Paris has 12 main places of burial (not including the catacombs), of these there are only two outdoor churchyards within the 20 arrondisements:  Charonne and Calvaire. The most well-known and frequented is the Le cimetière d’Est, which is normally called by it’s nickname Pere-Lachaise.  It opened in 1804 on a former Jesuit sanctuary and welcomes over 1.5 million visitors per year. Situated ... ]]>

Flickr: Magna Designs

Visiting a cemetery while on vacation seems a bit daunting, maybe even ironic. However, if it is a cemetery that entombs the remains of iconic cultural figures and famous celebrities, it becomes less of a somber activity. Any anthropologist, historian, or social scientist will concur that cemeteries are a great avenue to observe local culture, religion, art, and history.

Paris has 12 main places of burial (not including the catacombs), of these there are only two outdoor churchyards within the 20 arrondisements:  Charonne and Calvaire. The most well-known and frequented is the Le cimetière d’Est, which is normally called by it’s nickname Pere-Lachaise.  It opened in 1804 on a former Jesuit sanctuary and welcomes over 1.5 million visitors per year. Situated on a green that spans over 109 acres, visitors can pay tribute to some of the most important and influential scholars and artists of all time.

Jim Morrison's tombstone, Flickr: Devos

Some of the most famous graves in Paris include:

1. Jim Morrison; lead singer and lyricist of The Doors
2. Napoleon Bonaparte;  French military and political leader
3. Victor Hugo; French author, wrote “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
4. Louis Braille; developed braille system for the visually impaired
5. Gustave Eiffel; architect of the Eiffel Tower
6.  Simone de Beauvoir; French philosopher and author
7.  Jean Paul Sarte; French philosopher and author
   

   Simone de Baeuvoir and Jean Paul Sarte

8. Marie Curie; Polish scientist, 2 Nobel prizes and pioneered radioactivity research
9. Louis Pasteur; scientist, developed pasteurization and disease prevention
10. Auguste Comte; French philosopher and founder of sociology
11. Oscar Wilde; Scottish author
12. Marcel Proust; French author, wrote “Remembrance of Things Past”

During the 20th century, the area shifted to a bustling commercial district and became home to Jewish immigrants, particularly the Ashkenazi, and Chinese communities of Paris. In fact, the once was the site of the largest Jewish community in Europe. However, after ... ]]> Nested along the 3^rd and 4^th arrondissements or districts of Paris, the neighborhood of Le Marais exudes marvelous examples of the influence from historical French aristocracy. At the turn of the 17^th century, Le Marais was prime real estate, and the nobility built their urban mansions along the right side of the Seine. These projects included the construction of the stylish Hôtel de Sens, the Hôtel de Sully, the Hôtel de Beauvais, the Hôtel Carnavalet, the Hôtel de Guénégaud, and the Hôtel de Soubise.

Hotel de Sens, Flickr: nicocrisafulli

During the 20^th century, the area shifted to a bustling commercial district and became home to Jewish immigrants, particularly the Ashkenazi, and Chinese communities of Paris. In fact, the once was the site of the largest Jewish community in Europe. However, after World War II, much of the buildings were in dire need of repair and renovation, and the district transformed into a working class neighborhood. In the 1960s, the French government declared Le Marais a space of cultural significance and initiated programs to restore the dilapidated edifices and reinstate the neighborhood’s inclination towards high culture.

Le Marais, Flickr: Chase Cash

With these conservation policies, Le Marais has withstood despair, and an artisan revival is thriving. It is now one of Paris’ main locations for art galleries, boutiques, second-hand stores, specialty shops, cozy cafes, and trendy restaurants. It is comparable to Soho in Manhattan and the high end art sold here tends is in the direction of contemporary schools, influenced by po-mo and pop art. Let the quarter dazzle you with its narrow streets, lavish squares, and architectural styles of the Medieval and Renaissance-era. It has a dramatically different character from the sweeping avenues of Champs-Elysées and Montparnasse. Le Marais is perfect for a walking tour, a coffee break, or to get lost long the streams of stones and enjoy the quirky exotic energy.

Gallery in Le Marais, Flickr: Xavier Encinas

With the fresh minds, classic architecture, and art all around, wandering amongst the old and new may even inspire your creative juices.

Like most colonization efforts, the expressed purpose of conquest was to bring liberty and knowledge to underdeveloped regions affected by ignorance. History has revealed that the consequences of this philosophy were serious crimes of oppression and harshly enforced or coerced systems of labor. Not surprisingly, their true intentions were based on profit and commercial aspirations.

