I first went to Paris in June 2001 along with some friends. We landed there on the night of the Festival of Music and I can never forget the streets of Paris filled with Parisians, singing, dancing, rock bands....the whole city is transformed into a musical drama. The trains and all other forms of public transport stop plying and music in all its forms takes over.
We walked from one group to the other before finally settling down on a bench where a group of young boys were singing and dancing. I fell in love with the city and many other ways that night as we sat there listening to the music. Anyone who plans a trip to Paris this summer should definitely be there at the time of the festival - June 21 or 22, any tourism website would be able to confirm.
I went to Paris again last year- obviously on the night of the festival but there is no time like the first time!
Enough is published on the net, in books, on maps about the city so I will not take you through things that are so obvious about Paris. The not so obvious site to visit is the Cimetiere Du Pere Lachais where some of the most well known artists rest in peace. It is quiet and beautiful though very very big and its worth your while to spend a few hours sitting in the cemetry and enjoying the peace.
My favourite spot in the evenings was a bench in front of Notre Dame. I would sit there for hours sketching the beautiful monument and listing to live music as inevitably some one or the other would play in the open area or near the river Siene.
If you really love to travel, you must avoid the shopping malls all togethar and instead walk the city as much as you can. Standing under the Eiffel Tower is like standing under the skirts of a beautiful woman !!! Its a fantastic sight. I would lie down in the evening in the lawn where the tower stands and watch life pass me by. Everyone goes up the tower...you must lie by her side and watch her change colors from evening to night.
You must also not miss the boat ride on the Sienne. I fell asleep middway as I was tired after a day of walking about and the breeze is lovely. I think the last trip in the evening is the best, you avoid the groups of excited tourists and can really enjoy the ride even if you are alone.
Evenings are best spent at Champs Elyesee watching the beautiful women line up the street....and as the evening sets...you may come across the prostitutes who look absolutely divine sometimes.
Paris is romantic in a very sweet way and unforgettable. If you visit once it calls you back again and again and I am going back again in July this year...missing the festival of music but those of you who do attend it..tell me about it.