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Serendipitous Paris: A Random Assortment Of Things To Do Act I Scene I

Your experience of Paris will necessarily be different from that of any other traveler. Because your expectations are unique your perception of the French capital will be yours and yours only. Diversity being the name of the game I thought you would enjoy being told about a larger variety of unusual places to visit and singular things to do while in Paris.

In this new series of articles I will bring to your attention an assortment of such things which you are free to try out then and there. You can also find more data on my Paris guide ParisEiffelTowerNews.com

Like Church Music?

Every Sunday and on nonworked days the imposing Saint Roch Church hosts organ concerts from 5:30 to 6:00 PM. There is no entry fee and the thrill is guaranteed for a good 30 minutes. This venue is known for this event so show up well before 5:30 PM. The Church is located at 2 impasse Saint Eustache between the ChteletLes Halles metro station and the Louvre Museum.

Free Couscous for All

The La Cordonnerie restaurant offers a nice free couscous to its patrons every Saturday night at 9:00 pm. A simple principle: order a drink less than 5 euros and you get the couscous. At that price its a steal. People know it they flock to the place and there is very little room available. The restaurant is located at 142 rue Saint Denis near the Etienne Marcel subway station.

Bagdad Cafe in Paris

There is the archfamous Bagdad Cafe on Route 66 I ate there twice yes! and there is the much less famous but very lively Bagdad Cafe in Paris. On Thursdays Fridays and Saturdays at 9:00 pm the place is taken over by fans of gipsy jazz players Django Reinhardt style and French pop singers. Live music and drinks at reasonable prices what better way to kill an evening? The address is 22 rue au Maire in the 3rd district near the Arts et Metiers metro station.

A Park Way Too Often Overlooked

Standing in the middle of the forgotten offcentered 19th district the ButtesChaumont park rolls out its majectic hills and narrow alleys over thousands of acres. Way too often overlooked by tourists and Parisians alike the park is a haven of silence and peace. Joggers strollers families and lovebirds meet at this unique venue which is dominated by a rocky mound on top of which stands a small gazebo which resembles a Greek temple. An awesome place to spend a Sunday morning. The nearest metro stations are Laumiere and ButtesChaumont.

Antique Asia in Paris

The Cernuschi Museum shelters over 12000 ancient objects of Chinese Korean and Japanese origins of which 900 are on permanent display in the beautiful 19th century mansion: from neolithic potteries to statues and weapons of the 13th century. There is only one other museum in France which can compete with such a wealth of antique Asian art. This museum is worth its weight in gold! To visit it go to 7 avenue Velasquez near the Villiers metro station. Dont go on Mondays the mansion is closed.

Ah! The joys of visiting Paris in an unconventional way! You can imagine that a city which is 2000 years old and has 1000 years of recorded history offers a lot more than can ever be summarized in writing. Facing such an abundance of things to see which way should one go? My take and that of my old pal Vincent Ramelli who was born in Paris and is a diehard Parisian is that Paris is better discovered outside the path traced by the millions of visitors. Not to say that the Louvre Museum must not be part of your itinerary not at all! But I just happen to think that if you include a detour to a lesswellknown place such as those recommended in our Paris travel guide ParisEiffelTowerNews.com your stay in the French capital will become all the more interesting. You will have more localcolor anecdotes to tell your friends. And your trip will be even more memorable. SO yes I recommend that you try out new spots and venues and I will continue suggesting those in further articles. Cheers!

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;About the Author:
As a noted Paris specialist Phil Chavanne has given many travelers advices and tips which made a big difference for their stay in Paris. Get the information you need to prepare your next trip to the French capital now.

Savannah Georgia – Americas Most Haunted City

In 2003 the American Institute of Paranormal Psychology named Savannah America’s Most Haunted City. And Savannah is able to support the title. Ghosts apparitions or paranormal activities have been reported at many of Savannah’s inns restaurants private residences and of course cemeteries.

There are many magnificently restored buildings nestled around Savannah’s twentyone squares. Many of these buildings are stately homes supposedly still occupied by former owners. James Habersham has been known to roam around the Olde Pink House now a restaurant but formerly his home. Juliette Gordon Low the founder of the Girl Scouts was born and raised in Savannah. Her parents long deceased are said to still roam Juliette’s childhood home.

Savannah’s SorrelWeed House visited by The Atlantic Paranormal Society TAPS in 2005 as part of their SciFi Ghost Hunters Halloween special is supposedly haunted. The story goes that Mrs. Weed caught her husband in a compromising position with one of the Weed’s many slaves. Mrs. Weed very distraught ran back to her secondfloor bedroom. After a long argument with her husband she either threw herself or was thrown to her death from a second floor balcony. Soon after Mrs. Weed’s death the slave found with Mr. Weed was found hung in her slave quarters. Both women are said to be still roaming the grounds.

The HamptonLillibridge House was said to be so haunted that Jim Williams of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” fame had an exorcism performed at this former boarding house. On countless occasions residents and passersby have heard the sound of jazz coming from inside the home.

