I
live in the United States but my heart is currently with the people in France.
The recent terrorist attacks in Paris have rattled the very foundation of
humanity. The images we saw in news reports, and on social media, were
horrifying and heartbreaking. For me, the images recalled memories of working
in the media the morning of September 11, 2001. There are just some things you
will never forget. For Parisians, November 13, 2015 is a day they will not forget.
A senseless act of violence has again forever changed the city, the country of
France, and the entire world.
I
am not going to dwell about what happened in Paris that day. I refuse to give
evil a voice. Instead, I am going to talk about how amazing Paris is and why I
would travel to the City of Light tomorrow if I could. I have only been through
Paris twice. I had brief stops at Charles
de Gaulle International Airport while traveling to and from Italy. The
beauty of Paris shines high enough that you can see it from the air. The Eiffel
Tower is not hard to miss from an airplane; the tower stands as strong and
proud as the citizens here who have seen evil in their city even before the recent events. Despite those events, Paris still remains one the top of my
list of places I want to visit.
Many
people here in the United States say that Paris remains one of their favorite
places to visit and why not live like a local with a home exchange vacation? I consulted websites, and my husband (he
adores Paris) to come up with the top 5 reasons why you should visit Paris as
soon as possible.
The
People - French
culture is the envy of many countries. Whether it is music, fashion, food, or art,
French culture has influenced other cultures around the globe and it is all
starts with the people!
The
buildings and monuments
- Paris arguably has some of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the
world. These landmarks include the Eiffel Tower, The Arc de Triomphe, and the Notre
Dame Cathedral.
The
Louvre Museum
- Home to many known artistic treasures including Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
The
food and wine
- The city is known for its delicious chesses, bread, and wines (all of which,
I could eat and drink every day).
The
history -
The city has a lot of history to see. The Norte Dame Cathedral, for example,
dates back to 1163.
One
of my favorite travel quotes comes from Dr. Seuss. He once wrote: “The more you
read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places
you will go.” In these last few days, I have learned that the people in Paris
are strong and resilient. I stand behind them during this dark time and I hope
you will as well. One way to show support is to travel to Paris. Open your
heart and fall in love with the city like others have before you. Embrace its
culture and its history; converse with the people who call Paris home. The darkness
these past few days can’t forever block the light that makes this city so
amazing.
If
you are interested in visiting Paris during your next vacation, be sure to
check out these vacation
homes in France from International Vacation
Home Exchange.
Thanks to travel writer Carla Pruitt.
You can follow Carla on twitter @crobscarla.
Very timely article, Carla. It's wonderful you thought of our neighbors over the pond who have suffered terribly.
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