and museums. The city also has a flourishing nightlife. Just as the entire of France is brimming with culture, Lyon also boasts its half. Its historic old metropolis has been given the rank of UNESCO heritage site.

The city is known as the French Capital of Gastronomy keeping in view the presence of a number of the most popular chefs of France. Two of France’s popular wine growing districts are positioned in close proximity to Lyon too.

Strasbourg’s historic city centre, the Grand Island has also been given the standing of a UNESCO world heritage place. Strasbourg is one city whose culture is an assortment of both French and German. The city is positioned in the striking Rhine Valley. If you are in Strasbourg, a visit to the popular sandstone Gothic Cathedral is a compulsory. Besides, you can visit the several medieval streets of the city. In addition to the museums, Strasbourg also presents its visitors its several parks, a number of which are of cultural and past interest.

Time Magazines describes Nantes as the most inhabitable city of all Europe. Nantes is also a centre of culture. You will find sufficient museums, castles, churches and other historical places in Nantes to satisfy you for your entire journey. Nantes holds fairly a lot of cultural occasions of classical music, theatre performances and art exhibitions which draws a lot of travellers each year.

Positioned in the heart of France, the city of Orleans is popular because of Joan of Arc, the rescuer of the city. In this city you will come across several museums and libraries replete with knowledge about Joan of Arc. One attraction that lures in endless visitors to Orleans every year is the carnival held in honour of Joan of Arc in the month of May.

Orleans is a good base if you are in mood to discover the Loire Valley as well as the nearby vineyards. Chateau de Chambord is one more must see owing to its distinct French renaissance structural design. Located just 100 km south of the capital, Paris, Orleans is a must see place for all travellers.

About the Author:

A Brief History of the Orient Express

April 16th, 2009 No comments

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, more commonly known as the Orient Express, is something that conjures up visions of mystery and intrigue. It has been the subject of many books, and many movies and novels have taken their settings from this luxurious train. It has a powerful grasp on the imagination, and in many ways, it is still the epitome of luxury travel.

Luxury train travel has a long history, with George Pullman being one of the first to hit upon the idea of offering luxury travel to passengers with all of the amenities available. By the mid 1800s there were train cars, which featured parlours for relaxing and sleeping berths. In Europe, Georges Nagelmackers began building luxury trains to provide upmarket travellers with comfortable travel by train.

The Orient Express first run was from Paris to Giurgiu, Romania, stopping in Strasbourg, Vienna, Budapest and Bucharest along the way. The train quickly acquired a reputation as a luxurious means of reaching the then-exotic (for travellers from Western Europe) destinations of Hungary and Romania. By 1900, the Orient Express was running an extended route travelling all the way to Istanbul via the Simplon Tunnel.

The twenties and thirties saw the reputation of this luxury train come into full flower, but the advent of World War II put a halt to it, and due to economy constraints and the advent of air travel, the train made its final run in 1977.

The Orient Express has found new life in recent years. Two of the Orient Express carriages were purchased at auction and 16 million dollars were invested in acquiring and restoring the 35 cars of the train.

It runs today and taking a trip in this historic train is for many one of the most romantic and historic trips that they will ever take. You can enjoy a truly international experience as you take the train to all of the cities that the train once travelled to. While the cities have changed, the loving recreation of the train allows you to step back in time.

Your personal steward will greet you and direct you to your compartment as you board. While you ride the Orient Express, you will dine like royalty. Expert French chefs are in the kitchen crafting exquisite meals from the finest ingredients obtained in each city where the train stops. There are three dining cars, which offer an atmospheric setting for each meal.

Choose from a single compartment or a double compartment, or combine two cabins into a private lounge with a banquette sofa and a sleeping compartment.

Sure, you could just continue to daydream about the experience of riding the Orient Express; but now that it?s something, which you really can enjoy for yourself, there?s no reason to! Stop dreaming and start experiencing the Orient Express.

About the Author:

How the Perfect Vacation Could Add Years to Your Life

April 7th, 2009 1 comment

Dream vacations can be described as vacations where the person does what his heart desires. These are the vacations where you really make your vacationing dreams come true; it may be driving up the coast of California, going to a bull run in Spain, or visiting the Taj Mahal in India. A person can find true happiness and joy when his heart is light. Happiness creates a load of endorphins that make travelers feel happier and live longer.

In these current economic conditions, many people feel too stressed to spend money on a vacation. They would rather save the money for an emergency situation. As a result, they end up feeling stressed out and as times get harder, they get more and more depressed. This takes years off of your life by assisting with the aging process. It is a well known fact that stressed out people not only look older, but age more internally.

For those who have the means to take vacation, they feel like they have no extra time. They spend time between working and looking after their family. Children are busy with after school activities and keep their parents on the run. The dreams of family vacations seem far removed.

