TOUR EUROPE

LONDON, England

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:17:00 +0000

LONDON is not often describes as a unified city but rather as a conglomeration of villages, whose heritage and traditions are still evolving. It is the capital of England and the United Kingdom and certainly the most populated metropolitan area. Noisy, vibrant, and truly multicultural like Toronto, London is a megapolis of people, ideas and energy. Greater London is situated on the Thames River and it has a population of about 8 million. London is one of the great cities in the world, having been occupied by the Romans, and remains a global capital of fashion, finance, trade and politics.

You can see all of the places in London just by using the Underground train. London has the most advanced and sophisticated subway system in the world. For more information on London's Underground system click here. The Underground or Tube is divided into 6 zones; fares depend on the number of zones crossed. Buy your ticket before you board and pass it through the automatic gates at both ends of your journey. Runs approximately 5am-11:30 pm. You can also purchase a one-day Travelcard (zones 1 & 2) and it will cost you about 5.30 British pounds.

A Walking Tour from Tower of London to the London Eye
This will cost you 8-10 hours depending on your pace. The walking distance is about 4 km. I advice you to start early at about 8 am. First things first, take the Underground to the Tower Hill station and get off. This is where you will start your day at the Tower of London.

This is the TOWER OF LONDON. Once you get off from the Tower Hill station, go to the entrance of the tower to avoid long line-ups. Tours given by the Yeomen warders meet every hour near the entrance. Listen as they expertly recount tales of royal conspiracy, treason and murder. Don't forget to see the White Tower as it was once a residence of kings. Shiver at the executioner's stone on the tower green and pay your respects at the Chapel of St. Peter ad Viniculum, which holds the remains of three queens. At the Martin Tower, get the dirt on the gemstomes and then see the Crown jewels that were once the property of kings and queens. Take note that these jewels include the largest cut diamond in the world.

The TOWER BRIDGE, which is mistakenly called the London Bridge, was built in 1894 and it is an engineering wonder that puts London Bridge to shame. There is a Tower Bridge Tour but I do not recommend taking it because its just not worth it. Just admire the beauty if the bridge form either banks or you can cross the bridge, then witness the opening of the "drawbridge". If you want to know the time when the "drawbridge" is lifted, check the signs posted at each entrance or call 7940 3984. For more information about the Tower Bridge visit www.towerbridge.org.uk

After crossing the Tower Bridge you can find the DESIGN MUSEUM on Butler's Wharf. Here you can find the latest innovations in contemporary designs. The museum covers product, industrial, graphic, fashion and architectural design. It was founded in 1989 and claims to be the first museum of modern design. From the museum, walk along the Queen's Walk. To your left you will find the HMS Belfast, which was launch in 1938 and then led the landing of D-Day in 1944.

Your next destination is the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre which exhibits detail the intracacies of costuming and stage effects in Shakespeare's day, as well as the modern process of rebuilding of the theater almost 400 years after the original burned down. Today's reconstruction had its first full season in 1997 and now stands as the cornerstone on the International Shakespeare Globe Center. You may even catch one of the free lunchtime or afternoon events.

Next is TATE MODERN, probably the most popular museum in London. One of the world's premiere modern art museum,the Tate promises a new spin on well-known favourites and works by emerging British artists. The public galleries on the third and fifth floor are divided into four themes. The collection is enormous, but gallery space is limited and works rotate frequently. Be sure to catch one of the informative docent tours and don't forget to check out the rotating installation in the turbine room.

Next is GABRIEL'S WHARF. You can check out its cafes, bars, and boutiques. It's a picturesque spot to enjoy a drink, snack, or meal in one of the riverside restaurants or cafes with spectacular riverside views of the City and St. Paul's. The Gourmet Pizza Company is well known for their fuss-free style and hearty pizzas. There's a lovely village market feel to the area despite the concrete surrounding it. Browse around the shops and you'll be able to see some original pieces of sculpture, jewellery, ceramics, art, and fashion being made.

After taking a refreshment at the wharf, time to get inside one of the capsules of the London Eye or also known as the Millenium Wheel. The London Eye is definitely one of London's top attraction, popular with locals and tourists alike. As Europe's tallest Ferris wheel, the Eye offers amazing 360 degrees views from its glass pods. When you are inside the capsule, it's like you are inside an airplane. There is a long line-up in here so book your ticket ahead of time. If you want to save some money you can buy a ticket that bundles both the London Eye and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum.

Hope you have a wonderful walk. London has many more sights and attractions so visit my other blog about LONDON.

VENICE, Italy - the magnificent city of the Mediterranean Sea

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:52:00 +0000

All year-round, tourists flock to Venice to witness the Carnavale, ride their famous gondolas, float down labyrinthine canals, stroll their narrow streets, watch how they make spectacular glass masterpieces, attend a mass at the famous Basilica de San Marco, play with big-fat doves at San Marco Square, and many more. The city is a very veritable labyrinth and can confuse even the Venetians, most of whom simply set off in a general direction and patiently weave their way. If you want a real adventure, unglue your eyes from the map and just go withe the flow and - whalah! - you will discover some unexpected surprises.

How to get to Venice. Most European trains go to Venice. It can get confusing sometimes because some people get-off at Mestre Station. Make sure to get off at Santa Lucia station. It is located at northwest edge of the city. If you have lots of baggages and yuo don not want to take it at your hotel there is a luggage storage found at track #14. Buses and boats arrive at Piazzale Roma, across the Grand Canal from the train station. Make sure you orient yourself to Plaza San Marco. To get to Plaza San Marco (St. Mark Square) take the vaporetto (water taxi / bus) #1, 2, 51, 52. But if you want to walk all the way to the square just follow the signs and walk for at least 25 to 30 minutes.

Where to get accommodation in Venice. Hotels in venice can get very expensive especially during summer months and during Carnavale. If you want discount on hotels make sure that you have to book early one or two months in advance. If you want to camp outside Venice, you have to take a 20 minute boat ride from Venice. Suggested reasonbale hotels are:

Best B & B, Calle del Capeler, S. Polo 1575. (tel. 349 00 70 508). From Ponte Rialto walk northwest on Ruga D.Oresi, turn left on Calle D. Botteri and left again on Calle Del Capeler. doubles 60-80 euros; triples 100-200 euros.
Pensione Seguso, Fondamente Zattere ai Saloni, Dorsoduro 779 (tel. 0415286858). doubles 65 - 190 euros; triples 150-245 euros.
Hotel Arcadia, Cannaregio 1333/D (tel. 041 717 355). From Campo Geremia, cross Ponte delle Guglie and follow the road. Look for the sign on the left. Hotel offers TV, free breakfast, free Wifi. doubles 80-120 euros; triples 80-150 euros; quads 90-160 euros.

Basilica Di San Marco is the most photographed landmark all around Venice. If you want to visit inside the basilica, you have to be early to avoid long lines. This Basilica was built around the 9th century and it was used to house the remains of St. Mark (one of the apostles of Christ). Once you are inside, look for the rose-adorned tomb of St. at the altar and the Pala D'Oro which frames a parade of saints in gem-encrusted gold. If you want to gaze the piazza go all the way to the balcony. Opens Monday to Saturday 9:45am - 5:00 pm, Sunday 2-4 pm.

Around Saint Mark Square you can feed lots of big-fat pigeons but you have to watch out for the "poops" because it can get very irritating. Pigeons will come all over you and eat everything you have to offer. Do not forget to look up the Venetian Tower and if you have time try to go up to the tower and gaze the whole square. If you want to relax a little bit go to one of the cafes and sip some fresh Venetian cappucinno while listening to a live classical band.

