Romantic Paris

I picked up this book to help me with ideas on romantic places and things to do in Paris, as I was making my first trip there with my husband. I fell in love with this book. The author is Sorbonne educated, Tirza Vallois, who has lived 40 years in the city of lights. It is obvious that she loves her city and is happy to help lovers and those who love romance to see her city at it's best. This is not the book to choose solely for the sites to see-for that I would suggest the DK Eyewitness guide for Paris, however, this guide will take you to some popular sites, and many that are off the beaten track that are quiet and romantic that allow you to fully appreciate the city. We read her descriptions of the time of year to go, and chose October, which, as she states is a wonderful time to go....leaves turning and falling, crowds have thinned out, restaurants are not so smoky and crowded. We took her advise and got transportation from the airport, which allowed us the luxury of watching the city go by instead of carting our bags up and down the metro station stairs, and getting to our hotel exhausted. We read about the Musee Rodin and sculpture garden, which is an 18th century mansion, surrounded by a rose garden with over 200 varieties of roses and the sculptures of Rodin, including the Kiss and the Thinker. Perfect for a hand in hand stroll with your favorite someone. We walked the Seine as the lights of the city came on, we read about the love story of Abelard & Heloise, and visited their gravesite in Pere Lachaise Cemetery, which is both a beautiful park and has some of the most beautiful stained glass and sculptures I have seen in a cemetery. We also read about and visited the gravesite of Alphonsine Plessis, better known as "Camille" in the novel by Alexander Dumas, fils. We had a romantic tea at Mariage Freres, and bought rose tea and some other blends to bring home to remind us of our special afternoon. Ms. Vallois's guide is beautifully layed out. The pictures are stunning and I read the book cover to cover before leaving on my trip making sure that I had noted sites that she suggested or areas that we wanted to make sure to see. The guide is down to earth, it is not pretentious or fussy. She does not equate romance and sensual pleasures with spending a lot of money. Of course for those who want a more luxurious experience, she does note higher end hotels and restaurants along with the sites for the more budget conscious. One recommendation that I would make is to go on the dinner cruise on the Seine. We chose Bateaux Parisian and it was romance at it's peak. We will never forget the sites, the sounds and wonderful food and wine. Pricey, yes....worth it? Absolutely. This book is an absolute must for those who want to experience the Romance of Paris, either with someone or on your own. I highly recommend it!

I loved this book, not only for it's gorgeous photographs, informative text, clear maps, but for the welcome inclusion of poetry and selections from French writers that help illuminate the magic of this wonderful city. This is a must have guide for anyone who wants to be swept away to Paris! (It is also conveniently sized to fit neatly into a pocketbook.)

This is a must-have book for all lovers of Paris. Thirza Vallois (Around & About Paris) has excelled with this stunning guide to the charms of Paris--some famous, some lesser-known, all sensual and charming. Along with practical information, Ms. Vallois provides reviews of the most romantic places to shop, dine and sleep, plus tales of the city's famous lovers and detailed walks (because the best way to dicover Paris is definitely on foot!) Juliana Spear's photography captures this fabulous city at its best and will have you packing your bags so you can see it for yourself.You don't need to go to Paris with a lover to enjoy this book although, with all the sensual treats described within, you're certainly going to want one :-)