by Heather Cone

Created on: April 28, 2009   Last Updated: April 29, 2009

Ahh the city of love, the most romantic place in the world. Home to the infamous Louvre, the striking Eiffel Towel, the historic Seine river and traffic congested so badly you really should just walk.

This is Paris, and mixed in with all of its charm, is a quite unfortunate run down city. Graffiti seems to be a national sport in France and literally adorns almost every building. Like earrings framing your face graffiti frames even some of the most gorgeous landmarks. The only real exception is the Avenue des Champs Elysees where specialty shops, cafe's and designer stores line the famous street. Packed year round with tourists, this is one of the few places in Paris that is kept relatively presentable.

Even the Seine river while historic and worth taking a cruise down, is polluted and smelly. The water even has the color of radioactive waste, chipping away at whatever confidence you may have been able to build.

But there are some beautiful spots in Paris. The numerous parks that dot the city are great places to sit on a bench and watch the locals interact, the children play and little French dogs wag their tails. Just don't step on the grass. Grass in Paris is only for viewing. It is not for sitting, having a picnic or playing Frisbee. Should you cross the wire and sit on the grass, you will immediately be approached by one of the park guards. Very serious and with little sense of humor, they will demand you return to the pavement. Just watch out for the land mines of dog poo that scatter the streets.

Navigating your way through Paris can also be quite complex. The metro stations are linked through a labyrinth of tunnels that will and does confuse even some Parisians. It can also be a bit of a dangerous place and it is always wise to choose the car closest to the conductor for safety.

Choosing a place to eat in Paris is difficult, mainly due to the number of choices. Cafe's, restaurants and street vendors are prolific throughout Paris. All offer good options for typical French cuisine and prices range from high to moderate.

The service also varies. It is very common in Paris to have to wait a good ten minutes before the waiter even takes your drink order. Then, if your lucky, another ten minutes for him to return with your drinks. But there are a few spots where both the food and the service are exceptional. One such place is "Leon de Bruxelles" in Place de Clichy. This is a chain restaurant but if you are in the mood for Parisian mussels this is the place to go.

If you understand that the culture of Paris is very different than the culture of the USA then you will have a wonderful trip. And isn't experiencing a new culture part of why you travel?

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