 What makes Vietnam peculiar from many other ... ]]>

Flickr: Natmandu

French first entered Southeast Asia into Vietnam during the late 18th century with the intention of spreading Christianity and they set up a string of missionaries. French presence thickened in the region during the Hanoi takeover, as the French military under Pigneau de Behaine aided in the unification of the North and South.

Like most colonization efforts, the expressed purpose of conquest was to bring liberty and knowledge to underdeveloped regions affected by ignorance. History has revealed that the consequences of this philosophy were serious crimes of oppression and harshly enforced or coerced systems of labor. Not surprisingly, their true intentions were based on profit and commercial aspirations.

 What makes Vietnam peculiar from many other post-colonial regions is the seemingly unaffected culture. The French were in Vietnam for nearly 100 years, but apart from the architectural and transportation infrastructures there are only a few crumbs left from their reign of dominance. The French language was never adopted in these colonies as they were in Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. 

Why was the colonial culture in Vietnam different? For an answer to this question, we need to first look at the types of transnational settlers that were emigrating to Vietnam from France. Most of them were minor civil servants and run of the mill businessmen in France, who decided to have an adventure and live a life of self-indulgence in Vietnam. They created their own communities, completely isolating themselves from the Vietnamese population at large. The only real interaction they had with the locals were set in “French” environs and the relationship was usually a contractual master-slave agreement (e.g. entertainment for soldiers, domestic work, unskilled manual labor), and the colonists with the upper hand. In contrast, education and health care for Vietnamese was minimal to non-existent, and opium addiction was encouraged. In such situations, cultural transfers are highly unlikely. The French who were motivated by the ethics of mercantilism, did little more than strip the country of its natural resources.

Banh Mi, Flickr: Khánh Hmoong

One of the legacies of French Colonialism is the influence that it had on local dishes. The most ubiquitous symbol of French rule in Indochina is the mass of French baguettes on sale everywhere in Vietnam. More popularly known as the Banh Mi sandwich, which resembles a torpedo shaped loaf with thin crust. It combines the flavors of France such as the baguettes, pâté, and mayonnaise with native Vietnamese ingredients like cilantro, hot peppers, and pickled carrots. Some of the more popular combinations and fillings include: liver pâté, fried chicken, pulled pork, BBQ beef, pork meatballs, sardines, scrambled eggs, tofu, cucumbers, and daikon. The uniqueness of these sandwiches have contributed to a growing cult-like following of epicurean devotees. The savory flavors pack a punch and the marriage of cultural ingredients is like a love affair. So what are you waiting for? Try one of the tastier effects of colonialism, and you’ll discover the wide range of French-Vietnamese fusion dishes that are available. 

Flickr: Autumn Sweater

One of the more curious museums located in the Paris metropolitan area is a private collection dedicated to this supernatural  nocturnal species called Musée des Vampires. It is devoted to the historical and cultural value of vampires in folklore and their symbolic value in modern culture. Located just on the outer edge of ... ]]> Vampires have been quite popular in the social and major media lately. From Interview with a Vampire or Twilight to the Vampire Diaries, and even HBO’s True Blood, these mythological creatures have been in the sun spot for quite some time. Defined as creatures that feed on the life essence of living creatures (usually blood), their existence has been recorded throughout centuries and date back to Mesopotamia.

One of the more curious museums located in the Paris metropolitan area is a private collection dedicated to this supernatural  nocturnal species called Musée des Vampires. It is devoted to the historical and cultural value of vampires in folklore and their symbolic value in modern culture. Located just on the outer edge of Paris, it is definitely worth a visit if you are an enthusiast of vampires, mythology, and weird facts, and trivia.

After meandering through the courtyard of a private residence, one will soon find the entrance to the “vamped” collection. There are stacks and stacks of books, encyclopedic volumes of historical information, dozens of paintings, movie related memorabilia plastered on the walls, and spooky art installations. The museum’s interior is furnished with Halloween friendly attire and props complete with a mummified cat. Although relatively small in size, there is an abundance of treasures and interesting knick-knacks on a rather understudied and catalogued phenomenon. (Hint: try to find the autographs of every actor who has ever starred as Dracula in a Hollywood movie.)

The Musée des Vampires is open daily from 12:30pm to 8:00pm, but it is important to make an appointment. To schedule one, you can call  their office at +33 0143628076. Entrance is 6 euros and there are daily tours at 12:30pm, 3pm, and 7:30pm respectively.