The Grande Canal is dubbed as Venice's "main street". This canal is over 3 km long and 50 meters wide. It loops through the city and passes under three bridges which are the Rialto Bridge, Accademia Bridge, and Ponte Scalzi Bridge. The candy-cane post, bricole, used for mooring boats on the canal are painted with the colors of the family whose palazzo adjoins them. If you want to see a great facade view o the canal, take the vaporetto # 1 or 2 to Plaza San Marco. The facades are lit at night and produce a dazzling reflections.

The Rialto Bridge (Ponte Rialto) was built as a wooden bridge around 1255 but due to the high traffic volume of people passing on this bridge it collapsed around 1444, rebuilt and collapse again around 1524. They replace the wooden bridge with stone in 1591. The bridge has defied its critics to become one of the architectural icons of Venice.

San Polo, the second largest campo in Venice (largest is Campo Di San Marco), once hosted bloody bull-baiting matches during Canrnavele. It is one of the oldest parts in Venice having been settled before the 9th century. This is the main market district of Venice since 1097. Today San Polo is dotted with elderly women and trees, and there is no blood spilled on the ground - only gelatto.

DUBROVNIK, Croatia - The Jewel of the Adriatic Sea

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:58:00 +0000

Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful place I have ever been. The first time I saw Dubrovnik - I was bamboozled by its preserved and pristine condition. George Bernard Shaw named it as the "Paradise on Earth". I expected Dubrovnik to be a little bit rough to explore but it was not. Gorgeous scenery, beautiful, friendly and happy people, good food, and a nice beach too. Although it;s tough to live up to such adulation, a stroll through the torch-lit winding lanes of the Old Town (Stari Grad) and a sunset look into the sea front the city walls certainly justify Dubrovnik's reputation as Croatia's top tourist destination.

How to get to Dubrovnik. If you are coming from Spain, France, Portugal, UK. Germany, Italy there is a cheap flight from Clickair. This is a discount airline from Europe. Flight to Dubrovnik from these European countries is very cheap when you book it early ( at least two months in advance). You can get a flight for 50 euros when booking early. If you are coming from Italy and want a taste of the Mediterranean Sea breeze, take the Jadrolinja Ferry from Bari, Italy. It will cost you 40-55 euros and takes 8 hours. I would recommend taking a flight from Clickair because it is faster and you don't wanna miss any minute exploring Dubrovnik.

Where to Sleep Cheap in Dubrovnik. I recommend not to stay in a hotel in Dubrovnik because it can get too expensive. I would recommend taking hostel accommodation. It is very cheap, clean, free breakfast and they will wash your clothes for a small fee. These are the hostels that I highly recommend:
Villa Klaic (left picture) - situated in a peaceful area 15 minutes from the old town. It’s an ideal choice for modern back packers! The guesthouse is also available for groups and families. 25- 30 euros per day. We stayed in this house for 4 days and absolutely no problem at all. Miro (the owner) is very helpful and he even pick and dropped us to the airport.
Danica Guesthouse Radnicka 33, Dubrovnik, Croatia 20000 - private family run hostel-overlooking port Gruz. Just 5 minutes walk to bus (connection to airport) and ferry terminals. 20 minutes walk to the heart of the old city with bus stop directly outside the door. Just 1 min on city side of Dubrovnik Bridge if arriving by car from Split.

On your first day in Dubrovnik, visit the old town and tour the city wall (gradske zidine). Opens daily 8am-7:30pm. 50 korunas. This is the most exhilarating part of your Dubrovnik experience. Here, you can see the clusters of traditional red-rooftops and church spires, the narrow cobblestones, the Adriatic Sea landscape, the beautiful birds-eye-view of the Stradun and the Onofrio's Fountain, and many other surprises. You can also stop and have some refreshments during your walkabout along the city walls. The Onofrio's Fountain (picture below) was erected in 1438so that people entering inside the city could wash to prevent bringing the plague in this noble city of the Adriatic.

Inside the Old town you will see the oldest pharmacy in the world, the 7th-century baroque Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the "Spanish Steps" (almost the same as the one in Rome), small alleyways that will lead you to your own new discoveries, and many more beautiful sights.

