The hallmarks of any great city are the special and unique neighborhoods they have.   In Rome I love Trestavere.   In New York I love "The Village".   In San Diego I always visit the Gaslamp Quarter.   And how about that El Raval neighborhood in Barcelona?

Paris has so many different, and so many varied neighborhoods.  They are culturally, ethnically, economically, and artistically diverse.   Take a look at my Paris travel blog post to see more about my favorite Paris neighborhoods.

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Street markets can be found in Paris year-round.  However, in the warmer weather, the Paris vendors are selling their flora, vegetables, breads, fruits, meats, cheeses, wine, poultry, and other delicacies in their full glory.  A stroll through a Paris street market is an experience for all of the senses - taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound.  France is the breadbasket of Europe, providing much of its food and drink, and the end product is on display nearly every day on the streets of Paris.

In this blog post, I describe some of my favorite Paris street markets.

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Over the years, I have gained an appreciation for several Paris restaurants.   I like restaurants that are somewhat unique in terms that they serve dishes that I cannot get at home.   I also like to dine in restaurants where I won’t pay more than 35-40 euros for dinner.  I prefer Paris restaurants that have good, friendly service.   Take a look at my blog and read about some of my favorite Paris restaurants.

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Giverny is the home of Claude Monet, perhaps the most well-known of all Impressionist painters. Whenever I take groups to France, a visit to Monet’s home and gardens turns out to be one of the highlights of the trip. Although Giverny is outside of Paris, getting there involves an easy 45-minute local train ride.

Monet’s home was where he painted some of his most famous works. The gardens provided much inspiration for creating some of the most well-known paintings in the world, including the famous Water Lillies.

Read the Paris blog post to see what is in store when taking a day trip to Giverny.

Paris is a very safe city.  Rarely are there reported incidences of violent crime to tourists.   However, there is a problem with petty theft, most notably, pickpocketing.   I have lived in the metropolitan New York City area for my entire life.   I have witnessed and almost have been a victim of a pickpocket only in Paris.

However, by taking the right steps, you can avoid having your vacation in Paris ruined by a petty thief.  Find out more in this Paris blog post.

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