Editor’s Choice: Paris

Paris, the city of romance. Or as I like to think, the city of art, culture, history, literature and romance. It is February, the last fragments of Valentines no longer linger because romance is the theme du jour here.  It is a patchwork of cultured villages and a metropolis brimming with the world’s finest fashion and artists. When the world is empty and makes no sense, it’s easy to immerse yourself in Parisian life. From the vintage leather jacket the femme fatale wears for coffee at eight to the man enjoying his last breath of Marlboro  dashing through the streets, the daily grind has never seemed so distant.

The world news is scattered around the metro station and the hidden bookstores encapsulate the best the capital has to offer. No doubt, the Parisians could make death seem like an art and turn pain into mastery. It is the city of rooftop bars and long romantic ballads, both enchanting whether enjoyed at dawn or dusk. The Eiffel Tower doesn’t cry to be visited here, it stands proudly, almost winking at passers-by. Notre-Dame and Le Louvre are spectacles in their own right and now host the selfie movement. A lot has been said about Paris, Wilde quoted it, Hemingway wrote about it and Vanessa Paradis has sung about it. Paris wouldn’t be a song though, it would be a whisper, it gently eases you into the city, tantalising you with its beauty but luring you in with its literary knowledge. Angela Carter may have been right, if cities really are sexes, Paris must be a woman.

 

Where to eat: Georges, the Centre Pompidou is the best restaurant in Paris, it overlooks the whole of Paris including the Eiffel Tower lighting up the city.

Where to sleep: Hôtel du Louvre, Place André Malraux perfect for a trip away with your friends or with a partner. There are balconies to pop champagne and an all-inclusive breakfast to prepare you for the day.

Hidden treasure: Shakespeare and Company, 37 Rue de la Bûcherie is the independent English-Language bookstore just across the river where you can find anything you are after. Between the piano upstairs or the quotations painted on the wall, its quirky charm shouldn’t be missed.

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