Going Paris

When To Go
As the old song says, Paris is at its best in springtime, even if it is sometimes a little wet. In winter Paris has all sorts of cultural events going on, while in summer the weather is warm and lazy - sometimes sizzling. In August, when Parisians flee for the beaches to the west and south, many restaurateurs lock up and leave town too, but this is changing rapidly and you'll find considerably more places open in summer than even a decade ago. Things can get a bit hectic around Bastille Day and towards the end of the year so reservations at this time are a good idea.


Sightseeing:
As soon as you set foot inside the city of Paris, you begin your unconscious sightseeing. You stroll the Grands Boulevards like a king; you take respite among the shady trees that line the streets; you sit under the red awning of a sidewalk cafe among office workers, tourists and sundry passers-by; you cower from the traffic; you sidestep the dogs; you eavesdrop on couples romancing; you take sides with the policeman berating a lunatic motorist; you stop to inhale the fragrance of the local boulangerie; you look in envy at the windows of world-famous shops; you rub shoulders with the rich and poor alike; you marvel at the incessant honking of car horns; you breathe more easily as you contemplate the stately progress of the River Seine and the illuminated boats that ply its length, showing off its proud surroundings to wide-eyed visitors from all over the world. All of a sudden, a view opens up and there in front of you is the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe or the Sacré-Coeur. The time has come to pay a little more attention to some of those great monuments...