Outside the Old town are a number of rock shelves popular for sun-bathing and swimming. To reach a beautiful but crowded pebble beach from the Placa's end, turn left on Svetog Dominika, bear right after the footbridge, and continue on Frana Supila. Don't forget to bring your swimming suit because once your are in this place you cannot afford not to swim on the waters of the Dalmatian Coast. Spend the rest of the day here by watching the sunset. Missing out on the sunset of the Dalmatian coast is like you miss the splendour of the city of Dubrovnik.

How to Spend PARIS in 3 Days

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:19:00 +0000

So, did you enjoy your first and second day in Paris? Why not stay one more day? Your third day in Paris will be the most exhilarating one. Live like a Parisian for one more day.

First, take a trip to Chateau de Versailles. To go to Chateau de Versailles take the RER line C to Versailles Rive Gauche Station.

1. Château de Versailles
There is nothing in all of Paris to equal this regal wonder, former stomping ground of everyone from Madame

de Pompadour, the royal mistress, to Marie Antoinette, the Austrian princess doomed to marry a French king who lost his head. The palace opens at 9am, so try to arrive at that time because it will take a minimum of 3 hours to see just some of the highlights.

Should your time be too precious for a sit-down meal, you can have a fast lunch on the run and save those dwindling hours to see more of Paris itself. You can visit a deli in the morning before leaving Paris and secure the makings of a pique-nique, which you can enjoy by the canal in the Gardens of Versailles after touring the palace. Within various corners of the gardens, you'll also encounter snack bars discreetly tucked away. There's even a McDonald's on the walk back from the palace to the train station, which you'll need to visit anyway to take the RER back to Paris.
Once in Paris, take the Métro to Rambuteau, Hôtel-de-Ville, or Châtelet-Les Halles to visit:

2. Centre Pompidou
The exterior is controversial, called daringly innovative and avant-garde or else "the eyesore of Paris." But inside, virtually everyone agrees that this museum dominating Beaubourg is a repository of one of the world's greatest collections of modern art. Amazingly, more art lovers visit Pompidou per day than the Louvre or the

Eiffel Tower. Beginning with Rousseau's Snake Charmer and ending with the latest acquisition from the 21st century, you can view the greatest modern artists of the 20th century: the inevitable Picassos, but also Chagall, Francis Bacon, Calder, Magritte, Matisse, Mondrian, Pollock, Kandinsky -- and the beat goes on. Allow at least 2 hours.
Take the Métro to:

3. Place des Vosges
Having tasted the glories of such districts as Montmartre and Ile St-Louis, it's time to discover the charms of one of Paris's most enchanting neighborhoods, the Marais. Place des Vosges, one of the world's most perfectly designed and harmonious squares, is found at the very center of the Marais. For those with extra time, we've designed a complete walking tour of the Marais. But most 3-day visitors, especially if they visit

Versailles, will not have time to see the entire district.
The oldest square in Paris is flanked by 36 matching pavilions with red-and-gold, brick-and-stone facades. Architecturally, this square represents the first time in Paris that an arcade was used to link houses. Balconies were also designed for the first time -- not just for decorative reasons, but to be used. The most famous resident of this square (no. 6) was the French writer Victor Hugo, who lived here from 1833 to 1848 until Napoleon III came to power and Hugo fled into voluntary exile in the Channel Islands. His home is now a museum, which at this point may have to be saved until your next trip to Paris.

Arm yourself with a good map and spend at least an hour wandering the narrow Marais streets to the west of place des Vosges. You can make discoveries on every block as you explore trendy cafes and funky shops. At the northern tier of the place des Vosges, head west along rue des Francs Bourgeois, one of the most historic streets. At some point, dip south to visit the parallel street:

4. Rue des Rosiers
"The Street of Rose Bushes" (its English name) remains from the heyday of the old Jewish ghetto that once flourished here. The street, deep in the heart of the Marais, is still packed with kosher butchers, bakeries, and

falafel shops. In the 1960s, the waves of North African Sephardim radically changed the street. Despite Nazi attempts to exterminate the Jews in World War II, their families survived and are still living in the Marais. A synagogue is at 25 rue des Rosiers.
One more famous neighborhood awaits discovery.

