As the huge number of visitors to France every year prove, France is one of the most beautiful and romantic travel destinations in the western world. A trip to France can help you shake off the boredom of everyday life and expand your mind as you build a series of new experiences that you will remember for a lifetime. There are few things more thrilling than setting out to conquer new territory, and the sophisticated culture of France offers visitors an amazing array of opportunities for stimulation. If you plan it right, a trip to France can be exciting, educational, and even affordable. If you’ve ever dreamed of having an adventure in a new place where anything can happen, a trip to France can help you make your dream a reality.
France is a small country geographically, but it has several distinct regions, each with its own unique character. There is so much to see in France that no matter what your taste is, you will be able to find an area of this stunning country that is just the right kind of destination for you. From the big city glamour of Paris to the top notch ski slopes at Chamonix to the lush and relaxing countryside of the Beaune region where some of the world’s best wines are produced, there is something in France to awaken the adventurer in everyone. No matter what you are hoping to discover on your travels, there will almost certainly be somewhere in France where it can be found.
When you spend time in France, you are taking the risk of venturing into the unknown. This means that even if you have researched your destination and made all of your lodging plans well in advance, you simply don’t know just what you will find until you get there. The excitement of traveling to France is due in part to this fact. Because you can’t anticipate how your trip will unfold, you are likely to feel a level of excitement about traveling to France that is rarely stirred by other events.
From the Victorian age until now, traveling to France is often associated with luxury. For centuries, upper-class people living in America and Great Britain have believed that a trip to France should be a part of every young person’s education. Today, travel is much more accessible and affordable than it used to be, so the number of people who can feasibly travel to France has increased dramatically. France is no longer a destination solely reserved for the lucky few who can afford to splurge on a lavish vacation; in fact, it is possible to travel in France on a very tight budget. In our contemporary age of budget air travel and inexpensive hostel lodging, it is possible even for students living on a very small income to spend time exploring France.
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Paris is an amazing city. We have all heard the sayings “The city of love” “The most romantic city in the world” “The city of lights”, well after visiting this city and experiencing it first hand, I can tell you that it is all true. ? The city is very beautiful. The architecture is stunning, the tourist attractions amazing and I found the people to be friendly. ? Paris is a place you can’t describe in words to someone, it is a place you have to experience for yourself. The city is like a living museum, with architecture dating back to the 13th Century. That is when Notre Dame began to be built. ? The grandeur of Paris really became evident in the 16th century, when Versailles became Louis XIV?s headquarters. In the 19th Century, Napoleon appointed Baron Haussmann to develop modern Paris, with its long boulevards and beautiful buildings, the wide avenues and parks that still make the city unique today. ? Paris is internationally renowned for its architecture and its influence in fashion and the arts. Walking is the best way to see and get a feel for the city. You can explore the city?s districts, its old centres, cemeteries and great parks. When you first arrive in Paris, I highly recommend getting on the Hop on, Hop off buses. Stay on and do a circuit and get a feel for where everything is. It is very easy to walk around once you know where you are. ? I remember one day, later in the afternoon, we walked from Notre Dame back to our hotel near the Place de la Concorde. It was very charming and it turned dark and the lights came on. We stopped to have a meal in a restaurant. It was just wonderful. ? The Champs-Elys?es is a fantastic place to experience people watching. Another one is the Place de la Concorde. ? Those who fancy a trendier atmosphere, can visit districts such as Le Marais, Quartier Latin, or the quaint Canal St-Martin. If you like art galleries, museums, or famous cabarets such as Folies Berg?res, Paris has everything to meet your dreams. Be aware, Moulin Rouge, does not look like much during the day but it comes alive at night when the lights go on. ? The top attractions in Paris are certainly the Eiffel Tower, originally a ?temporary? construction for the 1889 Universal Exposition, the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and the massive cathedral Notre Dame. A walk from Place de la Concorde towards Champs Elys?e is also a must as well as the world famous Louvre museum. One place you must visit is the Montparnasse Tower. There are less crowds than the Eiffel Tower, it has an enclosed viewing area as well as being able to go onto the roof. The best part is that you get the Eiffel Tower in your photos! I highly recommend it. ? There is obviously much more to explore! ? P?re Lachaise The largest cemetery in Paris, and said reputed to be the most visited in the world. A huge and peaceful park home of those who have experienced French life over the past 200 years. ? Jardin du Luxembourg. The garden of the French Senate which is also a large public park. A recommended place to relax and savour the cosmopolitan atmosphere of a rich palace garden. ? Mus?e d?Orsay. This is the place for art and artefacts from the Middle Ages and Impressionist eras with leading collections. Originally a railway station and the building itself is worth a visit. ? Le Marais. Situated on the right bank (3rd and 4th Arr. ), this trendy district has beautifularchitecture of the 17th century. There are also many museums, art galleries and historic sites such as Paris? oldest square, Place des Vosges where you can find Victor Hugo?s residence. ? Montmartre. One of the most popular historic areas with the Sacr? Coeur Basilica on the top of the hill, the highest point in Paris. It?s also famous for the caf?s and studios of many great artists. I recommend taking the tram to the top, then walking down the steps followed by?browsing the artists work in the narrow streets at the bottom. A fantastic experience. I bought a beautiful print and everytime?I look at it, wonderful memories come flooding back. ? Versailles. Near Paris, this is where King Louis XIV built his Palace in the 17th century. For those who love Renaissance architecture, don?t miss it! The Palace has been recently renovated and you?ll also enjoy lovely walks in the well kept gardens. ? Bateaux Mouches. One of the most relaxing, and romantic ways to view some of the city?s oldest and most majestic historic monuments is to get a ride on the famous and unique long-boats that leisurely glide along the Seine. Despite the number of operators from which to choose, most of the boat lines offer similar itineraries and are equipped with an audio announcement system, providing commentary on the passing sights in several different languages. ? In Paris, you must differentiate between restaurants, bistro or brassieres. A bistro is usually small, featuring simple food, sometimes with entertainment. A brassiere serves hearty meals along with beer and wine, usually cheap and with a liquor and coffee bar. Like New York or London, the choice is huge. Each place has its own particular atmosphere and style whether recipes are local or from all over the world. However Paris is internationally renowned as a food capital. It is the right place to test the high-quality French products and delights of traditional French cookery thanks to the talented and creative chefs. Parisian restaurants are real gourmets delight. There are good places for all budgets. Whether it?s a restaurant, a bistro or a brassiere, you?ll be able to enjoy a real culinary feast with gourmets from all over the world. ? In Paris you will find lots of trendy and popular bars serving all kind of drinks with a good mix of music and sometimes with DJs. Take your time and sample a few, they are all open late!Paris has a very diverse nightlife. From high-tech dance clubs to mellow jazz haunts, there?s anything to fit your mood. Also try the famous cabaret venues for a great night of vibrant entertainment! ? Paris is home to some of the most famous designers and luxurious brand names in the fashion industry like Louis Vitton or Dior. But you?ll also find more affordable brands matching your budget in the huge department stores or many popular neighbourhoods. ? Paris is served by two major airports, Roissy Charles de Gaulle (CDG), 25 Km and Orly 15 Km from the city centre. A third airport, Paris Beauvais, is mainly served by low cost airlines. A paying shuttle service (?13) is organized to and from its terminals and Paris-Porte Maillot. From CDG terminals, the Roissybus leaves every 15 minutes from 6. 00 and arrives to the city centre (at Op?ra) after a journey of 45-60 minutes. (?8. 40 one way). After midnight there are night busses going to Place du Ch?telet, 90 rue de Rivoli every 30 minutes (?8 one way). The cheapest and fastest (30 minutes) is the underground RER B to Gare du Nord running from 4. 56 in the morning to 23. 56 at night (?8 one way). ? From Gare du Nord you are connected to Paris? metro network. Air France busses go to Porte Maillot. Taxis can be found near the terminals? baggage collection area exits. Average day fares are ?50. From Orly, the automatic metro Orlyval takes you to RER B Antony station from 6. 00 to 23. 00. Combined ticket price (Metro+RER+Orlyval)is about ?9. Other options are the airport shuttle buses going to RER C Pont de Rungis station. Combined ticket price (Metro+RER+shuttle) is around ?5. 60. As for busses, the Orly bus takes you straightto RER B Denfert-Rochereau. Daytime taxi rates are approximately ?35. ? Public transport. The RATP runs the city?s local transport system. The bus, underground (metro), and commuter train system (RER) is divided into five zones, and is cheap and efficient. The underground runs from 5:30 in the morning to 0:30 in the night. Tickets are valid on both busses and trains, and can be purchased from the stations and in kiosks. Travel cards, ranging from one to five days, are also available at the airport, at underground stations, and from tourist information offices. 1 day travel card zone 1-3 costs approximately ?8. 30. ? There is so much to see and do in Paris. If you are going to visit, make sure you allow enough time so that you can experience all that it has to offer.
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These paintings are in the National Gallery of art, but I can’t find them.
The Quarry of M. Pascal near Nanterre-Cazin
Farm at the Mahatango Valley-Anonymus
Morning in the Tropics (o Tropical Morning)-Church
Thanks a lot
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We’re thinking of going to paris for a few days and doing a day trip to Disneyland while we’re there. Is there a shuttle bus or convenient train route? Costs would be helpful too.
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The invention of the computer is perhaps the critical achievement in the technological evolution of the human race. Through computing (and the internet) we have brought the world ? and the peoples of the world ? to our very fingertips. And the power and flexibility of computing has adapted itself to every application?especially entertainment: Just as the television rapidly became ?must-have? entertainment in every home, computers have become our most engaging and captivating playmates. Almost from the very beginning, computer games have played a crucial role in bringing astounding computing power to the common people. The yearning for better entertainment has fuelled a race for not only more powerful CPUs every year, but more sophisticated graphics and sound cards?both of which are necessary for the best and most immersive experience in what are increasingly complex and realistic game worlds. Even so, rarely can contemporary hardware realize the latest game?s audio and visual potential to the fullest. (That said, there is an interesting movement among very small ?casual games? such as those produced by SandLot Games, to combine an excellent game with excellent game art, but without requiring the staggering computing power necessary for 3D animation, thousands of details, and attention to physics. An excellent example is Tradewinds Caravans, which uses a library of hundreds of beautifully illustrated male and female characters). Increasingly sophisticated computer graphics and animation software and technology have also allowed man to realize their flights of fancy in a way that was once the sole province of movies and television, and share it worldwide. Early game art? involved static pieces of art, little more than scanned artwork to represent people, places, and things– though the artwork is of much higher quality and produced by veteran artists under strict art direction (such as Baldur?s Gate, Icewind Dale, and especially Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI–which boasts almost 1,000 beautiful historically inspired illustrations of male and female warriors, courtiers, and commoners in a feudal China setting). Since then, video games have quickly taken imagination and player engagement to new levels with lifelike animation and attention to light, shadows, gravity, and other laws of physics. Science fiction and fantasy has always captivated adults and children alike, and video game makers have cashed in on the ability to vividly represent in digital art and digital animation what was once described in words and left to vague imagination. Where once words in books had to excite our minds to fill in the blanks, now computer games challenge us to take in all the sights and sounds. And the truly original and innovative game art and concepts in some games expose us to new sights and even new ways of thinking. Fantasy stories have enthralled us for centuries with magical and supernatural themes, creatures, and settings; and timeless favorites drawn from mythology and classic stereotypes continue to be re-envisioned in countless ways by different artists and in different games, making the familiar at once identifiable yet new again and again. With the computer to bring fantasy artwork to life with digital art, video game makers were quick to realize that all the beautiful and incredible artwork could only be enhanced with compelling, touching, thrilling stories. And with the interactivity a computer allows, game players can feel they are part of the story, and indeed determining its outcome with not just choices, but with varying combinations of strategy, strategic and fast thinking, experimentation and problem solving, and of course (but not always) good hand-eye coordination ? typically with escalating levels of challenge, forcing the player to grow and improve. Throughout this evolution, however, the highest quality in digital art and sound for the most vivid experience of fantasy artwork and fantasy game worlds has been foremost. Perhaps as never before, people judged books by their cover, so to speak. Storytelling combined with increasingly realistic digital reproductions of human protagonists have tried to catch up with the sense of identification and investment we have when we are caught up with the characters in a well-written novel. The lifelike characters ? how they move, how their faces display emotion, how they wince with pain ? all contribute to an immense involvement on the player?s part, and many games were quick to adopt a first-person point of view for even more immersion when 3D became mainstream. And combined with the interactivity and choice available in computer games, people could participate in a story as never before. In such games as Heroes of Might and Magic V, players from all over the world engage in discussions of how to best ?build? a powerful or simply interesting character, combining considerations such as game play strategies and innovative and unexpected combinations. And some games offer much more choice in how the heroes develop, sometimes orders of magnitude more. All further enhanced by dynamically changing the character in the game with artwork for weapons, amour, and other equipment. As in movies and television, art and story direction is an invisible component that affects us immensely even though we may not be consciously aware. Even in the early days of computing, the better games showed strong art direction, and with storytelling and the visual experience increasingly important, the art departments of larger video game companies are typically overworked and must outsource simpler or less critical artwork. Just as on the static covers of fantasy novels you can expect to see fantasy art involving unrealistically gorgeous and buxom women, and ruggedly handsome men with flat abs. In a computer game there will need to be more variety to populate the game world with more than just heroic-looking protagonists, however, and in fact, in some games (such as Spellforce), players can choose an ?atypical? look for the character they will control. In Spellforce, the game developers were careful to add a mix so that your hero can be old, scarred, and even balding ? not necessarily the most traditional look in a starring role ? adding to the sense of control, involvement, and ?ownership? of the game experience. Even if you do not play computer games, you can still at least experience and enjoy the beautiful artwork through screenshots and fantasy art wallpapers. Women fantasy art predominate, of course, but also popular are ?cool? looking characters of all sorts — typically characters decked out in a stylish combination of fantasy weapons and armor. And as with contemporary fantasy artwork that finds its way onto the covers of novels, there?s a gratuitous amount of bare skin, enough to be sexually evocative, and sometimes just a skimpy piece of clothing away from soft pornography.
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