Departure to Destination.

There is an old adage that says: “The longest way round is the shortest way home.” While I’ve never really understood exactly what that meant, I do know that the longest way round can often be the most enjoyable one when you’re on vacation.

A prime example of this can be seen in the ferry crossing between England and France. For those who don’t really love being out on the water, travelling to France via the Dover to Calais route is the quickest country to country, though it does involve coping with British highways which is generally a less than pleasurable experience in the vicinity of the capital.

The one thing to remember about the french is that they are very keen on their produits minceur, in order to keep fit.

However, if you are heading for Brittany or the Dordogne and/or you just want to hang out with your family rather than being behind the wheel for too many hours, your best bet would be to take an overnight sea voyage from Portsmouth. Both P&O Ferries and Brittany Ferries offer such crossings, and you can choose to sit up in a comfy seat or sleep in a cabin. Unwind on one of the well appointed boats that offer a variety of services (shopping, dining, movies) for their passengers, and you’ll all arrive in La Belle France feeling relaxed and refreshed without spending significantly more.

Its that time again when La Mom reflects on the year gone by and is looking forward to the coming year. In honor of lanne 2010, here are my Frenchified New Year resolutions.

One. Take abeginners French class.

That’s’s right, its back to basics French 101. My French pals have declared war on my incorrect use of Le and La and they assert that after 10 years here I should speak perfect French.

I say lets not get too picky - my message gets across despite these petite mistakes. When they stop pronouncing high end as high hand, then ill take ‘em seriously.

two. Learn the way to cook French food.

I believe Big Cheese is bored with Tex Mex and frozen French food from Picard judging by the christmas present he gave me this year : French Cooking for Dummies.

3. Learn the different French baguettes.

Im tired of getting corrected by giant Fry at the boulangerie when I order an easy baguette and he tells the baker, make sure its a traditional baguette and not so cooked, please. you’ll be able to find the best one just near to appartement Montmartre

four. Shop faster.

I realized I havent been hitting the boutiques enough when I spent last Monday shopping ALL day and couldnt buy anything I liked because my Parisianista fashion expert manager already has the same stuff!

five. Carry a pocket dictionary.

To whip out when Big Fry uses words like puisque. Gone are the times when I accepted all his French : La voiture goes vite, mommy.

six. Think like the French its all about the wine.

A Frenchie emailed his holiday wishes and concluded with, Il faut sefforcer dtre jeune comme un Beaujolais et de vieillir comme un Bourgogne ( Try your hardest to stay young like a Beaujolais wine and grow old like a Bourgogne wine ).

7. Stay in Paris

if you need to stay in this pretty town you have got to look for good place to stay, like location appartement Montmartre
.

The Louvre, originally a palace but now one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, is a must-visit for anybody with a slight interest in art. Some of the museum’s most renowned artworks are the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo.

Originally a royal palace, the Louvre became a public museum at the end of the 18th century. It is found in the initial arrondissement, at the center of Paris, where you can find more than one nice Hotel Paris.

There are approximately 35.000 objects on display, spread outover three wings of the former palace. The museum has a diversified collection ranging from the antiquity up to the mid 19th century. A large part of the collection consists of EU paintings and sculptures. Other rooms contain Roman, Egyptian, Greek and Oriental art. There is also a section with ‘Objects d’Art’, where objects like clocks, furniture, china and tapestries are displayed.

Some of the most renowned artworks in the museum are the Venus of Milo, the Nike of Samothrake, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo and naturally Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

The Louvre was made in a couple of phases. Originally built as a 12th century fortress, it was converted into a royal palace in the 14th century.

Its current appearance goes back to the 15th century, when the original fortress was demolished and the wing along the Seine river was built. The palace was extended during the 16th century by designer Pierre Lescot, who expanded the palace into a complex with two yards. A decade later Catharina de Medici added the Tuileries palace to the west of the Louvre. Construction on the Louvre was halted for some time when king Louis XIV made a decision to move to the Versailles Palace.

In the 19th century, during the Second Empire, the Louvre was expanded again with the addition of the Richelieu wing.

The Louvre now had four symmetric wings surrounding a large yard. This would not last long, as the Communards burned the Tuileries palace in 1871, opening up the west side of the palace. The Tuileries and Carrousel gardens form anice, leafy setting for the Louvre palace. A pleasure at any season of the year, they supply the ideal place for a chilled stroll and offer a range of activities for visitors of every age. To make your relaxing trip complete reserve a Ferienwohnung Paris.

The collection of the Louvre Museum was first established in the 16th century by King Francis I. One of the works of art he acquired was the now famous Mona Lisa painting. The collection grew continuously thanks to donations and purchases by the kings. In 1793, during the French Revolution, the private royal collection opened to the general public.

The most recent addition to the Louvre was the development of the glass pyramid, which functions as the museum’s main entrance. The pyramid was built in 1989 by the respected Yank architect I.M. Pei. The glass pyramid permits the sunlight to come in on the underground floor.

The modern addition originally received mixed reviews, as it contrasts sharply with the classical design of the encompassing buildings, but today it is generally accepted as a clever solution which has given the museum aroomy central entrance without the necessity to touch the significant patrimony.

Central Paris is officially divided into twenty districts called arrondissements, numbered from 1 to twenty in a clockwise spiral from the centre of the town. Arrondissements are named according to their number. You might, for instance, stay in the’5th’, which would be written as 5e ( SANK-ee-emm ) in French. The 12th and 16th arrondissements include large suburban parks, the Bois de Vincennes, and the Bois de Boulogne respectively. Ferienwohnung Paris

the absolutebest map you can get for Paris is known as’Paris Pratique par Arrondissement’ which you can buy for about 2-4 at any news stand. It makes crossing the town easy- such a lot that one can imagine that the arrival of such map-books might be a part of what made the arrondissement concept so popular in the 1st place. Alternately you can print your own using our maps.

Each arrondissement has its own unique personality and choice of attractions for the visitor.

* 1st ( 1er ). The geographical centre of Paris and a great place to begin for visitors. The Muse du Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendome, Les Halles, Palais Royal, Comdie-Franaise, and Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel are all to be found here.

* 2nd ( 2e ). The central financial area of the city - the Bourse ( the Paris Stock Exchange ), Opra-Comique, Thtre des Varits, Passage des Panoramas, Thtre des Bouffes Parisiens and the Bibliothque Nationale are found here.

* third ( 3e ). Archives Nationales, Muse Carnavalet, Conservatoire des arts et Mtiers, Htel de Soubise, the previous temple fortress, and the north, quieter part of the Marais can be found here.