My Travelogue on Paris-I

Paris-one of the most visited cities in the world is often described as the worlds, business, cultural and fashion capital. It’s one of the most talked about cities and different people have different perceptions about this city. Here are some of the famous quotes about Paris.

 “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.”
― Thomas Jefferson

“London is a riddle. Paris is an explanation.”
― G. K. Chesterson

 “... you’ll have to fall in love at least once in your life, or Paris has failed to rub off on you.”
― E.A. Bucchianeri,  Brushstrokes of a Gadfly

“Cities have sexes: London is a man, Paris a woman, and New York a well-adjusted transsexual.”
― Angela Carter

No wonder! I too was excited on getting an opportunity to visit this beautiful city. Although I have been to Chamonix in France earlier and was lucky to see the Mont Blanc-the roof of Europe, Paris always was one of my dream destinations in France for me. As I always do, I would share some of the interesting as well as lesser known facts about this beautiful city before I share my travelogue on Paris.

 Paris’s original name was Lutetia Parisiorum (called Lutèce in French), and the settlers there were Celts known as the “Parisii.” It is commonly believed that “Lutetia” comes from the Latin word “lutum,” meaning “mud.” So the elegant, glittering city that we all know, most likely was first known as “mud town of the Parisii.”

Paris first became the capital of France in 508 under King Clovis. After centuries with no unique capital of France, Paris retrieved its status of capital of France under King Philippe Auguste, who reigned between 1180 and 1223.

The Seine river divides Paris into two distinct areas, the northern Rive Droite (Right Bank) and southern Rive Gauche (Left Bank).

By law, no buildings can exceed six stories in Paris so that all have sunshine.

Paris is called the City of Lights but this has nothing to do with the illumination of the city or the Eiffel Tower. Lights in this case, means intellectuals, referring to the high-concentration of writers, artists and academics that have always been drawn to the city.

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who built the Eiffel tower also build the internal frame of the Statue of Liberty. The Eiffel tower is beautifully illuminated at night, for which it consumes 7.8 million kWh per year.

It took around 200 years to build Notre Dame de Paris (182 years to be exact)

The Louvre, which is along the banks of the Seine River in Paris, is the world's largest museum and one of the most well-known museums in the world

The famous Statue of Liberty which graces New York’s harbor was a gift from France. There is a replica of the Statue of Liberty in the middle of the River Seine and a replica of the torch flame can be found directly above the tunnel where Princess Diana was killed at Pont Alma.

There are more dogs in Paris than there are children, around 300,000 dogs.