The tunnel system is complex, with a limited number of markers and plaques that indicate the street level location above, and it is quite easy to get lost. Furthermore, the winding channels are low, narrow, and occasionally flooded. Debris from over the centuries and ... ]]> Paris has been romanticized as the City of Light, but the city has another character that has slowly been exposed by the thirsty curiosity of Parisian cataphiles. In Part 1 of Going Underground, we talked about rich diversity of spaces that can be found in the subterrain. Much of these spaces have been discovered by the growing number of cataphiles, or urban explorers, who illegally tour the 280km extensive network of quarries underneath the city’s surface.

The tunnel system is complex, with a limited number of markers and plaques that indicate the street level location above, and it is quite easy to get lost. Furthermore, the winding channels are low, narrow, and occasionally flooded. Debris from over the centuries and decades have aggregated into dispersed botches of telephone wires, rusted cables, and retired railway tracks, which obviates smooth transversals. Finding or becoming a good cataphile is very hard work, and even the most skilled cataphiles refer to the secretly distributed underground maps. For these reasons, entering the underground tunnel systems is prohibited since the 1950’s and there are special police forces that monitor the twisting tunnels, charging over 60 for trespassers.

Flickr: BiBenDum84

However, those who are courageous enough enter the catacombs through sewers, metro stations, and certain manholes and descend into the City of Dark’s magical playland. In fact, some explorers have even established their own official entrances, where they clandestinely gather to hold parties, meetings, and restore. One example is the UX (a nickname for Urban eXperiment), an association of artists that routinely infiltrates the tunnel network to access restoration sites and stage film festivals, for example, in the abandoned basements of government buildings. Through tremendous acts and organization, the group has completed multiple cultural “hacks” to restore and preserve the invisible artifacts and patrimony of France.

Their most ambitious project was achieved in 2006, when a team of eight restorers built their own workshop in a storeroom underneath the Pantheon, wired it with electricity, internet, furnishings, and a kitchen and throughout the course of a year repaired the Patheon’s 19th century year old clock, which had been broken since for over 40 years. Officials are even hard-pressed to cover their admiration; the UX seems to know and operate on another deeper and hidden layer of Paris. Another cataphile group called the Mexican Perforation also ran an underground movie theatre in another corner of the intricate web.

The “Paris Underground” is full of undiscovered treasures and astonishing surprises.The brave and lucky who muster enough strength and adventure to experience the depths of Paris are definitely in for a treat.

Probably most surprising tunnel treasures are the intricate spiderwebs of limestone quarries that crawl under many neighborhoods, mostly in the southern part of the metropolis. Paris has spent ... ]]> Paris has a deeper and stranger connection to its underground than almost any city. Similar to the ocean, below the surface is another world. Underneath the City of Lights is a dense network of tunnels that stretch for an indefinite number of miles. These arteries and intestines of Paris make up some of the oldest and densest subway and sewer systems in the world. However, one can also find passages that turn into canals, clefty bank vaults, retired bunkers, wine cellars, and stretches that have been transformed into night clubs and galleries.

Probably most surprising tunnel treasures are the intricate spiderwebs of limestone quarries that crawl under many neighborhoods, mostly in the southern part of the metropolis. Paris has spent the majority of its geological history under water, millennia of sea immersion and erosion has contributed to its rich soil and valuable sedimentary minerals. The Carrières de Paris (in English: Mines of Paris), consist of numerous subterranean tunnels that has provided Paris with materials to build most of its limestone infrastructure.

Parisian Catacombs, flickr: peterhoneyman

During the 19th century,  the profusion of existing cemeteries coupled with rapid population growth raised public health concerns. Therefore, the city decided to ban the burying of bodies within city limits, and set aside space for three giant cemeteries in the suburbs. All of the corporeal remains in Paris were transposed to the abandoned limestone quarries, now infamously known as the “Catacombs of Paris.” These bone banks retain about 6 million Parisian bodies, which are stacked like stone walls, with a peculiar artistry that acknowledges an exceptional respect and honor for the dead.

Reserving a private taxi from directly from the airport can save you time and money. Not only will you be able to cut the taxi lines, but it is a hassle free way to get directly from point A to B with class.

If you are traveling with small children and/or traveling ... ]]> Traveling is a can be luxurious and leisurely, however it can also be very stressful. Those of us who do trip planning on their own, are fully aware of the headaches that it may cause. Once you are on the road or in the air and arrive at your final destination, taking a few simple steps will help you start your vacation on the right foot.

