Paris is still one of my favourite cities in the world. The Eiffel Tower has beguiled me since as long as I can remember - from pictures to statues to my little gold charm. Paris is a city full of culture and history and has a way of captivating you with its wide boulevards and beautiful buildings. And then there is the food....think boulangerie, brasserie, patisserie and those wonderful little cafes where you can sit with a cup of tea and feel perfectly at home people watching. There is a certain energy and excitement that seems to take hold of you as you once again see those famous sights........

The Eiffel Tower is by far Paris' most-recognized cultural icon and its 324 metre tower can be instantly noted far and wide. Built for the World Exposition of 1889, the tower is a relative newcomer to a city whose history stretches back over a millennia. Wildly unpopular when it was unveiled and nearly torn down, the tower was finally embraced as the symbol of an elegant and contemporary Paris. I think you get the best photos from Trocadero Square and it is here you will see many a bride getting her special photo. Detractors will call it cliché, but it still brings a light to my heart every time I see it.

Ah, the Champs-Elysées. Who hasn't dreamed about strolling glamorously along its tree-lined streets towards the towering Arc de Triomphe at the west end? The Champs-Elysées is almost two kilometres long and seventy metres wide. The iconic avenue definitely merit a visit, especially on a first visit to the French capital.

The Arc de Triomphe is recognized around the globe as a major symbol of Parisian pomp and elegance. Originally conceived by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806 to commemorate his army's victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, the Arc de Triomphe took 30 years to complete. 50 meters high, 45 meters wide and 22 meters deep, it was the largest triumphal arch in the world before the construction of the one in Pyongyang in 1982. Its design was inspired by the Roman Arch of Titus. The eternal flame, which is located beneath the Arc de Triomphe's sculpted vault and above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, has been re-lit every day at 6.30pm since November 11, 1923. Standing at the west end of the Champs-Elyees it sits on the juncture known as the Etoile (star), where 12 prestigious avenues radiate out in a semi-circular pattern. Needless to say the traffic is horrendous so take care when getting those all important photos!!

The Church of the Madeleine is a Roman Catholic Church located in the 8th district of Paris dedicated to St Mary Magdelene. It was created in 1763 but construction halted during the French Revolution until 1806 when Napoleon decided to build a temple in honour of his army. The building has a length of 108 metres, a width of 43 metres, and a height of 30 metres. It is surrounded by 52 Corinthian columns and resembles a roman temple.

Place de Bastille After the defeat of the French in 1356 during the Hundred Years' War with England, there was need for a stronghold to protect Paris from invasion. Construction of this fortress started in 1370 and was completed in 1382. Known as the Bastille, the massive building had four metre wide walls and eight 22m high towers. It was later converted to a prison to hold the enemies of the King. All that remains today of the Bastille prison, the storming of which marked the start of the French Revolution in 1789, are a few stones inlaid in the street and road surface. It was with great surprise to learn that the column in the middle of the Place de la Bastille, the Colonne de Juillet (July Column), topped with the Génie de la Liberté (Spirit of Freedom), has nothing to do with the square's most famous event but instead commemorates the July Revolution of 1830.

Step on board a Seine River cruise for an unforgettable journey through the heart of historic Paris. This is an easy and comfortable way to see some of Paris' most iconic landmarks and bridges as well as glimpses of the Parisian lifestyle. Some of the views in no particular order;

Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral or simply Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement. The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and it is among the largest and best-known church buildings in the world. The world was devastated when fire destroyed the central spire, the centuries-old wooden roof and much of the interior in April 2019 and it still remains closed.

Louvre Museum was originally a royal palace. Its current palatial appearance goes back to the late fifteenth century, when the original fortress was demolished and the wing along the Seine River was built.

Pont Alexandre III - The Bridge is lavishly decorated with lampposts and sculptures of cherubs and nymphs. On each end of the Pont Alexandre III are large gilded statues on 17 meters (56 ft) high granite pillars. Each of the ornaments on the bridge was created by a different artist.

Pont Neuf (new bridge) is also Paris's oldest yet best known bridge. At the middle of the 16th century, only two bridges crossed the Seine River. Since they were in a bad state and constantly overcrowded, King Henry III decided in 1578 to construct a new bridge but it wasn't until 1607 before the bridge was officially opened by King Henry IV, who named the bridge 'Pont Neuf'. After his death, an equestrian statue of the King was erected at the centre of the bridge.

The Musée d'Orsay isa museum housed in a grand railway station built in 1900.

The complex of buildings known as Les Invalides consists of museums and monuments related to the military history of France. The most recognizable and well-known part of Les Invalides to be seen from the river is the Dôme des Invalides, a gold-domed building now used as a burial site for a number of the country's war heroes.

Paris continues to enchant me. It is fun; it has an air of mystique. Paris is Always a Good Idea, Audrey Hepburn once said and I for one must agree.