Playing in Paris!

There is just so much to do in Paris! I have been to Paris, abundantly, from the age of three and have always done something new and different!

The obvious choice for a first-timer, would be ‘Le Tour Eiffel’ also known as ‘The Eiffel Tower’ (being one of the seven wonders of the world). This robust iron made tower holds captive to a magnificent breathtaking bids eye view of the entire city!

Another common favourite, being both a monument and a museum, is the ‘Louvre’. It holds art and artifacts, from the Middle Ages, (5th to the 15th century) of both Western and Eastern Europe, under a triangular shaped glass building. The piece that appeals to me the most, is stereotypically, Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’ mainly because as I walked along the painting, it seemed like her eyes were continuously following me.

Other main apparent monuments to visit are, the famous French Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral, the tranquil scenic Jardin De Luxembourg, the lavish Royal Versailles Palace and the list could go on…
However, Paris being the city of love and romance, I had great fun at the ‘Pont Des Arts’. Unfamiliar to some, it’s a bridge across the river Siene, where lovers come together, write their names on a padlock, seal it to the bridge and throw the keys into the river, committing to eternal love.

Luminous embellished bustling ‘Champs-Elysées’ is a world famous area filled with shops, restaurants, theaters, luxury brand shopping centers, hotels and clubs. Its footpath, filled with friendly travelling pedestrians who stop you for a chat or a compliment, begins from the magnificent historical and elegantly sculptured ‘Arc De Triomphe’ on the west and ends at the striking and powerful ‘Place de la Concorde’ on the East.

Living in the ‘Champs-Elysées’ area, I walked around quite a bit, discovering different delicious restaurants, one of my favourite being, ‘Le Cinq’ in the Four Seasons George V hotel. This French restaurant truly tires to give you a taste of Paris, with its French doors, Candlelit tables, oil paintings accompanying the meticulously embellished gold and grey chamber and friendly humorous staff.
My favourite dish is the mouthwatering and decadent Venison fillet of French Hunting, roasted with Smoked Bacon, Brown Pepper Sauce with Cocoa, Salted Beetroot and Molasses of Pomegranate, but everything on the menu is unique yet delicious.

Paris has a very exciting nightlife, most clubs are open untill 6 am and are party-goers still don’t want to leave! I had the most fun at Club 79, situated on glamorous red carpet, 8th avenue, with its booming Hip Hop beats and artists. I was lucky the day I went, hip hop legend ASAP Rocky was performing and in order to enhance his performance, there were semi-naked women dressed up dancing on either side of him. I enjoyed the vibe so much that I danced the night away not realising it was 6 am!

Whether young or old, unless you are a grand parent, I recommend everybody to visit Euro Disney, it is the second best after Orlando’s original Disney Land, but has the same to offer. It is 32 kilometres from Paris, and has direct shuttles. If you want to spend the night in Marne-la-Vallée, where Disney land is situated, there are plenty of Disney friendly hotels that range from extremely cheap to extremely expensive. All the roller-coasters and parades are definitely worth it!

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The Dutch Capital

When one says ‘Amsterdam’ people generally tend to think of prostitution or marijuana but Amsterdam is home to many other interesting monuments, factories and museums.

After the Red Light District and famous coffee shops like ‘The Bulldog’, museums are the next tourist hot spot! There are over 80 museums in Amsterdam, among those the top 4 cultural ones are; Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House and the Stedelijk Museum. There are also fun, and to some, strange museums, like the sex, erotic, hash, marijuana and torture museums, but hey, what’s Amsterdam without them!

The Anne Frank House interested me the most, I have always read about her life, trapped inside a house hiding for her life, and to be there and see the ‘Secret Annex’ and where she used to live helped me put her writings into images and made me tear up.
The museum has done a great job in captivating her spirit and set up a mood for the viewers, with videos paintings and articles in every room in the house. When I was there I did not feel like I was on holiday in Amsterdam, I felt like I was with her through hiding.

In my opinion, the most convenient area to live in would be Dam Square, you have Coffee shops and the Red Light District on the left, delicious restaurants accompanied by both local Amsterdam shops and big brands (Magna-plaza shopping center) as well as The Royal Palace on the right, and the museums are not a far walk.
I stayed at the NH Grand Krasnapolsky, overlooking the beautiful canal where its back entrance, was next to a famous coffee shop, ‘The Bulldog’.
There are Coffeeshops everywhere you look, obviously the center is more densely populated with them where as further North or South they are a little more disperse.

In the evenings my friend and I would go for a walk around the area always passing the red light district, when the pathway began to become more crowded, you knew you were close.
As you walk along, the whole street is lit up with red lights that come out from windows behind which women stand or sit gesturing onlookers to come in. Some men go in, some just like to walk around, but that area is always booming with bars and coffee shops around.

Otherwise known as Venice of the north, Amsterdam is one of the most water filled cities in the world! There are canals, everywhere, as you walk or drive along you will always see atleast one to your right, or one to your left. Tourists tend to go on a canal cruise, taking you to Amsterdam’s most prominent places accompanied by a personal guide.
My friends and I enjoyed cruising along the canal so much that we rented a little boat ourselves and sailed endlessly along chatting and drinking away.

If you plan to visit Amsterdam from the 20^th of March up until the 18^th of May, then you must check out Keukenhof Gardens!
It is one of the world’s most magnificent planned gardens with over 7 million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.
On entering, the overflowing colour and fragrance just lifts one’s spirits. Although it is in the south of Amsterdam, it takes just under an hour to get there by bus; there is a direct one available at Schiphol, Amsterdam’s city airport.

Visiting the diverse and liberal city is a once in a lifetime must for everybody!

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