Paris By The Sea: Paris Plage
When you think of Paris many thinks spring to mind: romance wine food arts and THAT tower. It’s a safe bet that you don’t think of the beach. ParisonSea? No surely everybody knows there’s no beach in Paris right? Right? Except that is for the summer.
From July to late August the usually busy roads that run alongside the Seine are closed and the river banks are turned into a palmlined sandy beach. The now annual Paris Plage initiative was started in 2002 by the city’s socialist mayor Bertrand Delanoe as an attempt to reclaim the city for its people. Initially regarded as folly and a bit of a gimmick it was this scheme coupled with a now hugely popular bikerental scheme that helped him get voted back into office.
In fact the scheme proved so popular that it started being mimicked. Suburbs of Paris perhaps put off by the tourists invading what was designed to be their beach holiday started setting up their own smaller versions and it spread outwards to other regional French cities before reaching the likes of Brussels Amsterdam and even Budapest.
Anybody that has visited the French capital will attest that the Seine is truly picturesque and an absolute pleasure to stroll beside and that those rental bicycles are everywhere and with banks wide enough to provide ample space for a ‘beach.’ This year the ‘beach’ is now in place four tonnes of sand along a 3km stretch of the banks and adorned with deck chairs hammocks grassy areas and palm trees and will be there until August 19th. The opening of the beach just a few days after the Bastille Day celebrations was marked with concert by an orchestra and 120 singers performing Beethoven’s ninth ceremony and a huge picnic in the evening along the length of the beach. They do things in style dans Paris.
With France having taken over the rotating EU Presidency this year something special was called for and so a one kilometre stretch of the ‘beach’ was upgraded this year. There’s now activities such as canoeing rowing sailing and that alltime favourite beach activity; ballroom dancing. Last year the initiative attracted 4 million visitors and more are expected this year August being the time of year when most Paris natives decamp on their own holidays.
If you’re one of the millions expected to be descending on Paris this summer knowing how maze like those Parisian streets can be you’ll find the Paris Plage from the Ile St. Louis to the Jardin des Tuileries. So this summer if you’re heading to Paris on holiday you may well need to pack your bucket and spade after all.
About the writer: Patrick is an expert Research and Travel consultant. His current interest is in Glasgow Airport Parking Glasgow Airport Hotels.
Paris An Irresistible Charm
The capital city of France is Paris. It is situated on the River Seine in northern France at the heart of the Region Parisienne.
It has an estimated population of 2153600 inhabitants within city limits. The Paris urban area has a population of 9.93 million. A commuter belt around the same completes the Paris metropolitan area with its population of 11.5 million is one of the most populated areas of its kind in Europe.
The city has many of the worlds most visited attractions among them the Eiffel tower the Louvre palace the NotreDame cathedral and the nearby Versailles palace are truly unique.
The most famous landmark the Eiffel Tower. It has 360 steps to the 1st level but of course the most spectacular panorama up at 274m.
A visit to the stunning Notre Dame Cathedral is an absolute must. On the bank a beautiful old square lined with ancient buildings is a wonderful witness to times gone by.
The Beau Bourg centre of contemporary art confirms its resolutely futuristic outlook.
Get a closer look at some monuments by taking a relaxing boat trip along the Seine.
The Moulin Rouge cabaret dancehall is a staged dinner theatre spectacle. A dance display that was once but one aspect of the cabarets former atmosphere. All of the establishments former social or cultural elements such as its ballrooms and gardens are gone today.
Much of Paris hotel restaurant and night entertainment trades have become heavily dependent on tourism with results not always positive for Parisian culture.
A city of the people and the middle classes rich and poor proud and sometimes treacherous cosmopolitan yet insular. This cultural and sociological mix gives Paris an irresistible charm
The Paris Region is an engine of the global economy if it were a country it would rank as the sixteenth largest economy in the world. The Paris Region is thus Frances premier centre of economic activity.
Paris is served by two principal airports Orly Airport which is south of Paris and the Charles de Gaulle International Airport in nearby Roissy en France one of the busiest in Europe.
The city is also the hub of Frances motorway network It has an extensive road network with over 2000 kilometres of major roads and highways.
In Paris there are great hotels offers from cheap to luxury hotels and a wide variety of accommodation and hotel options for the business traveller as well as for vacation purposes. With over two hundred independent hotels to choose you can be sure to select the perfect accommodation for your trip in France.
About the writer: Douglas Scott writes for The Cheap Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Spanish Villa Rental Site
Package Tours To Kerala Gods Own Country
Situated along the tropical Malabar Coast of southern tip of India Kerala is one of the most beautiful states of India. It is must visit tourist destination for all visitors to India. Famous for unique cultural and geographical features Kerala attracts the attention of tourists from all over the world. Tourists nature lovers and couples from all around the world visit Kerala and explore its exceptional beauty. Truly the state is named as one of the top ten paradise of the world and one of the 50 must see destinations of a lifetime by National Geographic Traveler.
There are a lot of tourism options in this beautiful state such as; beautiful beaches breathtaking backwaters verdant hill stations lush green landscapes exotic beach resorts exhilarating wildlife sanctuaries parks enchanting bird sanctuaries lovely lakes beautiful waterfalls sprawling plantations paddy fields palm coconut trees colorful fairs festivals historic cultural monuments historic cities traditional villages terrific temples beautiful architectures generous people and more. Tourists also come here to rejuvenate themselves at Ayurvedic Treatment Spa Center. In fact the entire state is a perfect tourist destination and in each part of the state one can something new and some thing extra. But Kerala is more than sightseeing destination; it is also a destination for spiritual and intellectual adventure. On your package tours to Kerala you will observe that it is not without reason that the state is lovingly known as the Gods Own Country.
Some of the popular tourist destinations of Kerala are:
Beaches: When we talk about Kerala first thing in our mind comes is no other than its breathtakingly beautiful and sunkissed beaches which are equally famous among vacationers nature lovers couples funseekers and families. On your Kerala tours package you will have wonderful opportunity to explore its sunkissed and palmlined exotic beaches. Gifted with exceptional scenic beauty beaches of Kerala creates amazing serene ambiance for tourists to make their holidays memorable. For couples and honeymooners beaches can be perfect romantic destinations. Dont miss to explore beautiful beaches of Kerala on your India tours. Some of popular beaches of Kerala are Kovalam Fort Kochi Cherai Kappad Poovar etc.
Backwaters Houseboats: No doubt beaches plays a major role in the boom of tourism in Kerala but its beautiful beaches also have their own charm and deserve the attention of tourists from all around the world. Backwaters of the state provide unique tourism experience to its visitors. No one can imagine Kerala without its breathtaking backwaters. One of the best ways to explore the superb beauty of backwaters is spending some moment of your tour on luxurious houseboat. Floating over backwaters houseboat takes you to the unique world of water and nature. Truly exploring backwaters with houseboat will be a unique pleasant experience that will last forever. Some of popular backwater destinations of Kerala are Kumarakom Periyar Fort Kochi Alleppey Trivandrum etc.
Hill Stations: Hill stations of Kerala also very popular among tourists from all over the world. They are also popular among couples and honeymooners. While exploring hill stations of Kerala you will have wonderful opportunity to see the superb beauty of nature and exotic wildlife by close. Popular hill stations of Kerala are Munnar Wayanad Devikulam Ponmudi Vagamon Rajamala Echo Point etc.
If you too want to enjoy the sightseeing in beautiful land of Kerala you are welcome. Choose your tour package in Kerala and embark on Kerala tours in India.
About the writer: Michael Braganza is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel Tourism related topics. He has authored many books on tour guide for Kerala tour and tour to kerala. Now he is rendering his services to http://www.greenparadize.com/
