In July 2009 I began a business trip to Brussels, Belgium with a few days in Paris. Roberto joined me from Brazil and we met in Charles de Gaulle airport. This was the first time to France for both of us.

I booked the Hotel Astrid online after finding a Travelzoo deal which included a Seine cruise. It was around 90 Euros per night, with the typical European free breakfast. The hotel was a block away from the Arc de Triomphe and very convenient to the metro and Champs Elysees. We concluded that proximity to the metro is key in Paris because you’re never going to find a hotel close to everything. It’s just too big.

Our first day, after a pair of overnight flights, we checked out the Arc and ate in a cafe before taking a little nap. Roberto may have felt a little funny about his flight – Air France from Rio to Paris – but he’s a trooper. We just didn’t mention those details to his less rational mom. The hotel was pretty nice. It had a fun wood carved staircase and we could peek out our window (equipped with the typical Parisian flower box) at the Arc.

That afternoon we walked down to the Eiffel Tower and then up (or was it down) the Seine to Notre Dame. I remember almost getting taken by a street scammer with an interesting tactic. This guy called after me and came running up saying “Here, you dropped this.” Before I could even stop and think he dropped a gold ring into my hand, and when I tried to give it back and say no he would say “no keep it, keep it!” I must have looked like I was ready to hang onto it cause then he started to ask me for money. I basically threw the ring back at him and we walked off. I noticed several of these guys with the gold rings around Paris after that.

We also rode the metro up to the Northern part of Paris to check out Sacre Coeur basilica. We got a little lost in not the nicest neighborhood up there but found it after stopping for lunch in a not so great pizza place. The basilica was beautiful and we were entertained by some crazy Capoeira dancers. We did see quite a few Brazilians in Paris.

We had a lovely night wandering around the banks of the Seine, taking photos and people watching. The Parisian young people seem to enjoy having picnics in the evenings with snacks and booze on the river banks. It looked like a lot of fun. We had a late dinner with a view of Notre Dame and decided we wanted to buy some wine and have our own little picnic.

Still adjusting to the time, we woke up late the next day for some more sightseeing. Our plan was to find a nice cafe for a late breakfast and cappuccino, relax in a park for awhile, and visit the Louvre. Later that night we would go on our Seine cruise and have dinner.

Now I was not that keen on going to the Louvre. I am just not a museum person. I didn’t even find the Egyptian Museum in Cairo all that interesting. But, Roberto said he couldn’t go to Paris without at least seeing the Mona Lisa, so off we went.

And I was thoroughly impressed! The Louvre is just incredible! First of all, the place is just huge, and BEAUTIFULLY decorated. And the exhibits were just fascinating. The paintings, the sculpture, the artifacts, were awesome. We could definitely have spend all day in there. And the place is so huge we wouldn’t have seen nearly everything if we had. I am definitely glad we went!

We went down to the riverbank “at the foot of the tower” for our Seine cruise later that evening. This was nice and it was fun to get out on the water, but it wasn’t the greatest thing ever. The seats were pretty uncomfortable and it was chilly and rainy and really crowded. But there is just something indescribable about the Eiffel Tower coming into view as you round the bend in the river, La Vie en Rose playing in the background, and the lights sparkling on the Seine.

We had a great and reasonably priced dinner in the Latin Quarter in a cafe with nice live music. I had some delicious Boeuf Bourgignon and a kir, white wine with a shot of berry syrup.

We woke up late again the next day and did a little more sightseeing, finishing up our Paris trip with a visit to the Pere Lachaise Cemetary. It was really neat to walk around there but we were short on time and weren’t able to find Jim Morrison’s grave! Bummer! But, we’ll see it next time.

After that we checked out of the hotel and metro’d on over to the Gard du Nord train station to catch our high speed train to Brussels. I thought the train station was really neat, with trains coming and going from all sorts of fun European towns, and backpackers camped out on the floors. We got a good deal on first class seats on the Thalys train and it was really nice, with free internet and food and drinks. Although I couldn’t partake in the internet too much – the train was bumpy enough that I couldn’t look at the laptop screen for more than 30 seconds without getting all dizzy.

We both had a great time in Paris and really enjoyed seeing the sites, getting lost wandering the streets, and sitting in the cafes. We did find the people to be less friendly than we’d hoped, but we didn’t have a chance to meet very many Parisians in our 3 days there. I would like to go back to Paris and see some of the sites we missed, but I don’t think I would plan a trip to spend a full week there. 3 days was a little short, but we didn’t love the city enough to want to stay there for an extended time.

