From Paris with Love

on September 30th, 2011 by Cyber mania | No Comments »

On a recent trip to Paris, my partner and I sought to have a romance filled weekend and we were by no means disappointed. Romantic opportunities in Paris are endless. Be it walking hand in hand down the Champs Elysees, watching the sunset whilst cuddling on Pont Neuf, and of course how can you resist stealing a quick kiss on the Eiffel Tower! As soon as we arrived at our Paris apartment in the city centre we wasted no time in heading straight out and getting to know the city of romance.

We found it was impossible to go to Paris and avoid being a tourist. Whilst overcrowded busy places may not seem like the most romantic option, you have to just remind yourself that all these people are here for a reason! Just view a long queue as the perfect opportunity to get lost in each other’s arms and forget about the rest of the hundreds of people causing chaos around you. After all, you can’t go all the way to Paris and pass up the chance to visit the spectacular gothic cathedral of Notre Dame or miss out on Napoleon’s stamp of power over Paris, the Arc du Triomphe!

Personally I felt the most romantic sightseeing to be done was in the Louvre. With over 60,600 square metres to be explored, getting lost in the maze of stunning artwork dating from 4,000BC was a fabulous way to spend the afternoon!

We also couldn’t resist the chance to go up one of the most iconic monuments in the world; the Eiffel Tower. My partner and I spent two hours in the rain queuing to reach the top of this remarkable structure. However as Woody Allen famously said “As long as you haven’t been kissed during any of those rainy Parisian afternoons, you haven’t been kissed at all.” Based on this philosophy I went away from Paris well and truly kissed! Once at the top, the views were breathtaking. The moment felt so magic that the couple of hours we had spent standing in line were definitely worth the wait.

A great tip is to take advantage of the local delicacies on offer to prepare a picnic – make sure to live up to the French stereotype and include wine, cheese, and a baguette! My partner and I took the stereotype to the next level and ate our incredibly French picnic on the Champs de Mars right in front of the Eiffel Tower, it was the perfect afternoon. Afterwards we stumbled across one of the countless patisseries dotted across the city, it seemed we were never more than a few streets away from a local patisserie. Each one as tempting as the next, welcoming us in with the sweet smells of freshly prepared… How could we resist?

Woulda , coulda, shoulda…

We went to Paris in late August, just as we were leaving I couldn’t help feeling a twinge of regret for not visiting in the autumn months. We just missed the start of the Paris Autumn festival, which always guarantees to include a spectacular range of dance, cinema, visual arts, theatre and music. Another Parisian autumn tradition is Nuit Blanche. Once a year, for one night only, many of Pairs’ best museums and art galleries are open for all to explore. Entrance is completely free and the Paris metro also stays open late for this special occasion.

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Paris in mid November than you’ll have the opportunity to watch Paris become magically illuminated by the thousands of Christmas lights decorating the city. This is also the time of year when the Grande Roue of Paris is assembled at the foot of the Tulieries Gardens. At 60metres tall, the views from the top of this spectacular Ferris wheel will take your breath away. On a clear day you may even be able to catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower peeking over Paris’ rooftops!

Paris is truly the perfect city to inspire new love, rekindle an old flame, or enjoy a romantic weekend in each others company. With countless romantic things to see do and enjoy, you could not ask for a more inspiring place to find romance.