The City of Paris
Paris is a city full of life. There is a place of everybody. It represents the historical roots and the cultural development of its inhabitants expressed through artifacts. Appreciating the artistry of Paris is through its diverse architecture representing the past and the represent as well as reflecting on what will come in the future. The city is alive even at night with its subdued nightlife combining relaxation and leisure at the same time. Paris also has a rich culinary culture with food prepared delicately to satisfy the palate and celebrate life and relationships.
Architecture of the City Architecture in Paris reflects both design quality and architecture. France enacted a law in 1977 to protect architectural masterpieces as part of public interest (Dyckhoff, par. 10). This influenced a number of things. One is the integration of design quality and artistry in architectural artifacts. Another is the equal importance of the location of architectural works apart from its function or purpose. Last is the explosion of new buildings amidst old ones. There are likely to be architectural works representing different periods of art.
The architectural developments in the City of Paris find expression through buildings. One the earlier architectural project is the Notre Dame Cathedral. It is a church made up of cut stone and erected through masonry skills to explain the quality of the work and the temperate climate of the structure. The artistic style is early gothic with two towers comprising the facade as well as a spire and mini dome at the rear when viewed from the river. Its location is at the central part of the city overlooking the river. Another example is the Pantheon in Paris built in 1756.
Although, there is a gap in the timeline, this building is also of cut stone erected through bearing masonry making the building also temperate. The artistic style is baroque as part of the urban setting during when it was built. Although influenced by the pantheon in Rome, the version in Paris is different because of the proportions and the inclusion of a dome. The Pyramide Du Louvre built in 1989 is one of the modern architectural works in Paris. It is the entrance to the Louvre museum. The structure is of glass, steel, and cables making it temperate.
Its style is modern and urban yet artistic. (Tiller 6-7) These are just examples of the buildings representing the architecture of Paris. In the next years, the architectural direction is likely to be towards taller structures since the city council suspended the ban on the erection of buildings higher than 82 feet at the center and 121 feet in peripheral areas (Dyckhoff, par. 18). Night Life The nightlife in Paris reflects a more laid-back atmosphere when compared to the bright lights and disco music in other cities such as London and Tokyo.
The nightlife in Paris combines aspects of cuisine, music and art to entertain individuals or bring people together. The city has a number of restaurants preparing gourmet food prepared using fresh produce that are open until late at night. There are also smaller and homely restaurants serving home cooked meals using traditional French menus. After dinner, a walk around the city is entertainment in itself because of nature and manmade art lighted by streetlights. Many people also walk the streets at night so one is never alone.
When tired of walking, people can always visit the many cafes serving a selection of coffee, fruit juice and sodas together with pastries and breads. There are also pubs offering alcoholic beverages. Many of the long established pubs serve beer from their own breweries. By visiting the pubs, beer would taste different and everybody can find a beer taste that suits them. Music is rich in Paris. Some of the pubs offer live musical performances. Advertisements through billboards in front of the pubs show the band or solo artist performing inside.
Music in pubs appeals to the young to middle age groups frequenting pubs or bars where artists play. Many of customers regularly visit the pubs. Another option after dinner is the traditional opera featuring various traditional shows. This provides a more formal atmosphere for classical music, dance and acting. Not matter what the preference is for entertainment Paris emerged as a city to enjoy whether in the day or at night. There are some clubs in Paris offering the disco or rave environment in the more modern parts of the city. The younger population of locals and tourists frequent these sites at night.
(Nightlife, par. 1-3) All these make the nightlife in Paris more vibrant with options for a subdued evening of entertainment or a loud and buzzing nightlife. Fine Dining Paris can boast as one of the best places for fine dining. This encompasses not only food but also the quality of the service, the decor and design of the restaurant, and the location of the restaurant. One measure of fine dining in Paris is the Michelin star, with a higher star rating representing higher total scores for food, service, decor, and location. More stars also mean higher price.
Le Jules Verne restaurant located in the Eiffel Tower represents fine dining at its best in Paris. The view of Paris from above is breathtaking and unique. The place is always booked it almost seem exclusive. The restaurant is 125 meters up the Eiffel Tower. It has a private elevator for restaurant customers so there is no need to form a queue. The restaurant sits 120 people so there is need for a reservation. Of course, there is a strict dress code. Food is traditional French cuisine prepared by the best chefs using only fresh food. Lunch is usually a three-course meal and dinner a five-course meal.
It has a wine rack with a selection of 1,000 wines from which customers can select. Service starts at the elevator and continues on to entry to the restaurant with assistance during the seating and taking of orders. Waiters stand in strategic places in case a customer calls. The atmosphere in the restaurant is modern but attuned to the artistry of the Eiffel Tower. (Dupleix, par. 1-6) This is just one taste of fine dining in Paris. There are also smaller restaurants without only a few or no Michelin stars that provide a fine dining experience.
Another measure of fine dining is the satisfaction that people get after the culinary experience. The L’Atelier du Robuchon owned by the renowned chef Joel Robuchon is located at Hotel Pont Royale. The space is small but it provides an enjoyable experience. There is a snaking sushi bar surrounding the kitchen. Food is rich and it holds greater value to see who it was prepared delicately. Service has a personal touch. The price is lower. (Bittman, par. 1-3) There are also a number of established small restaurants providing a similar fine dining experience. Conclusion
An experience of Paris is something that people should not pass up. The cultural experience inspires the appreciation of life and its enjoyment. The city’s architectural works are distinct. Its nightlife is unique from other cities. Its food is beyond compare. The city is also evolving and there is more of Paris to experience in the future. Works Cited Bittman, Mark. “In Paris, Fine Dining on a Countertop. ” The New York Times. 17 April 2005. 11 May 2009 <http://www. nytimes. com/2005/04/17/travel/17table. html? _r=1> Dupleix, Jill. “Fine Dining Up the Eiffel Tower.
” Times Online. 16 February 2008. 11 May 2009 < http://www. timesonline. co. uk/tol/travel/destinations/france/article3370246. ece> Dyckhoff, Tom. “The Architecture of Paris Re-emerges. ” Times Online. 23 December 2008. 11 May 2009 < http://entertainment. timesonline. co. uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/architecture_and_design/article5384253. ece> “Nightlife and Entertainment. ” World 66 Travel Guide. 14 March 2008. 11 May 2009 < http://www. world66. com/europe/france/paris/nightlife> Tillier, Allan. Paris (Eyewitness Travel Guide). New York: DK Publishing, 2006.
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