TRAVELING IN EUROPE / PARIS: The city of lights!

One of the most beautiful cities in the world. We don’t call it accidentally "city of lights" since Paris may be beautiful during the day but is magical at night. The city with the famous river, Seine, the numerous monuments, countless churches, elegant Parisians, the odd weather, museums, street performers, beautiful bridges, the endless food ...

The experience I have lived in this picturesque city can not be compared with any other. From the moment I stepped at the airport Charles de Gaulle (CDG) I felt the difference.

THE MONUMENTS numerous and beautiful. Among other things, the Eiffel Tower in the Trocadéro, Notre Dame Cathedral in the Île de la Cité, the cathedral of Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre, the artistic area, one of the most beautiful regions of Paris offers a panoramic view of the city, the Centre George Pompidou and the Town Hall in le Marais, the heart of the nightlife of Paris, with its narrow streets, maybe scary at night, the Arch of Triumph in the Champs-Élysées, the avenue with the large department stores and the famous fashion houses such as Luis Vuitton, Gucci, Armani etc., the Grande Arche at La Défense and Montparnasse Tower in the city centre.

SEINE, the famous river that splits the city into two and constitutes one of the most striking signs of Paris. An evening cruise is the best choice for anyone wishing to see the real beauty of this "earthly paradise".

THE WEATHER is so unpredictable that blends harmoniously with the unpredictable capital of France. The cold and the heat, the sun and the rain so perfectly unsuited to each other play out over the Paris and contribute to the magic that surrounds it. An umbrella and a t-shirt always necessary in the bags of men and women.

CAFES along with the French music transport you back in time and lead to other seasons. Retro styles and traditional French setting, the best place to relax after endless morning walking in the big and charming parks or in the numerous and expensive shops. In the evening, a walk for drink or food in Quartier Latin will complete the magic of your trip.

ENTERTAINMENT until exhaustion of stocks for young and old in one of the amusement parks around the city. The Asterix park, not so popular, it has nothing to envy from Disneyland. Roller coasters, shows and entertainers along with a landscaped area that refers to the lives of our favorite Gauls, Asterix and Obelix. On the other hand, the Disneyland park and the Walt Disney Studios offer, except from adrenaline, the feeling that you are for a few hours one of the heroes of Disney world and make the older to seem like kids with a permanently smile on their face . Eleven hours of endless madness was not even enough for sate this magnificent park and the disappointment was great when at 23.00 we had to leave because the gates of this magical world were closing.

THE METRO, part of the tradition and history of Paris, offers a complete picture of the life of Parisians. Very different than other cities.

THE PARISIANS really elegant and delicate, careful diet and appearance. Modern and formal is the everyday dress of the, once polite and willing to help tourists, residents of this city.

THE MUSEUMS numerous and different covering all tastes, dedicated to a wide range of exhibits from Art to Sex. The most famous museum of Paris, Louvre, it requires a whole day for someone who intends to visit all parts. It is no coincidence that offer maps of the area at the entrance for the convenience of visitors. Other museums of great interest, the Orsay Museum on the banks of Seine, the Museum of Natural History, eroticism museum, the home of V. Hugo, the Picasso Museum, the museum of Edith Piaf, the perfume museum, the museum of history, etc.

THE CABARETS, perhaps the biggest feature of the French capital of the oldest standing grand years in various parts of the city and wait for several guests. Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret in the world, in the Montmartre district, offers a show, exactly as when first started with the most famous dancers. Lido on the Champs-Élysées, on the other hand is second to none of Moulin Rouge and is offered at half price.

VERSAILLES, almost 20 kilometres southern of Paris, is the ideal solution for an escape from the French capital. Therein lies one of the most famous palaces in the world, the Palace of Versailles, with its famous gardens offering, especially in summer boating and a few moments of relaxation away from the hectic pace of Paris.

For these and many more reasons Paris is the No 1 destination worldwide. After my visit I realized that as well positioned as it has in your mind and your heart, you can understand the true value only when you walk there. And if you do it once, you will do it again and again and again and again ...

TIPS AND USEFUL

1. To and from airports: If you fly to Olry or Charles de Gaulle airport, the most safe and advantageous option is Navigo Decouverte card, which also ensures you unlimited rides on all transportation means (see Transportation). From Orly Airport you can catch the bus to station Pont de Rungis and then the line RER C to the city centre, otherwise there is the option of Orlybus which costs a little more and gets you directly to the station Denfert-Rochereau from where you can take metro. If you fly in Beauvais Airport, the best and most economical solution is the bus Paris Beauvais Tille Airport which costs 15 € / trip and takes approximately 75 min. The shuttle routes from Beauvais airport to Porte Maillot and back and leaves the airport 20 minutes after the arrival of the flight and from Porte Maillot three hours before your flight's departure. LINK: http://www.aeroportbeauvais.com/bus.php?lang=eng
2. Transportation: The most advantageous card to your transports is Navigo Decouverte, you can buy it from the ticket house (FNAC) of the airport. Includes transportation to and from airports Orly and Charles de Gaulle, subway and buses within the city and travel to and from DISNEYLAND and Versailles. Costs 33 € + 5 € the card issuance (only for the first time – you’ll need a small photo – and is valid for 7 days from Monday to Sunday) Link: http://parisbytrain.com/paris-train-metro-week-pass-navigo-decouverte/
3. Theme Parks: Buy and print your tickets from the Internet and benefit from significant discounts. Transfer to Park Asterix is ​​made by bus from CDG Airport - Terminal 1,3 and costs 7 € return ticket. At Disneyland dedicate an entire day. In the most of the attractions are offered Fastpass tickets (knock on machines, next to the entrance of the attraction, the barcode of your entrance ticket and it gives you a badge with a specific time to visit the attraction and not to wait until 2 hours in the line). Link: http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/index.xhtml, http://www.parcasterix.fr/en
4. Cruise: The most profitable company offered is BATOBUS. Daily unlimited ticket (with 8 stops in the Paris Centre and in frequency every 14 minutes) at a cost of 12 € as opposed to other companies that cost 14 € / 1 hour. Link: www.batobus.com
5. Discounts: Almost everywhere the youths (up to 25 years) receive discounts or free. Ask!
6. Flight: The cheapest companies with direct flights to Paris are Easyjet, Ryanair etc... Link: www.easyjet.com, www.ryanair.com
7. Louvre: FREE ENTRANCE every Friday after 18.00 for everyone and everyday for EU residents under 24 years old - they do not mention it, ask!
8. Notre Dame: The best time to climb the towers is in the morning. To avoid the huge lines get to the point at 8.00. The entrance begins at 9.00!
9. Palace of Versailles: Admission is free for EU residents under 24 years old!
10. Food: Cheap options can be found in the Quartier Latin. Do not forget to try an authentic French crepe with chocolate, strawberry and cream in Trocadero!
11. Safety: Be careful especially at night in metro stations Châtelet, Les Halles and Gare du Nord, as well as in the wider area of Paris, circumferentially  of the centre.
12. Sightseeing: There are free daily tours of the city centre. The tour guides are all professionals and offer a comprehensive view of the city. If you are completely satisfied, you can provide (optional) the amount you think fits, if not, there's no problem. LINK: http://www.discoverwalks.com/paris-walking-tours/ 

LINKS: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/ , http://www.parispass.com/paris-attractions/paris-museums.html

…by Odysseas Karamitros!