I can still remember looking out of my window of the Cosmos Coach…

sitting by myself, staring out into the horizon of endless blue skies, and green shrubs…

The slow buzzing sound of the Coach’s engine…

The foreign languages I hear in the background from the travelers I was with…

The occasional facts and info that Mark (from Holland) shares…

The travel was just hypnotic…

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It was a long drive from Cannes to Paris. We had comfort breaks every 2-3 hours in the French Motor-way. We had overnight stop at Lyon and sightseeing and shopping stop at Côte de Beaune, known for its Burgundy wines. Beaune (although lacking a Grand Cru vineyard within the commune) is the hub of the local wine business.

bonjour! bienvenue à Paris!

First few things that comes into mind when talking about Paris…

1. The Beautiful Parisiennes, 2. Eiffel Tower, 3. The Louvre, 4.  Paris Fashion Week, 5. Arc d’Triumph, 6. The Beautiful Parisiennes (oops! I said that already), 6. Sienne River, 7. Monmartre, 8. Luis Vuitton, 9. YSL, 10. Champs-Élysées, 11. Versailles, 12. The Monna Lisa, 13. Notre Dame and 14. The Moulin Rouge.–I’m 11 out of 14!!! I missed out on The Paris Fashion Week, YSL and Versailles!!!! :(

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Eiffel Tower (Tour L’Eiffel in french). Eiffel Tower has always been a must-see structure for the past 120 years. It has been visited over 200 Million times since its construction and still remains to be the most visited paid monument in the world. When in Paris, take a stroll along the river Sienne, and take a glimpse why this 120+ year old tower has become France’s global icon.

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Monmartre.–Heart of the bohemian Paris. Located on the north-side of Paris, you must take the metro to Pigalle (careful not to stray… Pigalle is the epicenter of Paris’ Red Light District). Take a stroll uphill, hop on to the funicular to Monmartre–the old Paris with its century old cafes, brasseries, and boulangeries. Here you can experience Paris the more traditional way. Purchase a French painting from a local Artist. Have your portrait painted and sketched. By sunset, watch Entertainers at the steps of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur (overlooking Paris), Listen to Local and Traveling Musicians & Mimes, Greet fellow Travelers & Lovers.

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Monna Lisa (La Joconde – french). This 500+ year old masterpiece is viewed by about 6 million people at the Louvre each year–each spending an average of 15 seconds to try grasping the enigmatic expression of Lisa del Giocondo. That is an average of 500,000 people per month, 17,000 people per day.–TRUE STORY!

I am very lucky to take a photograph of this extra-ordinary painting. Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Monna Lisa in 1503 (during the Italian Renaissance) and, according to Vasari, “after he had lingered over it four years, left it unfinished….”; He is thought to have continued to work on it for three years after he moved to France and to have finished it shortly before he died in 1519.

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Paris is truly an amazing City! One of my “Favorite Cities in the World”. The kind of City I also had the hardest time leaving… The kind of city that melts your heart and leaves you breathless with longing. I can’t wait to go back and visit my friend Tati! :D I can’t wait to take more photos around the city! I can’t wait to visit Versailles, YSL and experience the Paris’ Fashion Week.

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Paris je t’aime !

Bonne journée ! Bisou !