Place de la Bastille

The Bastille was finished being built in 1383.  The Bastille is a square in Paris where the Bastille prison once stood and represents liberty.  During the French Revolution angry citizens of Paris stormed the Bastille and destroyed it during King Louis' reign.  Today the 14 July is celebrated as Bastille day and the square is used for political demonstrations, concerts, and gatherings.

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Jardin du Luxembourgh

The Jardin du Luxembourgh is a park in Paris.  The park is 55 acres and was originally owned by the Duke of Luxembourgh.  At the northern end of the park is the Luxembourgh palace, which served as a prison during the French Revolution in the 1700s.  Marie de'Medici had the park constructed after the death of her husband, King Henry IV of France, was murdered in 1610.  She decided to move away from the Louvre palace and into the Luxembourgh palace.  
Today the gardens are a tourist attraction that compels many people from all over to come and explore.  The park houses ponds, statues, lawns, paths, and beautiful flowers.  It is also a great place to relax in.

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Perfume Museum

If  you like perfume then this is the right place to go!  The museum is all about perfume, how you make it, and different scents.  The museum is located in the ninth district of Paris and is in a very busy and popular area.  The museum was created in 1983 by the Fragonard Perfume Company.  Inside the museum displays old glass perfume bottles and new bottles so that you can see the difference between new and old bottles.  This was a very fun museum to visit that wasn't a bore!

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Disneyland Paris!

Why not visit Disneyland Paris if you're in Paris?  If you're a fan of Disney parks then you should definitely consider visiting this one!  Originally Disneyland Paris was called Euro Disney Resort and many French people did not want the park to be built because they feared that the park itself would turn Paris into something that they did not want (cultural imperialism).  Disneyland Paris is the second most busiest park in the world with 15.6 million visitors in 2013.  Who doesn't love Disney?!

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Pont Neuf

Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris that runs across the Seine.  The bridge was constructed between 1578 and 1607 and is 761 feet long.  In 1994 the bridge was reconstructed and was finished in 2007.  For a long time this was the widest bridge in Paris so it had a lot of traffic and was very popular to travel over.  Walking across this bridge is walking across history!

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Take a Trip on the Seine

The Seine is the major river that runs through the city of Paris.  When visiting Paris you should consider taking a boat ride at night on the Seine.  Tickets to go on a boat ride are not expensive and are easy to get.  I reccomend taking the boat ride at night because you get to see everything lit up at night which is beautiful.  The Eiffel Tower is lit up at night and changes color about every fifteen minutes.  The Seine is part of Paris and what better way to see it than to explore it by boat?

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Pompidou

First glance at this building and you'll be wondering what the heck it is!  It has an "inside out" architecture design with brightly colored pipes on the exterior of the building.  Inside the museum Pompidou houses the works of Dali, Picasso, Francis Bacon, and so on.  Outside the museum is where all the fun is at with street performers dancing, singing, performing magic tricks, and such.  The museum itself is a work of art and I have never seen anything quite like it in my entire life.  Overall, this museum and the location of this structure is just fun.  There's a lot to do with shopping, cafes, and watching street performers.  

The Museum

Outside the Museum

Opera District

The opera district in Paris was one of my favorite places to walk around in.  It is rich in culture, beauty, and history.  There are so many shops, cafes, and fun things to do.  I enjoyed walking around here so much because all the buildings are unique and interesting.  Since this is the opera district, a lot of the architecture is extravagant and very fancy.  You can also find street performers singing, dancing, performing magic tricks, and so on.  Pretty much like all places in Paris, this is a fun district to explore and become familiar with.

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Montparnasse

If you like art, this is an area you want to visit.  This is where you can find some of the starving artists of Paris.  After WWI, this area became a popular place for artists during the heart of the  intellectual and artistic period in Paris.  Montparnasse is located on the left bank of the Seine and is in the fourteenth district.  Again like most places this area is known for its shops and cafes.  This area is unique because you can get beautiful one of a kind artwork for a fairly reasonable price.  This area is also known for its creativity and sense of community because people would come together and share ideas.

Neighborhood at night

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Some artwork in the area

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Tuileries Garden

The Tuileries garden is a huge public garden in Paris that is located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde.  The park became open to the public after the French Revolution and this is where Parisians liked to socialize and celebrate.  Catharine de Medicis is the creator of the garden because she decided to make her palace separate from the Louvre palace and to model it after the gardens that were in Venice.  After visiting the garden, no other garden can compare.  It is breathtaking, peaceful, relaxing, and enjoyable to walk around in.  

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Croque-Monsieur

Croque-Monsieur is the French version of the classic yet simple grilled cheese sandwich.  The French make a simple grilled cheese sandwich sound like a delicacy!  This grilled cheese sandwich is a little different than the grilled cheese that we are used to.  A croque-monsieur is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with the ham in between two pieces of french bread and the cheese on top of the bread.  This is a popular item on many cafe menus.  I tried this sandwich while I was in Paris, and it is delicious!  You definitely want to give this sandwich a try!