If money or time is your problem, there are vacation solutions for you. Selecting the right airline in addition to the right travel package can help you save dollars without affecting the quality of the vacation. Moreover, most online travel websites will work with your scheduling needs. These are both important for having a stress free vacation. When you remove stress, again, you add years back to your life. Plan your vacation far in advance. This will help you take advantage of early bird specials.

Voyages to Africa, if planned ahead of time, can give you a big bang for your buck. There are numerous exotic locations in Africa that cater to different types of vacationers. They have safaris, hunting trips, mountain climbing, white water rafting, and bird watching in places ranging from Kenya to Egypt. An African vacation is sure to excite and titillate, promising an exhilarating vacation. An Australian vacation can introduce a vacationer to wonderfully magical scenery and deep sea diving off the Great Barrier Reef. Seeing kangaroos in the outback can definitely fulfill childhood dreams.

Some travelers much prefer the laid-back atmosphere of Europe. They’d rather visit cities like Paris, London, Milan, Madrid, and Venice. These trips offer lots of history, museums, and luxury. This can definitely be a relaxing vacation option of planned the right way.

The airline that you choose can make a difference in the price of your trip and therefore the feasibility of your trip. An excellent example is Emirates Airlines. They are based in Dubai and are a top carrier in the airline industry. With more than 100 destinations, they are not only a safe airline, but a luxury carrier as well. Their destinations are great, but their star quality service is even better.

If a vacationer picks Emirates Airlines as their carrier of choice, the have the opportunity to take an exotic Arabian adventure, which means tours, safaris, deep-sea fishing or cruises. As an addition feature, a vacation with Emirates Airline can win a vacationer a free stay at Atlantis The Palm, which includes access to Aquaventure and The Lost Chambers. Both are new and exclusive vacation hot spots.

No matter where you choose to vacation, always plan ahead, and be prepared for any surprises. Choose an airline like Emirates Airline that offers affordable tickets, vacation packages, and superior service. After your vacation you will be amazed at how much younger you feel.

About the Author:

What Makes The Perfect Honeymoon?

March 23rd, 2009 No comments

A prefect honeymoon is just the way to go to some place after your fabulous marriage. Not only is it the time to get to know your other half, it’s your time to get the much needed flee from the fatiguing marriage preparations. A just right honeymoon isn’t just travelling to the right destination; you would have to make some other decisions that are also momentous.

Choosing the destination has to be the chief pledge. Most of the honeymooners plump for European countries, Mediterranean, or the Caribbean as their destination because these are the some of the most beautiful and most renowned destinations. Choosing the primarily obsessive city of the world Paris has to be the spot on choice. Another wonderful destination is Switzerland. The untouched beauty and unparallel sceneries are worth a visit. Greece, with its dazzling islands, main of the gods and goddesses of love, persuade love birds for at least one memorable visit.

The similar goes for the perfect beaches of the Caribbean. Visualize, water so blue, you never thought it existed, the affection of the sun while you sip appetizingly fresh punches and drinks. The Caribbean offers you a choice amongst its hundreds of islands where every island holds its own exceptional enchanting. These are only some of the reasons why the Caribbean islands are one of the most admired destinations in the world.

Malaysia, Singapore, Islands of Bali, and Sumatra are again tremendously accepted destinations and more and more honeymooners are heading there now. As travelling is linked to financial plan, therefore, travelling to Malaysia, Thailand, or Indonesia is economical than drifting to Europe or the US. This is also one of the reasons why these places are becoming the option of honeymooners. These countries also proffer some of the greatest hotels in the world.

One more object of picking these countries has been the fascination of shopping. Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand enchant shopaholics like magnets, and honeymooners or regular travellers all like to shop likewise and thoroughly.

Your marvellous honeymoon place might be based on the activities that are being proffered. If you’re longing for some action such as mountain climbing, rock climbing, para-sailing, or just cycling then search for destinations that offer your favourite activity. With honeymooners, the Alps are a trendy destination. These offer loads of chances of mountain climbing and also skiing.

Honeymooners in the United States have numerous places to choose from. Napa Valley, Hawaii, and Las Vegas are just some destinations that are ideal for a honeymoon. There are ample places to ski, cycle, hike, or just walk in the country side. In addition to the beauty, honeymoons inside the US experience less of a visa hassle and succeed in keeping it inside the budget.

Cruises are also chosen by honeymooners. In fact, due to the gigantic value of the cruises, fastidious honeymoon cruises are also offered. Packed up with every plausible activity, these special cruises are among the very best. Honeymooners can pick their choice of cruises and the duration of the visit. For the best deals, the internet offers numerous packages that give details about every prerequisite of the whole honeymoon. Websites have privileged advisors that answer couples’ every enquiry.

About the Author: