Paris

[This is post 3 in a series of 3 about our trip to Europe:
Amsterdam -> Antwerp -> Paris]

Paris was the focus and highlight of our trip, and I'll say up front that it exceeded all of our expectations.

It's fashionable amongst some groups of experienced European travelers to write Paris off as being overly touristy, over-exposed, and overrated. Indeed, it does receive more foreign visitors than almost anywhere else in the world. And yes, if you grew up in western culture you'll find some parts of the city so recognizable that you get the distinct feeling you've been to Paris before, even if you haven't; New York is the only other place that's ever made me feel that way. This impression is strongest at the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Notre Dame, which, along with the steps leading up to Sacré Coeur, are certainly clogged with tourists. It's amazing how many people appear to make their living by selling little pewter Eiffel Towers and glow-in-the-dark plastic Arc de Triomphes.

My recommendation for the first-time Paris visitor is to absolutely go and see these things. With the exception of Venice, this is your best chance to see a real-life theme park - on a scale to make even Walt Disney envious. (I'm not usually an advocate for check-box tourism, but everyone will look at you strangely at home if you tell them you went to Paris and didn't see the Eiffel Tower.) But see those things early in your trip, and then devote the rest of your time to discovering why Paris is one of the most vibrant, influential, and, in my opinion, greatest cities in the world.

It almost goes without saying that Paris offers an embarrassment of great museums and historical monuments. But take it easy. Unless you have about a month to spend, you won't be able to see everything. So don't try. Amongst my favorites were Napoleon's modest tomb, the grandiose neoclassical Panthéon, and the so-great-it's-just-unfair collection at Musée d'Orsay.

After much research, we stayed on the edge of the Latin Quarter, a locals' and student district due to its proximity to several branches of the University of Paris (including the 3 that claim the name "Sorbonne"). It's an area of the city that still maintains a medieval air, with its small, windy, cobbled streets and bustling cafés, restaurants, and shops. It was largely untouched by Hausmann's grand boulevard-building project under Napoleon III, which is responsible for much of the Paris we see today.

The area is wonderfully pleasant to stroll through, to relax and enjoy the great street-life of the cafés and markets alongside Parisians. It also benefits from being walking distance from several other great areas: Jardin du Luxembourg, Le Marais, and Île St Louis. (The Metro will get you anywhere in the city, but the trains lack air conditioning and can become sauna-like during busy times - walking is preferable). Strolling, eating & drinking, and just sitting in a café and watching the world go by are activities that Parisians excel at. These are the things that will make for a memorable and worthwhile visit, and these things - more than the history or larger-than-life monuments - make Paris a truly great place to visit.

We took quite a few pictures, and after narrowing it down to the "best", we were left with an album of 160 photos. I realize that not everyone has the time or desire to flip through that many pictures, so we created another album of the top 40, each with embedded comments explaining what's going on. The bigger album still has some great pictures that just didn't make the cut.