5. Montparnasse
Take the Métro to Montparnasse-Bienvenüe. Montparnasse was once the retreat of bohemian artists and the working class. Today, it's been as successfully gentrified with urban renewal projects as the Marais. The district teems with cafes (many of literary fame), cinemas, and nightclubs, along with artisan shops and bars.

For the best overview, take an elevator to the 56th floor of Tour Montparnasse (tel. 01-45-38-52-56), which, when it was built, was accused of bringing Manhattan to Paris. The tower, completed in 1973, rises 206m (676 ft.) above the Parisian skyline.

After taking in the view, descend on the most famous cafe of Montparnasse.
La Coupole -- One doesn't see as many writers and publishers as before, but this is still the best viewing platform for Montparnasse life. In this citadel to the bohemian life of Paris in the 1920s and 1930s, Hemingway, Picasso, and Louis Armstrong once scribbled, sketched, or composed. Chanteuse Josephine Baker would show up accompanied by her lion cub, and Jean-Paul Sartre would dine here. Eugène Ionesco always ordered the café liegeois. Henry Miller came for his morning porridge, and the famous "Kiki of Montparnasse" picked up tricks here to service back in her hotel room. James Joyce patronized the joint, as did F. Scott Fitzgerald when he didn't have much money; when the royalty check came in, he fled to the Ritz Bar. Join the local fauna for the memories if for no other reason. 102 bd. du Montparnasse, 14e. tel. 01-43-20-14-20; www.lacoupoleparis.com.
You can order drinks here and sit back to enjoy the cafe scene in Montparnasse, perhaps not as colorful as in days gone by, but still a lively, bustling place to be at night.
For dinner on your final night, head for a restaurant that is a virtual sightseeing attraction as well as a place for food.

6. Closerie des Lilas
After taking the Métro Port Royal or Vavin, descend on this legend that has been wining and dining some of the most famous figures of the past 2 centuries since it opened back in 1847. It is "the Pleasure Garden of the

Lilacs" (its English name), a virtual French monument. Follow the sounds of a jazz pianist and enter its
hallowed precincts, heading for the bateau (boat) section for a champagne julep (the bartender's special). You can dine expensively in the main restaurant with formal service or else enjoy the more democratically priced brasserie. Should you be on the strictest of budgets, you can order a coffee or beer at the bar and soak up the atmosphere, the way Hemingway did between royalty checks when he was broke and had to kill pigeons in the park for his dinner. Today, the lilacs of its namesake no longer bloom, Trotsky has long been assassinated, and Henry James is a mere skeleton of himself (if that). But young Parisians, including rising film stars, models, the pretty, and the chic, still patronize the place, giving you a close encounter with Paris after dark. And, yes, it's still going in August when the rest of the town shuts down. Have a nightcap at the bar and promise a return to Paris.

How to Spend PARIS in Two Days

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:01:00 +0000

So, enjoyed your first day in Paris? C'est Bon? Now you are ready to spend your second day in Paris with a bang. First, start at:

1. Ile St-Louis
The neighboring island to La Cité is Ile St-Louis, lying to the immediate east of the larger island. Beautiful antique town houses with charming courtyards, tree-shaded quays opening onto the Seine, mansions that once housed such famous literati as Voltaire and his mistress, antiques shops, and little restaurants and cafes fill the narrow streets on this island of platinum real estate. A great way to break in your second day in Paris is by wandering the streets and quays in the early morning before the museums and attractions open. After arriving

at Pont-Marie on the Right Bank, head south across the bridge, Pont-Marie, to Ile St-Louis. Cut immediately to your right and walk along quai de Bourbon. We suggest that you circle the entire Seine-bordering quays, including those south of the island, quai d'Orléans and quai de Béthune. When you reach square Barye in the far southeastern corner, take in the scenic view down river before crossing by Pont de Sully. At this point you can cut inland and walk the entire length of rue St-Louis-en-l'Ile, which will take you along the "main street" and the most historic part of the island.
After your stroll, take the Métro to Solférino.

