Why go to Paris only on Valentines Day?

GOOD TO KNOW: Paris, in February, it’s cold!! There must be a hot someone next to you, to warm your heart! Still, “the city of lights” can be romantic, even on a horrible weather. There are enough romantic spots, whether needed all over the place.

Here’s my list:

Le Butte de Montmartre – the neighborhood, there’s no need to go to Sacre Cœur, thou if you take all the stares up to the basilica you’ll have a free spectacular view of the city. Steal a kiss at the carrousel. Remember how Amélie Poulaine (« Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulaine », 2001) found her love there and follow their steps. Montmartre is mystic, bohemian, and deserves to be walked and admired. There is also a tourist little cart.

Pigalle – is a metro station between Moulin Rouge and Sacre Coeur. This is the Red Quarter of Paris. If you look for a kinky Valentines “the girls” work day and night, sex-shops are everywhere, some porn cinema, and even an Erotic Museum. As a friend of mine says: “At Pigalle you find only things, which when you keep them in your palms, they give you sounds and pleasure” – in this area you can find sex in any shape and musical instruments from all over the world.

Opéra Garnier – it is a gem of the architecture, has 2200 seats, beautiful interiors and magic shows. Can be visited when no rehearsals. One tour is 7 €. Palais Garnier – Place de l'Opéra, 75009 Paris, Mº Opéra, RER Auber, Bus 20, 21, 22, 27, 29, 31, 39, 42, 52, 53, 66, 68, 81, 95.

Arc de Triomphe – for 4 € you can climb the staires to the top deck to admire the Charles de Gaule l’Etoile square with its 12 boulevards rising from the arch. At 5pm the lights on the boulevards, on Champs Elysée, at La Défense (the financial district), and at the Eiffel Tower are switched on. At least 10 minutes every hour the Eiffel Tower blinks giving a dreamy sensation al over the city.

The Ice Skating Ring from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower – especially at night, when the city is lighted. The view is magnificent. Ice Skating is sexy and free. Take the stairs, not the elevator – 4€.

Cruise on Seine – the best cruise boats are Les Bateaux de Pont Alma (5€). They have the best narrations (on English, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Chinese) on the history and the traditions of Panames*. Such a cruise is most romantic in the evenings, when the 24 bridges and all buildings on each side of the Seine are beautifully lighted in the dark. The Bateaux-Mouches worth’s especially when it comes to romantic dinners on board.

Île Saint Louis – has nothing especially on it, but that gives the whole charm and romantic feeling of the old city. Get lost on this island, you’ll feel like on a different world, but also feel the real Paris.

The Quays of Seine – walk on any side, next to the water or on the sidewalk. A bottle of [French] Champagne is recommended, or better (it warms you up!) a bottle of red Bordeaux. Red wine is an aphrodisiac and 2001 was a very good year for red Bordeaux!

Pont des Arts – is the bridge where lovers meet. Start your walk in the evening, on the left bank, cross the walking bridge of lovers, admire the Seine, enter the Louvre’s interior yard and go to Napoleon’s Garden, where the pyramids are. In the night everything is lighted, and you might have the chance to hear talented musicians playing their instruments.

Rue de Rivoli – lies along Louvre. It is a commercial street, not really Champs Elysée, but if shopping can be romantic, that’s the place to be!

Cité Universitaire – this is the oldest campus in Paris. Established at the beginning of 1900s, the campus has 35 villas belonging to different countries, showing different architecture and style. The parks between the buildings are extremely romantic and bring you back to college years.

Going out:

Café Mabillon - Mº Mabillon, line 10, 164, boulevard St Germain. You find it between Odeon and St Germain, in the bohemian center of Paris when the café is vivid, especially in happy-hours from 7-9pm. The tables are full inside and outside, even if it is summer or winter because of the brilliant cocktails (4,50 €/cocktail) they do. Friendly advice: Don’t mind the annoying waiters – usually they’re not customer friendly because that’s a rare species in Paris!

Chez Papa (St Germain area) - has a great atmosphere, especially when there is live jazz music during dinner. Waiters are always nice with their clients. And at birthdays sing "Joyeux Anniversaire" for every 'aging' person in the house.

Latin Lover (rue d’Harpe – St Michel area) - very gay bar, with very gay waiters, and also with really crazy cocktails. Worth tryin'!

Bistro des Artistes (6, rue des Anglais – just across from Notre Dame Cathedral) - hided from the tourists' view, and still in the most touristic area of Saint Michel, the bar brings in more Panames than foreigners.

Bario Latino (Mº Bastille, line 5) - look for Bossa Nova night. Good food, nice cocktails.

Noura (Mº Vavin, line 4) – The best Lebanese restaurant in town. Moderate prices, delicious food, extraordinary Lebanese wine.

Au Pied du Chameau (Châtelet area) – Moroccan restaurant with traditional belly dancing shows.

Bistro (Mº Jaurès, line 7) – Typical French bistro with delicious raclettes and fondus.

Dans le Noir ? (rue Quincampoix, 75004, tel +33 (1) 42 77 98 05, Châtelet area) - offers an unforgettable experience. In this restaurant all waiters are blind. The guests have to be guided to their table by the assigned waiter and then to eat in perfect dark. This unusual exercise awakes in everyone of us some strange primeval instincts. More surprisingly is the fact that we learn in a dinner time how to rely on other senses than our sight. (www.danslenoir.com)

Bonus: France is under 26 friendly

*Paname - nickname for Parisian citizen