China is emerging as one of the most popular tourist locations on the planet. The more and more headlines become dedicated to the rise of China as a global power, the more we seem to want to explore its deep and rich heritage alongside its ever changing and magnetic present.

Never Pass Up the Chance to Explore Beijing

If you are flying to China, then you stand a good chance of landing in the country’s capital city, Beijing, which is located toward the north east of the country. Beijing serves a transport hub to the rest of China as well as surrounding countries such as Vietnam, Mongolia and Russia, all of which can be reached via train from Beijing. However, no China tour is complete without a visit to this fascinating city, and a chance to explore it should never be passed up. A city that is home to around 22 million people that defies definition and is forever reinventing itself, Beijing is a true delight of the East.

Depending on when you land, the climate to greet you can vary from the minus digits during winter to the balmy summer months where temperatures will reach and hold at around 30oC. Subways and bus services cover almost all of urban China and are easily accessible, and generally easy to use. Registered taxis can be found across the city, especially near tourist hotspots, but beware: as with many major cities, unlicensed taxis are also prevalent. Accommodation in Beijing is fantastic with many high end and budget hotels available. A good mid-price option is the Novotel Xinqiao, which is well located for access to the local subway, or for a higher end option you can’t really go wrong with the Beijing Raffles.

Beijing is a cultural hub and is home to a significant number of the country’s top cultural attractions, including the Great Wall which is just a short drive from downtown Beijing. The Beijing opera (first shown in the 18th century) is a must for any opera or performance fan, or indeed anyone looking to experience a more traditional Chinese attraction. As well as impressive acrobatic displays the opera also offers some fantastic musical, vocal, mime and dance pieces. For shopping one is again spoiled for choice with the Show Market, Liulichang on antique street and the prestigious shopping street of Wanfujing all of which lament a visit with wallet in hand.

Across the city, the Olympic legacy is ever present and some sights remain worthy of a visit. One of the most famed sights is the Olympic Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest) which sits proudly in the Olympic Green and is beautifully illuminated in the evenings. A visit to the “water cube” (Olympic Swimming venue) is visually delightful experience, especially during the evenings when the building is beautifully illuminated which makes for an exceptionally attractive photo!

All guidebooks will, rightly so, point you towards the Forbidden city (largest temple complex in Asia). It is a sight that helps to represent the true power and scale which was once held by the ancient Chinese Empire. You will generally enter the Forbidden City (via Tiananmen Square) through the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Once inside the complex, many attractions await which range from the concubines’ quarters to the City’s magnificent rooftops which are painted in an enchanting shade of yellow (a colour previously reserved for the sole use of the city and its use banned anywhere else within the Empire). The architecture and layout of the temple of Heaven is based on elaborate symbolism and numerology, with separate complexes for the earth, sun, and moon. A good quality and detailed guide should provide an overview of the history and context of these symbols. Whilst here why not try out the echo wall where two people stand at either end of the wall and whisper and the wall carries the whisper to the other end of the wall – simple, but fun!

Within this section of the city a visit to the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall is certainly recommended. However, do beware that during mid/peak seasons it can become incredibly crowded and cues can last for hours, an early start is recommended. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of urban Beijing then the Beijing botanical gardens offer a more tranquil and relaxing encounter. Spread over 564,000 square metres, these gardens allow you to see some of the many specifies of plants that dominate the landscape outside of Beijing’s urban sprawl.

For a better insight into the traditional way of the life, Beijing’s Hutongs (residential narrow streets and alleys) are a must for any itinerary, especially if you have more than 48hrs to spare. The Hutongs are essentially the last remnants of traditional Beijing communities and everyday city living. Ostensibly made up by a maze of narrow alleyways, courtyards, and old-style housing the Hutongs offer a real sense of community and history. Wandering the alleyways will give you a real feel for the old Beijing which is rapidly disappearing as then city races for more development and modernisation. One of the best ways to see these streets are through the intimate medium of a rickshaw ride which, if pre arranged, can stop to visit a local family as well as other sites such as the amazing fresh produce market that service the existing hutong community.

Whatever your plans for Beijing, try and stay that extra day and enjoy as much as you can of this delightful capital city. Although there is so much to see and do, we would always recommend you take the time to relax, leave the guidebook alone and spend at least a few hours wandering the streets and soaking up the atmosphere.