2. Musée d'Orsay
This splendid museum will take up the rest of your morning; at least 2 hours. It shelters the world's greatest collection of the Impressionists, including all the old masters, such as Manet, Monet, and Van Gogh. You'll even get to see the fabled painting of Whistler's Mother -- and it's by an American. This former railway station also presents a vast array of sculptures and decorative arts, with other departments devoted to

architecture, photography, and cinema. Most of the works span the period from 1848 to 1914 and the beginning of World War I. To speed you on your way, English-language information is available at the entrance. Audio guides offer analyses of more than 50 masterpieces on display.
Because it's time for lunch, we suggest you eat on-site.
Restaurant du Musée d'Orsay -- Serving first-class cuisine, this elegant restaurant should be visited if only for its setting, although the food is excellent. Gabriel Ferrier designed this Belle Epoque room with its panoramic vista of the Seine and its splendid chandeliers. If you want something cheaper, you can patronize Café des Hauteurs, on the fifth floor behind one of the former train station's huge iron clocks. For food on the run, patronize a self-service food stand directly above the cafe; it's open Tuesday to Sunday 10:30am to 5pm; Thursday 10:30am to 9pm. 1 rue de Bellechasse, 7e. tel. 01-45-49-47-03.
After lunch, take the Métro to:

3. Hotel des Invalides/Napoleon's Tomb
Still beloved by many French people, the little megalomaniac who tried to conquer Europe lies locked away (or at least his remains are) with some of his family members in six coffins of red Finnish porphyry. After seeing the tomb in Eglise du Dome, you can leave at once or else take a quick look at the Musée de l'Armée located here. This is a gaudy celebration of French military history, but most first-timers to Paris skip it.

From Invalides take the Métro to the Right Bank, getting off at the Alma-Marceau stop. Here, you can embark on one of the:

4. Bateaux-Mouche Cruises of the Seine
We know of no better way to enjoy Paris than on one of these scenic boat tours from the riverbank point of view. They allow for one of the most dramatic vistas of Notre-Dame. Tours depart every 20 to 30 minutes during the day and are in English, lasting about 75 minutes. First, you sail east all the way to Ile St-Louis, and then you return west past the Eiffel Tower.

As the afternoon fades, head for "the top of Paris," the legendary Montmartre district, reached by Métro going north to the Abbesses stop.

5. Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
Before heading for Sacré-Coeur, you can wander around the legendary square, place du Tertre. Dozens of young artists wait for you to give them the nod to paint your portrait. This may sound corny to sophisticated travelers, but thousands of visitors consider these portraits their most memorable souvenirs of Paris. Perhaps your portrait will be painted by tomorrow's Toulouse-Lautrec. The basilica of Sacré-Coeur, or the Church of

the Sacred Heart, with its many cupolas, is a brilliant white and as much a part of the Paris skyline as the Eiffel Tower. Ascend to the dome at 80m (262 ft.) for one of the greatest panoramas in all of Europe, extending for 65km (40 miles) on a clear afternoon. After coming down from the dome, we always like to sit with dozens of other visitors on the steps of Sacré-Coeur, watching the afternoon fade and the lights go on all over Paris.
After dinner, perhaps in one of the little bistros that surround place du Tertre, head for a Paris landmark for your final toast to the City of Light. Take the Métro to Opéra or Pyramides.

