Paris, the City of Lights.

By day or by night, from the Bastille to the Marais, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, the Eternal City, its riverbanks, cathedrals, boulevards, monuments, architecture, cafés, and neighborhoods all offer endless opportunities for sightseeing, fun and romance.

You’ll want to visit and photograph all of the famous spots: Montmartre and Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, Ile de la Cite, the Eiffel Tower, The Marais, Palais Royale, the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and, of course, the Paris markets.  

One thing to remember about Paris: it’s all been done before. Every monument, every church and cathedral, every sidewalk café has been viewed from every imaginable angle and at every time of the day or night. It stands to reason, then, that to try to find a new way to enjoy them. The Eiffel tower, for instance, (probably the most photographed site in the world), would be something of a challenge. The secret here is to scout the entire site thoroughly, and to learn to see what you’re looking at. I wandered around the tower and gardens for the best part of an afternoon. Here’s what I found: 

 Paris Is All About Color. The Eternal City. The City Of Light. To locals and tourists alike, these are the names we most associate with Paris. But Paris is also a City Of Color. Everywhere you go, whatever the season, the city is ablaze with all the colors of the rainbow. The markets, sidewalk cafes, shop-fronts, the flowers and décor, even the clothing worn by its people, create a an incredibly colorful spectacle.  

Paris Is For Lovers. Paris is, as everyone knows, the city of romance. You have only to watch the Parisians themselves to understand what I mean, and they certainly aren’t shy. Everywhere, on every corner, on every park bench, at every sidewalk café, and at every hour of the day or night, you can see couples arm-in-arm, or simply holding hands as they walk the boulevards and streets of Paris, and they do nothing to hide their feelings. Lovers everywhere can be seen embracing and kissing and, for the most-part, they seem to take little notice of anybody else. Romance watching in Paris can be fun; the trick is not to be intrusive. Try not to be too obvious.

Paris Is All About People. There’s something quite different about the French, and about Parisians in particular. Parisians are a proud race (yes, I did mean race. They seem be a species all to themselves). They dress for success almost all of the time. Rarely will you see a male Parisian wearing shorts, and rarely will you see a lady  dressed in anything other than a dress or skirt and blouse. The men, young and old, seem to prefer jackets and ties, even on the warmest of summer days. The average Parisian is also a little eccentric. They think nothing of taking time out at any hour of the day and literally falling asleep wherever they happen to be. The park benches seem to be the favorite spots, but cafes, Metro seats, monuments, grass curbs, and church pews seem to be almost as popular.  

Paris Is All About Architecture. Nowhere else on earth can you find so much magnificent architecture centered in one city. Street after street, boulevard after boulevard, incredible buildings, cathedrals, churches, and palaces line up one behind the other. If ever a city has a glut of anything, Paris has a glut of marvelous buildings.  

Paris Is A Different City At Dawn. We all know there’s something about the light just a little before and after dawn. It turns even an average landscape into one that’s just a little bit special. So, no matter where I go, I always manage to crawl out of bed at least once before dawn to take advantage of the soft tones and pastel shades of the early morning. Warning: never go out alone. You never know what you might run into in the early hours.

Paris By Night Can Be Spectacular. Paris is eternal, but the people are ever-changing. They seem to love being out and about around their city, even after dark. Again, you’ll find lovers, tourists, teenagers out for a fun time. People-watching in Paris by night is fun and entertaining.