Paris
Victor Hugo once wrote that “everything that exists elsewhere exists in Paris,” and that still holds true today. Paris didn’t invent dining, shopping, or culture, but it has become a world center for all these things and more. Add to that a monster helping of iconic sights (Notre Dame! Sacré-Coeur! Centre Pompidou!), and you’ve got one of the world’s greatest luxury-travel destinations.
Activities and Attractions:
In Paris, even the tourist attractions are upscale—for instance, did you know there’s an Alain Ducasse restaurant in the Eiffel Tower? Not that you have to scale any great heights to find fine dining in Paris. Over 100 Michelin stars have fallen on the city, which is arguably one of the finest dining destinations in the world. As the capital of one of the most diverse countries in Europe, Paris boasts not just French cuisine in all its heavy, light, or nouvelle incarnations, but also everything from a meaty Moroccan couscous to a crisp Vietnamese crepe.
Art and culture lovers will appreciate that Paris contains perhaps the greatest concentration of museums anywhere. The Louvre is the home of the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and countless other treasures. The Musée d’Orsay is a sprawling venue devoted entirely to art of the 19th century. As full as those two internationally famous collections are, there is still enough art left over in Paris that both Picasso and Rodin get museums all to themselves.
A cultural highlight for many visitors is a night at the opera or ballet. The Opéra Garnier—of Phantom of the Opera fame—is a visual treat in itself. The interior rococo splendor, complimented by a Chagall ceiling, would be worth the price of admission even without the chance to see a world-class opera or dance performance.
Of course, few people come to Paris just to look at things. Something about the city, where even the shop windows are well dressed, gives even normally indifferent shoppers the urge to take a bit of glamour home with them. The Champs-Élysées, the grand boulevard stretching from the Arc de Triomphe to the 3,000-year old Obelisk of Luxor, is home to many fashionable shops. Two other fabulous shopping streets are the rue Faubourg St. Honoré and the nearby avenue Montaigne. Here you’ll find the big names of design and fashion, like Hermès, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.
For more cutting-edge fashion, try the warren of streets near the Place des Vosges in the Marais district. Nearby, next to the Bastille, is a clutch of art galleries, if you prefer looking at art to wearing it. One of the most pleasant places to shop in Paris is at the Second arrondissement’s Place des Victoires. A few glass-enclosed walkways are remnants of what was once essentially the world’s first shopping mall. Today you’ll find clothing boutiques and jewelry stores, with an Asian flavor to many of the offerings—suggesting that maybe it’s true: You can find anything in the world somewhere in Paris.
Insider Tip:
Parisians have a reputation for brusqueness, but you’d be surprised how quickly this veneer melts if you try a few words of French. Other ways to find favor with etiquette-conscious Parisians: Greet storekeepers with a hearty “bonjour” as you enter, and “merci” as you leave. And take sartorial cues from the locals, who maintain certain standards even at the grocery store. Shorts and sneakers will mark you as a visitor, so don’t wear them unless you’re anxious to be labeled un Américain.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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