6. Harry's New York Bar
This is the official headquarters of the International Bar Flies. Such cocktails as the Bloody Mary, the Sidecar, and the White Lady were created here. The bar looks much as it did at the time of the Liberation, when

Hemingway was one of its patrons. The main bar attracts sports fans, especially rugby rooters, but the downstairs piano bar is more attuned to a romantic conversation over a cocktail.
A final stroll through the streets of Paris before turning in will be your adieu to everyone's favorite city (well, almost everyone).

How to Spend PARIS in One Day

noreply@blogger.com (G & G) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:45:00 +0000

Once you are in Paris do no waste your time at all. Wake up early and smell the aroma of fresh baked baguette, coffee, and the smell of Paris itself. Everywhere in Paris you can find cafes to get some breakfast and at the same time read a map or plan your route. While taking your breakfast, sit-back, enjoy and relax. This is Paris and make the most of it.
Start your adventure at:
1. Musée du Louvre. You know you must see the Louvre, perhaps the greatest museum of art in the world. You wouldn't dare go home without storming that citadel. Because it opens at 9am, be among the first in line.

We've been going to this repository of art for years and, on every visit, discover something we've overlooked before. This palatial treasure trove is richly endowed, and some of its art is the most acclaimed on earth. With your clock ticking, at least call on the "great ladies of the Louvre": the Mona Lisa with her enigmatic smile, the sexy Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory (alas, without a head). Try to allot at least 2 hours of viewing time for some world-class masterpieces. Around 11am, go for a walk along:

2. The Quays of the Seine
After leaving the Louvre, walk south toward the river and head east for a stroll along the Seine. You'll encounter the most splendid panoramic vistas that Paris has to offer. Trees shade the banks of the river, and

14 bridges span the Seine. So much of the city's fortune has depended on this river, and you'll be in the nerve center of Paris life as you stroll along.
You'll see Paris's greatest island on the Seine, the Cité, emerging before you. Cross over the:

3. Pont Neuf
The oldest and most evocative of the bridges of Paris, Pont Neuf dates from 1578 and still looks the same.

From the bridge, the view down (or up) the river is perhaps the most memorable in Paris. Walk down the steps emerging on your right along Pont Neuf to:

4. Square du Vert Galant
The steps take you behind the statue dedicated to Henri IV to the square du Vert Galant at the western tip of Ile de la Cité. The square takes its designation from the nickname given Henri IV, meaning "gay old spark."

The square is the best vantage point for viewing Pont Neuf and the Louvre. As you stand on this square, you'll be at the "prow" of Cité if you liken the island to a giant ship. After taking in that view, continue east, pausing at:
5. Place Dauphine
This square -- perfect for a picnic -- was named in honor of the Dauphin, the future Louis XIII. It faces the

towering mass of La Conciergerie, whose gloomy precincts and memories of the French Revolution you can save for another visit to Paris. With time moving on, head east along:

6. Quai des Orfèvres
This Seine-bordering quay leads east to Notre-Dame. It was the former market of the jewelers of 17th- and

18th-century Paris. Marie Antoinette's celebrated necklace, subject of countless legends, was fashioned here. The quay leads you to:

7. Sainte-Chapelle
This Gothic chapel is sublime, and entering its upper chapel is like climbing into Tiffany's most deluxe jewel box. As the colored light from the 13th-century windows shines through, you'll bathe in perhaps the most brilliantly colored "walls of glass" in the world. Taking in the deep glow of these astonishing

windows is one of the great joys of a visit to the City of Light. The windows, the oldest in Paris, are known not only for their brilliant colors, but also for the vitality of their characters, including everybody from Adam and Eve to St. John the Baptist and the Virgin. After a visit, it's time for lunch. Because first-day visitors have little time to absorb Left Bank life, here's your chance.
Continue east along quai des Orfèvres until you come to the Pont St-Michel. Cross the bridge to the Left Bank of Paris, arriving at the Latin Quarter centering on:

8. Place St-Michel
One of the inner chambers of Left Bank life, this square was named in memory of the ancient chapel of St-Michel that stood here once upon a time. The square, a bustling hub of Sorbonne life, centers on a fountain from 1860 designed by Gabriel Davioud, rising 23m (75 ft.) high and stretching out to 5m (15 ft.), a "monster" spouting water. A bronze statue depicts Saint Michael fighting the dragon.

