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Paris
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Canal Saint MartinShould the mood strike for a romantic stroll, make your way to this little-touristed canal. Its shaded towpaths are dappled with sunlight that filters through the plane trees. Enjoy. Maison PrunierFor exquisite seafood dishes, give this venerable dining room a try. The fare is traditional French. The atmosphere, Art Deco. Shakespeare and Company BookstoreIn the Roaring 20s, this quirky bookstore in the bohemian Left Bank was the meeting place for some of literature's greats-Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Joyce to name a few. It still serves as a refuge for struggling writers and visitors alike. Rue ClerThis bustling pedestrian street is teeming with edible objets d'art-from the rainbow of fresh fruit, to the soft palette of French baguettes and the colossal wheels of cheese. And when you're ready for dessert, specialty stores abound-from tarts and pastries to crêpes and, of course, chocolate. Bon Appétit! Sainte-ChapelleOne look at the upstairs chapel, and you'll understand how Paris earned the moniker "City of Light." Fifteen intricately designed panels of stained glass, commissioned by Louis IX, depict 1100 story-telling scenes. SephoraThe importance of a delicate nose in French society is apparent at this aromatic wonderland. Follow your nose to the store's "wheel of scents," which are arranged from fresh scents like sea breeze to stronger ones like leather, chocolate and even civette-eau de cow pie. Les Égouts de ParisDeep in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower is another historic feat of engineering. The 1,304 miles of underground canals form a "city beneath the city" that handles the proper flow of everything the Parisians prefer to keep below the surface. Sacré-CoeurThis pristine, white-stone church was proposed as a memorial to the soldiers killed in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, but was not completed until the end of World War I. The church features one of the world's largest mosaics, which depicts Christ with outstretched arms, and a massive 19-ton church bell. Paradis LatinLe PARADIS LATIN, designed by Gustave Eiffel and one of the city's oldest theatres, is located on the Left Bank. Enjoy dinner, wine, champagne, and a very French revue. MOULIN ROUGEAn exciting evening at the world-renowned Parisian cabaret. Dinner with half a bottle of wine is served during the show. A glass of champagne completes your evening in style. VERSAILLESA short journey from Paris with your local guide to the lavish 17th-century baroque palace built by Sun King Louis XIV, with its magnificent STATE APARTMENTS, Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Chapel. Time to stroll through parts of the elegant 250-acre GARDENS. Note: This excursion is not available on Mondays and public holidays. CLAUDE MONET'S GIVERNYDrive along the Seine Valley to the HOME OF CLAUDE MONET, leader of the Impressionist School. Admire the collection of Japanese engravings and stroll through the garden, a famous source of inspiration for many celebrated artists. |
