Paris
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Paris is like the perfect lover - something undiscovered each time you rendezvous, utterly drop dead gorgeous with an exciting air and a certain je ne sais quoi!
And of course now it’s almost obscenely easy to get to. Simply board the Eurostar’s new speedier service from Kings Cross St Pancras (after downing a glass of bubbly at Europe’s longest champagne bar) and in an amazing 2 hours and 15 minutes (20 minutes faster than from Waterloo), you’ll be catching a Parisian taxi from the Gare du Nord to your chosen arrondissement: Montmartre, Pigalle, St Germain des Pres, The Latin Quarte. And, of course, your French love affair with the city need never turn sour as Paris has so many layers.
Highlights of the city largely involve the ability to embrace it with abandon and simply wander. Savour the ambience of the Seine with a stroll past arched bridges, street art and gnarled benches or take in the sites from a Bateaux Mouche. Climb the Arc de Triomphe and you’ll realise Paris’ extraordinary design; the alignment of the historic arch with La Grande Arche, Obelisk and Louvre, plus the 12 streets radiating out beneath you are breathtaking. Climbing to the steps of the Sacre Coeur in the elevated heights of Montmartre could be the poet’s view of Paris. Pay the 5 Euros to go to the top and take in the 360 degree view and you’ll feel the bohemian spirit of this district beneath.
Neighbouring Pigalle is worth a spin for its up and coming edge, rather akin to London’s outer reaches of Hoxton with quirky boutiques and a waywardly fashionable crowd rubbing shoulders with the old timers, lap dancers and the old clown (I kid you not). Hangouts like Hotel Amour in SoPi (South Pigalle) are leading the way. Losing yourself in the city’s backstreets is what it’s all about, from the shaded quays, classic houses, courtyards and restaurants on the Ile St-Louis to The Left Bank and the Jardin des Tuilleries which are so great for people watching. For anyone who’s read Francophile Rupert Everet’s autobiography, a trip to the Bois de Boulogne can be as racy as you like. And if you want to get around in style, don’t miss the city’s new self service bicycles (just 1 Euro per half hour) – a great idea as it’s practically impossible to hail a cab in this city. Hopefully London will follow suit.
Best time of year to visit:
Although there have been songs written about Paris in the spring, the French capital is blessed with four beautiful seasons, all with much to offer. Even though you’ll hear people say Paris is dead in August when, it’s true, many locals disappear for the month and it can be hot, I have had a wonderful stay at this time when it’s not crowded and most things open, including the urban beaches by the Seine. Pre-Christmas is a spell-binding time to go with the Eiffel Tour illuminated in all its twinkling splendour. Plus, you can treat yourself to a shopping spree in areas like St Germain, with its cornucopia of antique, book and interior shops plus marches packed with traditional French produce.
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