Why not do lunch in one of the most evocative of all Left Bank bistros?
Allard -- Arm yourself with a good map to reach Allard, which is only a 5-minute walk southwest of place St-Michel. You can easily get lost in the narrow maze of Left Bank streets. Little has changed at this classic bistro with its mellow decor and traditional menu. Against a nostalgic ambience of Paris of the 1930s, you can join cosmopolitan patrons enjoying the sole meunière or canard d'olives, finishing off with that most divine pastry known to all Parisians as tarte tatin. And, yes, if you've never tried them before, you'll find frogs' legs on the menu. 41 rue St-André-des-Arts, 6e. tel. 01-43-26-48-23.
After lunch, walk back to place St-Michel.
Still on the Left Bank, continue east along quai St-Michel until it becomes quai de Montebello. At the "green lung" or park, square Rene Viviani, pause to take in the most dramatic view of Notre-Dame across the Seine. Then cross the bridge, Pont au Double, to visit the cathedral itself.

9. Cathédrale de Notre-Dame
In so many ways, the exterior is more exciting than the vast and hollow interior that, since its denuding during the French Revolution, is almost tomblike. One of the supreme masterpieces of Gothic art, Notre-Dame cathedral still evokes Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. You stand in awe, taking in the

majestic and perfectly balanced portals. After a walk through the somber interior, climb the towers (around to the left facing the building) for a close encounter with tons of bells and an eerie inspection of what are history's most bizarre gargoyles, some so terribly impish that they seem to be mocking you.
After Notre-Dame, take the Métro to the:

10. Place de la Concorde
This octagonal traffic hub, built in 1757, is dominated by an Egyptian obelisk from Luxor, the oldest manmade object in Paris, from 1300 B.C. In the Reign of Terror at the time of the French Revolution, the dreaded guillotine was erected on this spot to claim thousands of heads. For a spectacular view, look down the Champs-Elysées.

The grandest walk in Paris begins here, leading all the way to the Arc de Triomphe. It's a distance of 3.2km (2 miles) and is the most popular walk in Paris.
However, because your afternoon is short, you may want to skip most of it, taking the Métro to Franklin D. Roosevelt and continuing west from there. At least you'll see the busiest and most commercial part of the:

11. Champs-Elysées
Called "the highway of French grandeur," this boulevard was designed for promenading. It's witnessed some of the greatest moments in French history and some of its worst defeats, such as when Hitler's armies paraded down the street in 1940. Louis XIV ordered the construction of the 1.8km (1 mile) avenue in 1667. Without

worrying about any particular monument, stroll along its avenue of sidewalk cafes, automobile showrooms, airline offices, cinemas, lingerie stores, and even hamburger joints. The Champs has obviously lost its fin-de-siècle elegance as evoked by Marcel Proust in Remembrance of Things Past. But then, what hasn't?
At the end of the broad boulevard, you approach:

12. Arc de Triomphe
The greatest triumphal arch in the world, the 49m (161 ft.) arch can be climbed for one of the most panoramic views of Paris. The arch marks the intersections of the 8th, 16th, and 17th arrondissements. Sculptures, including François Rude's famous La Marseillaise, depicting the uprising of 1792, are embedded in the arch.

After a visit, and with the afternoon fading, take the Métro to the Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel for an ascent up the:

13. Tour Eiffel
It's open until 11pm or midnight, so don't worry about missing it. A close encounter with this tower, a

10,000-ton dark metal structure is more inspiring up close than when seen from afar. A source of wonder
since the 1889 World Exposition, this 317m (1,040 ft.) tower was the world's tallest building until the Chrysler Building went up in New York in 1930. If the afternoon is clear, you can see for 65km (40 miles).