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of this amazing structure, | quickly learned to appreciate the splendour of its construction. | was surprised that many visitors pass on an excursion to the top. Having come this far | was not about to miss that opportunity. The view from the top was breath- taking. All the films, travelogues and history of Paris came to life before my eyes. | watched artists paint along the banks of the Seine, followed cars around the Arch de Triumph and gazed along the Champs-Elysées. | could have stayed for hours, but was eager to explore the sights below. Walking is the only way to experi- ence this magnificent city. | journeyed on foot, passing through the Arch de Triumph and along the Embassy district. | made my way down the Champs-Elysées, stopping at shops, gazing into designer filled storefronts and enjoying French delectables at many of the hundreds of patisseries. The sounds of Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier softly swooned in the background. Sights such as the Place de la Concorde, where Marie Antoinette met her fate and the Little Palace of Fine Arts, built for the Paris World Fair in 1900, overwhelmed me. The Printemps Department store is ele- gant, as it is set in an historic, magnifi- cently restored building. | continued my trek, stopping at the 850-year old Notre Dame Cathedral, where | was certain | heard Quasimodo calling for Esmerelda. A tour of the gothic struc- ture with its eerie gargoyles is a must for tourists. And what trip to Paris is com- plete without a visit to the Louvre? Having read Dan Brown’s The Da “air transat | MARCH FOCUS.32.indd 31 Notre Dam Cathedral, Paris. Vinci Code, | was now prepared for my adventure. | found myself staring at the Mona Lisa. Smaller than | ex- pected, my breath was none the less taken away by the magic the portrait possessed. Side trips, such as a visit to the Chateau de Versailles, about an hour by train from the hotel, are a must. The gardens, ruined by ice storms a few years ago, are being restored and the opulence of the Palace leaves you in awe. Montmartre with its artist colony, postage stamp size vineyard and Sacré-Coeur Basilica is not to be missed. For the more adventurous crowd an evening stroll through Pigalle Place and a visit to the Moulin Rouge has to be experienced. And, let us not forget the Musée d’Orsay, where one can easily get lost in the captivating artworks of the great masters. Flying time from Toronto to Paris is about eight hours and the trip back is forty-five minutes longer. Air Canada flies direct, which is far better than layovers (although fares seem to be higher). Don’t forget to add an hour driving from Port Perry. A little French is a definite asset, as few shopkeep- ers converse in English. Take a good travel guide (| recommend Frommer's Complete Guide to Paris) and don’t forget your camera. The city of love mar in~“travel ) virginia.frewclarke @marlintravel.ca FOCUS - MARCH 2012 32 42-02-20. 10:57 AM