The Kehoes were a very prominent family in Savannah as Mr. Kehoe owned the ironworks on the riverfront. The Kehoes built this fireproof alliron home and lived there with their 10 children. The Kehoe’s heirs sold the house in 1930 and the property changed hands many times to include use for 65 years as the Goette Funeral Home. It is now a beautiful bed and breakfast where many of its visitors report supernatural occurrences such as a woman screaming a nurse shushing visitors the Lady in White making appearances and several instances involving ghosts of children.

The list goes on and on!

So what is it about Savannah that makes it so attractive to ghosts and ghost stories? Many people start with the fact that Savannah is literally built on its dead. Savannah was the first city in Georgia founded in 1733. It was established in the same location as the Creek and Choctaw maintained their burial grounds.

As the colony began to grow and thrive it needed more room. Buildings were erected on the burial plots of the original colonists. Tombstones in cemeteries were moved to make room for sidewalks and roads. Places of worship were erected on the graves of slaves.

Second Savannah has a very violent history. Many bloody battles and skirmishes were fought in Savannah. One of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution the Siege of Savannah where about 1200 men lost their lives in one hour was fought in Savannah.

Also the city has been victim to many citywide fires at least two yellowfever epidemics and several hurricanes.

Third Savannah has been a major port city since the days of King Cotton so many a sailor has ventured through Savannah spinning a romantic tale or two.

Fourth Savannahians are proudly an eccentric bunch as were their ancestors which adds history and volume to the ghost stories. Take the

Lastly I blame the large amounts of Spanish moss hanging from the majestic oak trees. The blankets of moss look like ghostly shrouds and give the entire region an eerie look.

Whatever the reason the ghost stories are endless earning the Savannah the right to the title of America’s Most Haunted City.

About the writer:  Deb Bunting is an accountant who makes her home in Oklahoma City. She is an avid traveler with special interest in historical places. Visit her site at www.loveofsavannah.com.

Saigon – Paris Of The East

Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon as it was known in olden times is unmistakably one of those preferred holiday destinations in Asia. This city has a special place among the tourist destinations as it has a unique property of evoking feeling of that of exotic lands and also the charms of old world. Here the blend of an old structure with the newer ones can be very effectively viewed. The streets of this unique city are lined up by large corporate offices along with those older French colonial architectural beauties. Thus it is unmistakably Saigon where one could well see this blend. Here one could find a group of dynamic people who are very much busy with their business activities along with those saffronrobed monks who collect alms for their living. Thus although the city is busy with international business schedules the charm and beauty of ancient Asia is very well retained.

The Vietnamese took over the city from the hamlet of Cambodian rulers and was later made the capital of French colony of CochinChina. The current name is after its great communist leader Ho Chi Minh and is thus a tribute to the great man. It has got a population of about 9 million and is therefore the largest in Vietnam. It was during the colonial period that the city was renovated with streets that are broad along with colonial architecture that have passed the test of time to last even to now. The city has got a tropical humid climate with average humidity of about 75. There are two distinct seasons the rainy season from May to November and the dry months from December to April. The dry season is the best time to visit the city as the humidity level will be much lower.

There are lots of tourist attractions in the city. Among them is the History Museum. A huge collection of artifacts are arranged or housed in this museum. There is also a water puppet theatre inside the museum and along with this a gift shop too. Yet another great museum is the War Remnants Museum. It is famous for the exhibit of American War Crimes. Yet another place to mention is the Reunification Palace. There is a huge party room a gambling room a movie theatre and lavish reception halls. Many pagodas can be found around the city and among these the Nghia An Hoi Quan is the best. The City Hall is yet another architectural marvel that is a must see one. It is a best example for the colonial architecture of the French. Notre Dame Cathedral is also another of those structures. The Saigon River adds to the beauty of the city.

A lot of water parks are there in order to cool you from the heat. There are Dame Sen water Park and Saigon Water Park to get added up in the list. A lot others are also there in the list. Shopping is yet another feature of this place. Lots of handicraft items and tourist souvenirs are available for shopping. The bargaining skills of people can be very much handful here. Dong Khai and Le Thanh Ton are among the best shopping areas here. The services to the city are made through Tan Son Nhat airport which is the largest in Vietnam. Here the immigration rules are much stricter and hence lot of time is needed for the purpose. Cach Mang Thang Tam station is the nearest railway station to the city center. Again taxi is the best option to go through the city. Motorbike taxis are also there which will be much cheaper than others. Renting a bike is also a good way to explore the beauty of the city.

Unmistakably Saigon is known as the Paris of the East. In the area there are 50 small restaurants that are excellent to go for. There are also many number of internet centers along with glossary and general store. There are traditional cultural shows at the opera house and night clubs situated which adds to the beauty of the city. Vung Tau is a peninsular on the cost and is the nearest seaside to that of Saigon. There is an extra ordinary post office exotic murals old colonial hotels and redbrick cathedral etc which are all worth watching. Thus Saigon or Shanghai or Ho Chi Minh is a strong contender among tourist destinations in Asia.

About the writer:  Hong Kongbased ShangriLa Hotels and Resorts currently owns and manages 54 hotels under ShangriLa and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 27000. ShangriLa hotels are fivestar deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services.