Reserving a private taxi from directly from the airport can save you time and money. Not only will you be able to cut the taxi lines, but it is a hassle free way to get directly from point A to B with class.

If you are traveling with small children and/or traveling with someone who may not not be able to walk long distances or navigate the labyrinth of underground trains in Paris, then renting a private car is also a very feasible option. With a mini-bus or sedan, you eliminate the need to separate your group while traveling. With chauffeur services there is no need to worry about international licensing regulations, driving laws, or unfamiliar signs.

More importantly, if you are in Paris for only a short amount of time, deciding to use private transport ensures that you won’t get lost! Whether it is from the airport to your hotel, a trip around the city, or a trip to the suburbs of Paris, getting a chauffeur simplifies a visit to France’s capital.

THE BAGUETTE. Surely one of the more familiar dishes that every recognizes is the baguette. It is a long thin loaf of French bread, commonly made from lean dough. A symbol of French culture, the baguette as we know it was started being made in 1920. Before then, ... ]]> French culture and cuisine has been championed for its savory flavors, which have evolved extensively throughout the centuries. Whether you are on vacation in France or just going out to a local French restaurant, it is always fun to learn french food expressions. After all, food is one of life’s essentials. Here are some of France’s most authentic eats:

THE BAGUETTE. Surely one of the more familiar dishes that every recognizes is the baguette. It is a long thin loaf of French bread, commonly made from lean dough. A symbol of French culture, the baguette as we know it was started being made in 1920. Before then, some breads at le boulangerie were actually much longer.

THE SNAIL. Another distinctable French dish is the infamous escargot, a dish of cooked land snails. Usually served as an appetizer, the snails are cooked with garlic butter and wine. Although it may be                                           hard for some  to stomach,  chacun à son goût, which means “to each                                             their own taste.”

Sometimes authentic, sometimes rustic, French fare has a certain cordon bleu or elegance to it. Location makes a difference in which meal is prepared, usually heavily depend on local produce. Therefore, metropolitan dwellers are likely to have a more diverse dish selection than rural areas. However, regardless of the location, France always has an abundance of artisan cheese and wine. France’s savory gastronomy is but just one aspect of French culture.

With an average traffic of 61 million passengers yearly, Paris CDG – also known as Paris-Roissy Airport – ranks second only to London Heathrow airport (69 million passengers.) But it does hold the record for air traffic: with 525,000 flights a year it well outperforms Heathrow (454,000) and Frankfurt (464,000). Charles De Gaulle is also the major hub for cargo traffic in the Old Continent. It handles 2.4 million tons of goods every year, ... ]]> Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe: flights to Paris operated by more than 110 international airlines land on it’s runways every day. When it comes to Paris Charles De Gaulle, facts speak for themselves.

With an average traffic of 61 million passengers yearly, Paris CDG – also known as Paris-Roissy Airport – ranks second only to London Heathrow airport (69 million passengers.) But it does hold the record for air traffic: with 525,000 flights a year it well outperforms Heathrow (454,000) and Frankfurt (464,000). Charles De Gaulle is also the major hub for cargo traffic in the Old Continent. It handles 2.4 million tons of goods every year, followed by Frankfurt (2.27 million) and Heathrow (1.5 million).

Charles de Gaulle

Charles De Gaulle Airport has three terminals connected by a free shuttle service. Terminal 1 manages intercontinental flights, Terminal 2 (consisting of 6 buildings) is used for Europe-bound destinations. Terminal 3 hosts charter and low-cost airlines.

Charles de Gaulle provides an array of first class facilities and amenities. To start with, there’s a wide range of spaces for both long-term and short-term parking. The multi-storey car park at Terminal 1 has 1700 parking spaces, the open-air car park has 1300 spaces available. Terminal 2 has  6000 parking spaces (4000 of which are indoor).

Facilities inside the airport are all about comfort, but also luxury. As for all modern international airports, at Charles De Gaulle travel retail is of great importance. All the walking paths after security checkpoints and boarding, have been designed in such a way that the route to the gate is as smooth as possible. Paris airport, designed by Paul Andreu – known as the architect of numerous airports worldwide – deserves to be visited regardless of travel needs. Not for nothing, the Beautiful Day video by U2 was shot in the large halls and under the arcades of this airport.

The best duty free shops at Paris-Roissy are located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. However, in all arrivals and departures areas you will find dozens of showrooms by the top international brands of clothing, jewelry and accessories (more than thirty stores), wine shops, bars and restaurants (about sixty), Wi-Fi hot-spots and several VIP Lounges –  waiting rooms for travelers flying business class.