EPTParis is, and should be considered, a mini country within France because of its sheer size (and because its probably the most culturally rich and diverse city in the world). I arrived in Paris sometime in August, maybe the 14th I forget, from the Dominican Republic and rented a little apartment in the 9th Arrondisment for about 1,500 Euros the month. I'm also enrolled in the Accord school of French, and my french has gone to the crapper as of late.
Not being a Tourist
I can really say that I hate people who try to be as touristy as possible, wearing sneakers and fanny packs, I mean really this is just and invitation to be pickpocket-ed or swarmed by scamming gypsy ladies. Anyways, Paris is a lovely city to walk and visit, albeit extremely expensive.
First off, there are many cool places where you can go to, depending on your budget and intentions. The Eiffel Tower,
![[image loading]](http://www.destination360.com/europe/france/images/s/eiffel-tower.jpg)
Once my heart was captured, reason was shown the door, deliberately and with a sort of frantic joy. I accepted everything, I believed everything, without struggle, without suffering, without regret, without false shame. How can one blush for what one adores?
Is perhaps on of the icons of Paris, and an extremely fun visit. You can literally see the entire old part of Paris from the top and should not be missed. Next off is the Champs d'elysee, a beautiful part of the city (and also a particularly expensive area) where you can walk, eat and go shopping. You can also visit the historical Arc de Triumph,
![[image loading]](http://www.usma.edu/Bicentennial/images/FrenchParade_l.jpg)
and climb to the top. However, if you're like me and not particularly interested in visiting everything most tourists visit, you can go to the following places for a little old Paris tour. Pere-Lachaise Cemetery is perhaps my favorite part of the whole city. It is the largest cemetery in the whole of Paris, with a little over 23000 sq mts, and is the final resting location for so many famous people. It is a decently visited area, but its still extremely quiet and beautiful. You should take the Metro Line 3 directly to the Pere-Lachaise stop and you should just follow the signs, and you should easily arrive there.
![[image loading]](http://setareh.info/images/Pere-Lachaise-dream_hossein.jpg)
Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to
him by heart and his friends can only read the title.
him by heart and his friends can only read the title.
You should really visit the tombs of Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust and Chopin. (Others like Sartre, Callas, Ernst and many more are buried here) and who ever you really wish to visit. Be warned, however, that will need a map to guide yourself around and at least a couple of hours to see the tombs of your favorite people. Oh, it is also particularly easy to get lost within the cemetery unless you're the type of person that follows track of everything he does and goes (like me),
![[image loading]](http://images.43things.com/place/00/01/c0/114888lr.jpg)
The only paradise is paradise lost.
If you enjoy art, like I do, I recommend you visit the Musee D'Orsay (over the Louvre) which houses many of the impressionist, naturalist and other types of beautiful art; as opposed to the Louvre which houses more classical pieces and sculptures. Monet, Manet, Seurat, and the likes of Toulouse-Lautrec are to be seen here and not to be missed. There are also other types of art, other than painting, like sculptures and decorating arts (though not particularly interesting, they're bold and beautiful.).
![[image loading]](http://www.travel-images.com/france617.jpg)
Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.
The Other thing I enjoy
I thoroughly enjoy buying books, especially old books and collectionables. Much to my suprise, there and some extremly beautiful english bookstores in Paris. The following three are my favorites:
Shakespeare & Co.
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Shakespeare_and_Company_Poets_Corner.jpg)
Whatever poet, orator or sage may say of it, old age is still old age.
This beauty is a legendary bookstore for book lovers, writers and the intellectual society. It is located somewhere near the Kilometer 0 of Paris (right across the Notre-Dame Church on the Left Bank Paris) and it still retains the little cozy, and old, style which it is famous for. There is an area that specializes on rare and old books (to the left of the main store), where you can see mostly first editions like the first edition of Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring, for 250 Euro, and Hemingways works, some for up to 500 euros. The Main store, however, houses much newer editions for a cheaper price.
Note: You can also sleep within the store's bedrooms in exchange for working a couple of hours a day.
The other two are Galigani and W.H. Smith both located on rue Rivoli, 224 and 258 respectively. They offer great works in both english and french.
Memorable places you should also visit:
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Sacre-Coeur
Montparnasse
The Louvre
Versailles
and many More.
