Le Marais is one of the most famous neighborhoods of Paris, and it owes an important amount of its fame to its nightlife and the energy which can be always felt while being in it. This area is also known as the district of creativity and innovation, offering visitors the chance to observe unique elements as well as the latest trends in fashion and arts.
This neighborhood or district is located at a very convenient spot, near the Louvre and the Sorbonne. Actually, visitors can walk from the Louvre or the Sorbonne to it as well as from other spots such as The Seine or Notre Dame since it is located at a rather central area. Visitors who go to Le Marais would find themselves in a very colorful and cheerful place, and can actually be very contrasting with other local attractions which might be more formal and calm, such as the Louvre or the Sorbonne.
The French term “le marais” means swamp and that name was given to this neighborhood due to the appearance it had at its origins. Nowadays, this district has a very charming appearance which transmits the magic and the essence of a very particular and unique Paris area, where people from different cultures and lifestyles live together in harmony and tourists are always welcome.
Le Marais started becoming a neighborhood in the 12th century, when religious institutions where built in it. After that, it started gaining an important amount of population when Henry the IV built La Place Royale within this area and made the Hotel Saint Pol his new home by leaving the Louvre. Since that time, Le Marais started becoming a very important spot of Paris, highly populated and full of activities.
Although Le Marais lost part of its beauty and attractive in the 17th century, it gained it back in the 19th. During the 1960’s, some of Le Marais historical places were destroyed, although an important amount of others were left, and the district was given a new appearance since it received new buildings and attracted many artists to the area.
Archive for July 13th, 2008
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Traveling With Travel Agency And By Your Own
When you decide to go somewhere on vacations the first question you are faced with is how to organize your trip. At least, you need tickets and accommodation. However, if you are going abroad, the situation becomes more complicated. You will need visa, foreign passport and a little bit of information about a country you are coming to. The citizens, living and traveling inside European Union borders are in better position. They are free to visit any EU country without any additional document and visas. But letand#8217;s imagine you have chosen a country where you need visa. Well, now itand#8217;s time to make some preparations for your trip. At first, whether you trust organizing your trip to a travel agency, or organize it by your own. If you choose the first variant:
Advantages
1) Convenience. You donand#8217;t have to besiege embassy and wait in long queues. You donand#8217;t need to worry about buying tickets and booking hotels.
2) Price. Sometimes travel agencies have special agreements with hotels and the price becomes cheaper. The same thing can be said about avia and train tickets.
3) Comfort in the country of destination and#8211; you are mostly provided with transfer to hotel and the representative of the agency can solve any of your problems.
4) Your vacation is organized. You have a choice of excursions; youand#8217;ll be shown the best shops and the most interesting attractions.
Disadvantages
1) Unfortunately, not all the agencies can be relied on, some of them disappear with the clientand#8217;s money.
2) Some people donand#8217;t like to be limited - by excursions, by return tickets or by the necessity of staying in the hotel theyand#8217;ve chosen.
3) Itand#8217;s not always cheap and#8211; often the excursions, offered by the agency representatives are more expensive than in other places in the city.
If you choose the second variant, you should be prepared to some problems, but of course, this variant has its light sides too.
Advantages
1) You are free to choose there and when to go. You are free to change you hotel of your return ticket.
2) You are most likely to see the places, not shown to usual tourists.
3) Itand#8217;s a kind of challenge. Canand#8217;t imagine your holyday without risk and adrenaline? So, this variant is for you!
4) You can seek and find a cheaper variant and not just accept what the agency offers.
Disadvantages
1) Once again and#8211; risk. You are not quite safe when traveling alone in the foreign country. Nowadays you are not quite safe anywhere, but stilland#8230;
2) It causes some problems in the stage of organization and#8211; getting a visa can be a trouble. Interview, invitation and a lot of documents and#8211; all this can be inevitable. So, prepare to waste some time and nerves.
Anyway, the choice is yours.
