Bastille Day at the Eiffel Tower (Flickr by y.caradec)
On July 14th the French will be celebrating Bastille Day. For those of who you do not know, Bastille Day celebrates the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison and is viewed as the first move towards democracy. Throughout France, Bastille Day is celebrated with fireworks, flag flying, parades, and parties. If you are American (like me) it can be compared to the spirit felt on the fourth of July. Just like in the United States the most grand of the celebrations are held in the largest of cities. So, Paris is the ideal place to be for Bastille Day! Although Paris holds the grandest celebrations, all of France holds celebrations on Bastille Day.
Bastille Day Celebrations in Paris
Bastille Day Celebrations on the Arc de Triomphe (Flickr by Ammar Abd Rabbo)
Some of the experiences that Paris offers on Bastille Day are a grand parade on the famous Champs Elysees and fireworks blasting off the Eiffel Tower. The sights of Paris are stunning without the flamboyancy; imagine how they will look with fireworks, parades, and flags in the streets! One way to see the key sights in Paris like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Champs Elysees is by using a hop-on-hop-off bus. This bus system has 19 stops that highlight all of Paris. In my travels I have found this to be a wonderful way to travel around a city. The double decker bus is a fun way to see all the sights. Also, using the hop-on-hop-off method allows you to spend as much time as you would like at a spot instead of being ushered around by a tour guide. Having experienced both forms, I have found the hop-on-hop-off bus system to be more relaxing.
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Times Square - kennymatic
Being the most densely populated city in the United States may make the Big Apple a little crowded, but it also makes it easy to get around. No sprawling suburban landscapes here, folks, there isn’t space! Home to many a famous landmark, everything from Wall Street to the Broadway stage, you’ll run out of tread on your sneakers before you run out of things to see and do in this city!
Making it even easier, New York is famous for its fantastic walking tours. Though the city may be small, it’s much easier to navigate your way through the skyscrapers with a little help from a trained tour guide. Luckily for you, no matter what your passion, there’s a tour to suit every taste! continue reading
A road trip across America always sounds so idyllic; nothing but the open road, endless diners and Jack Kerouac in the back seat. Unfortunately, unless the world’s biggest ball of string is your cup of tea (yes it does exist in Branson Missouri) there isn’t much to do on that eternal roadway. The city stops along the way are the highlights, so plan with care.
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Film, Art, Theatre, Music & Dance, Food, Pubs & Nightlife, Sightseeing & Culture, Things to do in Los Angeles, Things to do in New York, Things to do in North America, Things to do in San Francisco
People with an interest in contemporary photography should be sure to fit a visit to the Museum of the City of New York into their New York tours this summer.
From June 10th to August 16th, the cultural institution will present the exhibition Dutch Seen, which has been guest-curated by Kathy Ryan, photo editor of the New York Times Magazine.
The showcase features a variety of contemporary images captured by Dutch artists currently working in New York City.
Many of the photographs were specially commissioned to mark the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s exploration of New York and look at themes including diversity, tolerance and humanism.
Through portraits, landscapes, still lives, conceptual pieces and other works, the exhibition will delve into the aesthetic traditions of Dutch art from the era of the old masters to contemporary figures.
People taking New York tours this year will also be able to visit the Museum of the City of New York to see Mannahatta/Manhattan, a display that will explore the natural history of the Big Apple.
New York – From the dizzy heights of the Empire State Building to the serene Central Park, New York has it all!
Times Square, one of New York’s most famous tourist attractions, will be even more alive with activity than usual on June 8th when it hosts its annual outdoor food festival.
Taste of Times Square is one of the city’s most popular public events, showcasing the best food on offer at the area’s leading restaurants.
As well as sampling mouthwatering cuisine, people on New York tours who make it to the festival will be entertained by street artists and other local performers who will give shows on three stages.
Those who really get into the spirit of the occasion will be able to take free dancing lessons before strutting their stuff all evening long to music provided by a live band.
Taste of Times Square is attended by thousands of food lovers and partygoers every year, who gather on West 46th Street between Broadway and Ninth Avenue, an area that includes New York’s Restaurant Row.
Times Square is one of New York’s iconic locations, famous for its ball-dropping ceremony held every New Year’s Eve.
New York – From the dizzy heights of the Empire State Building to the serene Central Park, New York has it all!
Art lovers should remember to fit a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art into their New York tours this summer to see an exhibition of work by Francis Bacon.
The major retrospective will be open from May 20th until August 16th at the famous museum on the eastern edge of Central Park.
Arranged to mark the 100th anniversary of Bacon’s birth, the exhibition will be the first major showcase in New York dedicated to the artist in 20 years.
Now recognised as one of the most influential and important painters of the 20th century, Bacon was known for creating bold and expressive pieces of art that often featured nightmarish imagery.
Some 130 works will feature in the Met Museum exhibition - 65 paintings and 65 archival items - spanning the entirety of his career.
Until May 24th this year, the New York museum will present a display of French sculpture from the Renaissance era to the rime of the revolution, featuring pieces by Germain Pilon, Michel Anguier and others.
New York – From the dizzy heights of the Empire State Building to the serene Central Park, New York has it all!
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