It's the middle of January and part of my grad school's abroad program itinerary is to visit Perouges. A medieval walled town just north of Lyon. The oblong town traces its roots back to 8th century, according to locals, and was home to artisans, bakers, weavers, farmers, and the nobility. It was a stop along the way for nobles getting to Paris, the heart of the nation.
Read MoreThere's nothing better than a stroll along an old river and there's no river more French than the Seine. This famous waterway has shown up in countless art pieces, cinema, writing, and more. In older times, civilizations thrived and fell based on waterways. Undoubtedly the Seine lent to Paris' trade and commerce.
Read MoreShakespeare & Company is a literary mecca for fans of American literature on the other side of the Atlantic. Located just a stone's throw from the iconic Notre-Dame cathedral, the bookstore was founded by an American, George Whitman. Greats like Allen Ginsberg, Anaïs Nin, Henry Miller, and James Baldwin were among early visitors to the shop.
Read MoreThe Arc de Triomphe in Paris stands at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle or "Place de l'Étoile" and for most tourists is the anchor of the west end the famous shopping street, Champs-Élysées.
Read MoreThe Eiffel Tower or La Tour Eiffel, is synonymous with Paris, France. There is nothing more iconic than this hunk of metal that points skyward. It is a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars engineered by Gustave Eiffel. At 324 meters or 1,063 feet tall, it provides a great Birdseye view of the city below.
Read MoreVersailles stands unrivaled as a place of grandeur and opulence. Beyond the looming gold gilded gates is a magnificent estate, also gilded in gold. Everything glints underneath the sun. Beyond the estate are sprawling, well manicured gardens, with blooming with wildflowers nestled in well kept hedges. The gardens are a living museum, an homage to a time and a man who demanded perfection and excellence.
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