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Place de la Concorde

 Place de la Concorde is a major public square in Paris located in the eighth district.  In the center of the square is an obelisk that was given to the French by the Egyptians in the 19th century.  The obelisk is adorned with hieroglyphics and is one of two obelisks that the Egyptians gave away.  This is the place where the famous king and queen of France, King Louis and Marie-Antoinette were killed by the guillotine.  When the French Revolution was occurring, Place de la Concorde was renamed to Place de la Revolution.  Sorry, nothing really bright and cheerful happened here, it's basically a sight of death, but it is a beautiful place to see just like everything else in Paris is.  The fountain in Paris is huge and grand and you can sit along the edge and admire the beauty of Paris.  Overall, this place is more about the history of Paris, but it is also a great tourist attraction.

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Catacombs of Paris

The catacombs was the most odd experience of my life.  I didn't know if I should have been afraid of amazed.  Entering the catacombs is like a scene from a horror movie.  You enter this  little black shed and then go down, and down, and down a circular staircase that seemed like it would never end (good workout when it was time to come back up though!).  Once in the catacombs there is barely any light and you are essentially surrounded by dead peoples' remains--EVERYWHERE! The catacombs are home to about 6 million dead people.  If you're allergic to limestone, I highly recommend you sit this one out because the walls throughout are composed of limestone.  This is the world's largest grave (if you can call it a grave).  The catacombs came about because there were too many dead people in Paris and not enough space to properly lay them to rest in the ground, so we got the catacombs to solve the space problem.  If you're ok with being in tight, dark, and damp places (the roof of the catacombs is made of dirt and limestone and leaks water) then I say visit the catacombs.  You may have some doubt about ever coming back out, but you will and it is amazing what people have created.

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Champs Elysees

The Champs Elysees, or Les Champs as the Parisians say, is a famous boulevard in the eighth district of Paris that is known for its shopping.  The Champs Elysees runs from Place de la Concord and Place Charles de Gaulle (where is where the Arc de Triomphe is located.)  The boulevard is known for its luxury, designer stores, cafes, theaters,bakeries, and much more.  Every year on 14 July a military parade takes place on the boulevard to celebrate Bastille Day.  If visiting Paris, this place has got to be on your list.  Walking the boulevard makes you feel like a million bucks!

Musee d'Orsay

Musee d'Orsay is an impressionist art museum that houses the works of artists like Monet and Van Gogh.  Before it was a museum, it was a train station that was built in the late 1800s.  Inside you can still see the remains of the once train station by the big clock and the main hall of the building.  This museum is much different than the Louvre and is smaller.  The museum is not that old, but the building itself is.  The museum did not open its doors until 1986.  Musee d'Orsay is much more modern than the Louvre and is fun to walk around and explore.

Sacre-Coeur and Montmartre

Sacre-Coeur is a white Roman-Catholic church that resides on the top of Montmartre.  The church is literally a symbol for the heart of Jesus and Montmartre is the highest point in Paris.  The church is a cultural and political monument, along with being a popular tourist destination.  Now why would someone want to go visit an old church?  The church is beautiful in and of itself and different from Notre Dame, but the main reason people go to visit is for the views.  The views from being on Montmartre are amazing.  You can see the Eiffel Tower and the city itself.  It is breathtaking!  People also go to visit this site because of the shops and restaurants.  (I got the best gelato on Montmartre.)  Walking around you will find tons of people painting and just things that we aren't used to on a regular basis living where we do.  It is a fun little tourist place that you should put on your list if you're visiting Paris.

The gelato place

Palace of Versailles

The palace of Versailles housed two of France's most well known (though not most liked) kings and queens:  King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette.  As stated in the Louvre blog, the french court resided in the Louvre palace, but King Louis wanted to move the entire French court to Versailles.  Versailles was just a small country town right outside of Paris before the king moved in. Now it is one of the wealthiest places outside of Paris.  Just after the beginning of the French Revolution, Louis was forced to move his court back to the city of Paris at the Tuileries Palace.  Chateau de Versailles is a symbol for absolute monarchy.  The palace is magnificent inside and out.  Inside the palace is rich in golds, woods, marble, and paintings.  Outside the palace is surrounded by huge gardens, fountains, and is gated from outsiders.  The palace is known for it's hall of mirrors room, which is essentially a corridor filled with mirrors from floor to ceiling with gold and chandeliers adorning the room.  
If you have ever seen the movie Marie Antoinette, then you have been lucky enough to see some of the Palace of Versailles.  Just like the Louvre, Versailles is huge and you could spend days there just exploring the gardens.  Versailles was my absolute favorite part of Paris because it's this little quaint town that you wouldn't expect to find in Paris.  

