Paris - France

You might be briefly fooled into thinking that this picture was of an entirely different city, but no, this is the original Liberty in Paris - you may well be aware that the New York version was a gift to the US from the French people.
Paris certainly has it's share of fascinating sights and a short break in this city will not do the place justice, but it will probably drain your wallet if you hang around here too long... We spent our second anniversary in Paris, and even though that was ten years ago, I reckon we spent on average £100 ($200) a day just on food and entertainment. Eating out for lunch and an evening meal in Paris is not going to be cheap, but then if you're in Paris, you may as well enjoy it and count the cost later.

Monmatre, Sacre Couer Basillica, Notre Dame, The Louvre, The Arc de Triomphe (Champs Elysees), Eiffel tower, countless museums and art galleries, parks, shops - Paris really has it all, and all with that distinctive air of nonchalance that is peculiarly French and particularly 'Parisienne'. Don't drive in Paris if you can possibly avoid it, driving is an absolute nightmare that you will be unlikely to come out of unscathed. There are distinct markings on the majority of cars in the city centre that are scars borne of bad parallel parking. Parallel parking is essential is Paris, unfortunately, the inhabitants are not very good at it...!


In a nutshell then, a fabulous city, for which you must go prepared (and go you must!) with plenty of cash and a plan of what you will see and what you will leave 'til another time. If you don't have a plan of attack you could well waste your valuable time in this compelling city just trying to decide what to do and what to see next.