If you’ve seen the 2013 film “Les Misérables,” then you are already familiar with Place de la Bastille. It is the setting for much of the second half of the film, marked by the large, decaying plaster elephant. Place de la Bastille is a historic Parisian square that still plays a large role in contemporary French culture. Here is an overview of the history of Place de la Bastille, as well as its ... Read Full Article
Best Paris 3 Star Hotels and Budget accommodation – by Arrondissement
Best Paris 3 Star Hotels and Budget Hotels by Arrondissement Finding a great Paris 3 star hotel is a joy. There really are some 3 star hotels in Paris that are better than 4 star hotels. Stars many-times are awarded for amenities like larger rooms or restaurants, not on the quality of the hotel experience itself. In any case, if you want to go out and explore Paris, you won't spend much ... Read Full Article
Favorite Paris 4 Star Hotels – by Arrondissement
Our Favorite Paris 4 Star Hotels When in Paris, I usually opt for a 4-star hotel. Rooms tend to be a bit larger and the bathrooms are better equipped. Here are our favorite 4 star hotels in Paris, listed for each arrondissement. If you haven't decided yet, which Paris arrondissement is right for you, please read our <<Where to Stay in Paris Guide>>. Paris 4 Star Hotels: 1st ... Read Full Article
Paris and Chocolate: A Combination Made in Heaven
Here is my list of the best Chocolatiers in Paris. I haven't tried every one myself, but it is my mission to do so. Some of the recommendations are from my other chocoholic friends. Angelina Famous for their excellent hot chocolate, this centrally located tearoom on the Rue de Rivoli is a tourist hang-out. There is usually a line to get in. Its "Chocolat à l'Africain," a creamy and rich ... Read Full Article
Musee du Luxembourg: A Paris Must-See
I love the small museums of Paris; the Orangerie, located in the Tuilleries, has two fantastic oval rooms with Monet's Water Lily canvases surrounding you. Another favorite small Paris museum is the Marmottan, a former estate that now houses a treasure trove of impressionist paintings, including Monet's painting that gave Impressionism its name: Impression Sunrise. On our last trip to ... Read Full Article
Paris Restaurant Guide – by Arrondissement
Paris is known for its many wonderful restaurants; after all the French are the connoisseurs of the good life. It has been said "you can't get a bad meal in Paris". Well, we have had several bad meals (especially in some of the tourist trap restaurants of the Latin Quarter). We would like to amend the statement to read "You do not have to pay a fortune to get a really fine meal in ... Read Full Article
Top 10 Sights in France
France is, without a doubt, one of the most fascinating countries in Europe. It’s no surprise that over 80 million tourists per year are lured to L’Hexagone (the French nickname for France, which refers to the physical shape of the country) by its culture, gastronomy, fashion, history, and lifestyle. Indeed, it’s hard to adequately describe France’s appeal, that certain je ne sais quoi, to someone ... Read Full Article
Exploring The Art of Montmartre
On a cool, sunny, winter solstice morning, my husband and I disembarked at the Place des Abbesses métro station and gasped with delight. We were greeted by one of eighty-seven Art Nouveau métro entrances in Paris. This one, consisting of a display of lacy, iron, filigreed flowers and figures, ushered us onto the streets of Montmartre. This village, perched on a hill above Paris, was the ... Read Full Article
Searching for Picasso in Paris
A few years ago, after visiting Picasso museums in Spain and Switzerland, my husband and I set out to find Picasso in Paris. Spanish born, Picasso came to Paris as a young man at the dawn of the twentieth century where he influenced the art world for more than fifty years. As a young man, he lived in the bohemian Montmartre area, and during the First World War, he held court in ... Read Full Article
Paris Wine Tasting at O-Chateau
On our last trip to Paris, we were invited to a wine tasting at O-Chateau, an authentic wine bar located in the 1st Arrondissement, not far from the Louvre. Our tasting was called The Tour de France, and during the hour and a half session, we tasted wines from the Loire, Bourgogne (Burgundy), Bordeaux, the Rhone and Languedoc regions. Our tasting group consisted of about 20 people, mostly ... Read Full Article