Travel Obsession: Paris, France

Who doesn't love to travel?! Very few people, I'd assume!
I decided to introduce a new weekly blog post titled: Travel Obsession. Every week, I will highlight a new destination. Things to see and do. To start this new post, I have decided to highlight one of my favorite places in the world: Paris, France!

Paris is the capital of France and is, therefore, the most sought out city within the country to travel to. It is a city flooded with historical architecture and monuments. It is a place to fall in love with its people, its culture, and its food.

The "city of lights" has something to offer for anyone coming to visit her. It has museums for the history buffs, it has parks and gardens for the nature lover, countless coffee shops and restaurants for the foodie, clubs and bars for the party animal, and a theme-park on its outskirts for the kids.

Without further ado, let's dive right into things to see. As with many places, there are more things to see than I can list, so I will narrow it down to a select few.

1. La Tour Eiffel: Also known as the Eiffel Tower. Anytime you think of Paris, you think about the Eiffel Tower. This is why it is at the top of the list. The tower was built in 1889 and has since hosted over 200 million visitors. It features three levels and two restaurants with amazing views of the city: Le 58 Tour Eiffel and Le Jules Verne. If you have a chance to visit, I recommend going in the morning to see the tower in its grandest stature and at night, as it will sparkle with thousands of lights.

2. Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Paris: this is the most traveled sight in Paris. Notre dame cathedral took over 100 years to complete and has over 10 million visitors each year along with being a true epitome of French Gothic architecture with the oh-so-famous 10 meter wide rose window. Did you ever watch The Hunchback of Notre Dame when you were a kid? Well, this is it! Make sure to climb the north tower of the cathedral to experience the same views Quasimodo had in the movie.

3. Arc de Triomphe: this is the largest roundabout in the world. It was built by Napoleon in the early 1800's to commemorate his victories in battle and still stands tall today. The only way to get to it is by using an underground passage way, unless you wish to be hit my those crazy European drivers (I'm allowed to say this, I am half German and know how driving in Europe goes). 

4. La Seine: this can be viewed as the cities lifeline, at least in its early years. This is the Seine river. It flows through Paris and is a must-see sight. The river used to be used as transportation of goods and is now a sightseeing route to all of its finest attractions, including its cathedrals and famous markets. This is the ultimate romantic leisurely stroll.

5. Jardin du Luxembourg: if you love people watching and sitting outside to take in the smell of blooming flowers, this place is for you. Basically, it is garden of massive size; 23 hectares to be exact. Enjoy a walk through the lush greenery and taking pictures of statues, as well as the most beautiful flowers you have ever seen. While here, you can also experience the Palais du Luxembourg, a picturesque estate that features, on its northern side, chairs for sunbathing. The perfect place to mingle with fellow tourists from all over the world and Parisians alike.

Now that we have gone through some of the must-see's, let's move on to some of the must-do's!

1. Musee du Louvre: Only one of the most famous museums in the world, holding treasures such as the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Code of Hammurabi. This museum used to be a residence and, in the 18th century, was turned into one of the first national museums. To see all this magnificent place has to offer, make sure to set aside an entire day.

2. Paris City Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour: want to see numerous sights in one day? Take the bus tour where you can get on and off at whichever location you like and at your own speed. Perfect for those travelers who are only there for a short period of time and want to see as many sights as they can within that time frame. It's a lot better than walking!

3. Paris Food tours: The French are known for their delectable and exquisite foods, including desserts. While you're there, why not take one of many culinary tours that are offered. Anything from chocolate and pastries to bread and wine can be explored. Usually, tours last between 60 and 180 minutes and include sampling of products, walking through renowned neighborhoods and even creating your own dish in a culinary class.

4. Avenue de Champs-Elysees: this is one of the most famous streets in Paris. When you are there, you do not want to miss this. It features restaurants, cafe's, bars, cinemas, and anything from small boutiques to high-end designer stores.

5. Musee d'Orsay: another museum that is a must-do. This museum features art from Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Van Gogh, Degas, and many more. A lot of people even say that they prefer this one over the Louvre, as it is less crowded and smaller.

There are many more things to do, however i wanted to stay focused on attractions directly in Paris. You can also take 2 and 3 days tours to view the Palace of Versailles or a tour to Normandy and even Disneyland Paris.

Lastly I wanted to discuss cost. Paris and France in general is on the pricier end of the spectrum. Heck, any country using the Euro these days is pretty expensive, but it is money well spent. Here's a list of possible things to consider when traveling from the US:

Flights: depending on when you go, these can run anywhere from $700 to $1500 per person. From personal experience, I know Charles De Gaulle airport is one of the most expensive to fly into.
Food: On average, if you are eating out every day of your trip, including breakfast, snack, lunch, and dinner, it will probably run you about $60 per person per day, and that is if you just grab an on the go breakfast, snack, or lunch, or even all three.
Accomodations: this is where you will need to dig deep. Hotels are extremely expensive in Paris, especially if you want to be within walking distance of sights like the Eiffel Tower. I would say they will run you about $200-$300 per night. My advice. Stay a little bit outside of the city center, as Paris has a great transportation system.
Transportation: no need to have a car. They have a train and bus system for a relatively low cost; about $15 for a week-long ticket.
Sights: these can cost you anywhere from, roughly, $5 to $20 per person. It adds up if you want to do everything. I suggest making a list of the things you want to see and then sorting them in order of importance. As the trip winds down, you can budget as to what is still important to see and what you can view next time you visit.

Happy traveling my friends!

*Factual information found here.*

**Disclaimer: I have not been to all places highlighted in my Travel Obsession posts; the posts are merely there to highlight a beautiful place in the world, one at a time.**