Notre Dame
by Sharrie
Welcome to NOTRE-DAME: The cathedral that symbolises not only Paris but the whole of France. Built in 1163 & finished around 1345, Notre-Dame was designed to reflect the power of the state & its church. Gothic cathedrals were considered symbols of paradise & this entrance facade is therefore considered to be the gateway to heaven. Looked like I was pretty near it :-)) Look closely at the main portal detail of its west front exterior. Here, you'll find The Judgement Portal in the middle shows Christ at the Last Judgement with 2 angels & the kneeling figures of Mary Magdalene & John the Baptist, interceding for poor souls. Also, check out the other 2 asymmetrical sculpted portals on the cathedral's facade; they once served as a Bible for the illiterates!
Paris for FREE !!!!
by kenyneo
1) Louvre Museum - Free entry on the first Sunday of every month. And all other Museums
2) Marks & Spencer - 88 rue de Rivoli - free food sampling from around the world Monday - Friday at 12 noon sharp.
3) Walking tour booklets - Free at any of the 20 "Mairies" in Paris (town hall in each district).
4) Museum de la Liberation - See the history of France and France at war, resistance and deportation. Free entry Monday - Saturday 2-5pm.
5) Museum Fragonard - See the history of perfumes!
6) See Paris for free - Monde Arabique and Samaritaine mall
Paris Museum Pass
by Gypsystravels
The Paris Museum Pass is an excellent value if you plan to visit and see all the major attractions during your stay. The Pass includes points of interest in Paris and the surrounding region.
During my very frist visit to Paris I purchased the Paris Museum Pass because it gave me the best value for seeing all the major attractions. I was traveling alone and my main goal at that time was to see everything Paris. The good thing about the pass is that you don't have to queue up to enter any of the museums, you just go to the front of the line and show your pass.
The Pass has a few options and depending on your length of stay and your desire to see as much as you can, the options for the pass are either a 2, 4 or 6 day pass. The pass provides "free" (you already paid for it) unlimited visits to over 50 museums and monuments.
For a detailed listing of all the locations you can visit with your pass check out their website below:
http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/home.php
I'm getting all hot under the collar...
by sourbugger
It's not every day that you get to write a tip on VT which allows you (quite legitmately) to talk about fishnet tights, topless women, black twangy suspender belts,and not to mention tight basques and rivers of sweat.
Still, enough about last night, I am course talking about the can-can.
It actually began back in the 1830's as a rather risque dance for couples, but evolved in time to the stage performance, mainly athletically performed by young women that we have today.
The 'high kicking' was alway part of it, but the holding the dress up bit only really came along in the 1890's when far more interesting and erotically exciting lingerie became available.
The dance is still very popular today, and still very much enjoyed by the French themselves. You can of course enjoy it at world -famous establishments, like the Moulin Rouge, but you will be paying a pretty penny for it !
I have heard it said that in the 'gay paris' era, the more upmarket establishments put on the show with full costume and finery, but there was then a kind of 'pecking order' , so at the bottom of the pile you ended up with a bunch of old tarts dancing on the bar with no underwear on at all !
Petanque in Paris
by Dee22
'Petanque' is an old French game with steel balls (boules), and if you've been to Southern France, you must have seen some petanque-players around in the parks.
The game is not only played at a fun-level though. It has it's own World Championships and other huge local and international tournaments all around the world.
But petanque is most known as the 'national sport' in France, and natuarally it's played in Paris too, even though it's most popular in the southern areas of the country.
Would be hard to explain the full rules here, but if you would like to watch the game, try playing it yourself or maybe you've already an experienced player...there is some great places to do so in the center of Paris....
ARENES DE LUTECE
This old gladitors arena is now the home of a petanque club, which has it's 'clubhouse' just across the street in a small bar. You'll be able to see some players there every day, and many people go there to relax a little or play different games (soccer, Frisbee...). The arena is located near 'Place Monge' and 'Jardin des Plantes'.
JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG
This is another great place to play the game. In the eastern end of the huge park, there a some nice petanque-courts under the trees and with a small pancake house besides them. The park can be found near the Latin Quarter.
LES HALLES
The park around the Les Halles area is another place were you get the chance to meet some petanque players, and get to watch them play...mainly in the afternoon hours. If you wanna play yourself but don't have any boules, you just gotta find the nearest big sports shop, where you'll get a set of 3 boules for a fair price. Look in one of the big 'GO SPORT' shops....can be found inside Les Halles for example.
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LE FLOREAL café
The Musee d'Orsay
Not too crowded
A night time view of the impressive structure
