Paris

Paris is the capital city of France. Gothic architecture, green parks and gardens, wide boulevards, ornate street lamps and more monuments and art than residents in some rural communities are the reasons why it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The Seine River, a river awash with tourist boats and decorated with 35 bridges, divides Paris in two. The north side of the river is referred to as the Right Bank (Rive Droite) and the south side is called the Left Bank (Rive Gauche). Each "bank" has its own special look, not only in its appearance, but in its atmosphere and lifestyle.

Looking for the Louvre? You'll find it in the center, or in district number one, for the city is divided into twenty distinct districts. Number one is the hub and two to twenty run clockwise in a spiraling fashion. This neat grid is visible from the landmark Eiffel Tower as is the entire landscaped layout of the city.

All modes of transportation are utilized by the 2 million plus Parisians and thousands of visiting tourists cars, 15,000 taxis and 4000 busses jam the densely populated city's streets (ranging in width from 8 feet to almost 400). More than 300 subway stations carry more than 4 million passengers to all parts of the city ever day.

Highlights in the city, besides the look of the city are the shops, the art galleries (including the Louvre home to Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo), the museums and dozens of monuments, such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower.