How to fall in love with a city

Tips for travelling in Paris

For anyone who has seen the film Paris, je t'aime, you'll be well aware that love comes in many forms, and that love of a city is a totally feasible concept. In English, the word love encompasses a vast panorama of emotions and concepts. However in other languages, there are many different ways to express the different tenets of love. In Greek, for instance, philia means virtuous love or friendship and agape suggests affection, whereas eros and thelema express more of a more intimate and passionate love or the desire or will of the flesh. Each experience of love is expressed in a different manner, and that's exactly the approach the filmmakers pursued in the making of the film.

As for travelling in Paris, there are certainly some ways to see the city that are more conducive than others to that feeling of love. Whether you're looking to fall in love with the city, or share a romantic experience with a loved one, here are some handy hints to get the most from your visit:

• Don't try to see too much in one day. There is virtue in taking it easy, sitting back in a café and just letting the world go by around you. Even an average building's façade can contain amazing artworks, so just absorb the everyday rather that rushing through a checklist of monuments.

• Watch where you walk. The whole thing about Paris and the dog droppings isn't an exaggerated stereotype - the city streets can be a virtual minefield! Some "considerate" dog owners even take their precious pup into the gutter to do its business, which is all well and good for those pedestrians who stick to the footpath, but when it comes to crossing the road... Let's just put it this way - you're never safe!

• Book your Paris hotels in advance as there's nothing more worrying than a last-minute attempt to find your ideal accommodation. Rushing around at the final moment isn't the done thing in elegant Paris; keep your cool and be whisked away in style to your hotel accommodation. The best thing about finding a hotel in Paris is that you're able to find top-quality and centrally located accommodation at the right price. Unlike for Rome hotels where you either find yourself paying an arm and a leg for something in the centre or spending hours commuting to reach the main attractions, Paris accommodation is reasonably priced and enviably located. Although - if you talk to a local, they'll maintain that it's because the entire city is the attraction, so no matter where you stay you're sure to be dazzled!

• Are you thinking of proposing to your certain someone special in Paris? Then keep this in mind - when it comes to proposing in Paris there are no clichés! Sure, it's the done thing to get down on bended knee as your bateau mouche riverboat makes its way along the Seine and you and your partner get the first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower - but who cares? It's sure to be the most magical experience of your life!

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