Below are some pictures that I took:

Part of the Outside

Some of the Gardens

Part of the Exterior inside the palace grounds

Hall of Mirrors

The Louvre

The Louvre is  the most visited and widely known museum in Paris.  Actually, it is the most visited museum in the world.  In 2012 the Louvre received 9.7 million visitors.  The Louvre is huge and houses an extremely famous painting:  The Mona Lisa.  The Louvre was a palace until 1682 when Louis XIV decided to move his court to Versailles.  The palace opened it's doors as a museum in 1793 and housed only 537 paintings.  Today, that number has increased drastically.  Many people associate the Louvre with the glass pyramid, though not completely incorrect, the pyramid is an addition to the Louvre and the Louvre itself is the palace.  
The Louvre is not just a museum and historical landmark, it is also a mini mall and a coffee shop.  Inside there is a Starbucks (yes a Starbucks-they're everywhere in Paris...thank god) and many little specialty shops that you won't find any place else.  The Louvre is huge and from personal experience, you could spend an entire day in there walking around looking at art that you may or may not recognize.  The Louvre itself is a masterpiece and is spectacular. 

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Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe stands tall at the western end of the Champs-Elysees in the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle.  The arc is a monument for fallen soldiers and is what we would compare to a monument we'd see in Washington, DC.  The inside and outside of the tomb has names inscribed with those who fought and died in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars; also inscribed are lists of the victories and french generals.  Inside the arc houses the tomb of the unknown soldier from World War I.
The arc stands at 164 ft and is a popular tourist attraction that lets you stand on top of it to see the beauty of Paris and look down on the chaos of the Champs-Elysees.  The arc has been and still is the center of many events in Paris such as Bastille Day, liberation parades, and air shows.  This is a sacred memorial that is very dear to the city of Paris.

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Nom Nom Nom!

After posting about some places in Paris, it's time to switch it up.  For all you foodies out there, Paris has out of this world food that will blow you away.  My personal favorite is the Laduree macarons.  You can find these bakery shops in other places besides Paris, but what better way to experience these treats than where they're originated from?  Macarons from Paris are different than the macarons we have here, in the sense that they are so much better!  There are many flavors to choose from and they come in all different colors; they almost look too pretty to eat...almost.  Don't worry this is something that you're allowed to indulge in and not worry about.  Bon appetit!  

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Notre Dame

Notre Dame de Paris opened in 1345.  It is one of the first buildings of the world to use the flying buttress that is associated with Gothic architecture.  Notre Dame is a cathedral located in the fourth district of Paris on the eastern side of the Ile de la Cite.  Inside the cathedral visitors can explore its history by admiring the beautiful stain glass windows and the wooden pews and beams.  The church is still used, mostly for visiting purposes, but visitors are permitted to light candles inside to honor a loved one.  The front of the cathedral (looking at it straight on) is divided into two symmetrical sides.  The back of the cathedral is different in the sense that it has an iron tower with a cross and allows you to see the structure from a different vantage point.  At the top of the cathedral there are bell towers (they are the two symmetric sides) that are still rung today for Parisians and such to enjoy and keep time.  This structure like the Eiffel Tower, is lit up at night.  After the Eiffel Tower, this is probably the most visited landmark in Paris.

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The Eiffel Tower

Most people associate Paris with the Eiffel Tower.  Gustave Eiffel was the brilliant architect behind the Eiffel Tower construction in 1889. Contrary to peoples' love and respect of the Eiffel Tower today, it was detested when it was first introduced to the city of Paris.  People thought that it was an ugly iron fixture that was disrupting the beauty of Paris.  Obviously peoples' opinions changed because the Eiffel Tower is one of the world's most recognized and visited places.  Each year the Eiffel Tower receives millions of visitors from all over the world.  The tower is 324 meters (equivalent to an 81-storey building) and has three different levels.  The first and second levels  can be accessed by stairs and contain gift stores and a restaurant is housed on the second level.  The third level is strictly for viewing purposes only and is only accessible by elevator for the public (it does have stairs, but the public is not allowed to use them).  Visiting the Eiffel Tower and being on it is something you don't want to miss if ever visiting Paris.  The views are breathtaking and it's something you have never seen before.  Paris is geometrically set up and is symmetrical.  Looking down from the Eiffel Tower out into the city of Paris you can see how the city is laid out.  A fun fact about the Eiffel Tower is that it is the tallest structure in Paris.  There is a law stating that no other structure can be taller than the tower.  Such a law exists in order to  preserve the beauty of Paris itself.  At night the tower does a "light show".  It glistens and sparkles and changes color.  Paris is truly the city of lights.

Dreaming of Paris

Bonjour! Comment allez-vous? (how are you).  Welcome to the Oh La La! blog which you guessed it, is all about Paris.  Paris is a magical city that is full of new and exciting things.  For those of you who have never been to Paris, this blog will inform you of some of the many sights and activities there are to do, such as seeing the Eiffel Tower and trying Laduree macarons that are to die for.  Paris is an old and magnifique city that is rich in beauty and full of life that is worth experiencing.  Paris is known as the city of lights and for good reason; nothing is more beautiful than seeing the city of Paris lit up at night.  Come along for the journey and see why Paris is dreamed about by people all over the world!  Paris changes everything.  C'est La Vie!