Americans @ the Tour de France

Paris has always been at the forefront of the world in terms of
entertainment and variety from film, dance, opera, jazz, ballet, rock
festivals and not forgetting the romance.

Paris the Capital City of France is in the Ile De France region and
is an international capital for art, fashion, style and romance.

With the romance that Paris perceives, it is the number one
destination for UK tourists and with over 30 million travellers per
year from around the world, it is no wonder that this city has so much
to offer.

Paris entertainment has always been at the forefront of the world in
terms of quality and variety and from film, dance, opera, jazz,
concerts, ballet, rock festivals and cabaret, there is always some form
of entertainment on offer to suit all tastes, no matter what the time
of year you decide to visit this vibrant and cultural city in France.

There are two opera houses in Paris - the Opera Bastille and the
Palais Garnier that hosts the Opera National de Paris. There are also
many different rock venues in Paris that play host to a large number of
international performers and Paris is also popular for its many dance
clubs, nightclubs, and cabaret shows such as the Moulin Rouge, which
has become famous throughout the world for its can-can, plus a
multitude of different festivals that are held in Paris every year.

Of course, there are the usual monuments and attractions which we
all go an see when visiting Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de
Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, walking along the Avenue de
Champs-Elysees with all its glitz and glamour and visiting the Bastille
Square.

There are also some more recent landmarks that attract millions of
visitors each year to Paris, such as La Grande Arche in the business
district of La Defense or The Center Nationale d’Art et de Culture
Georges Pompidou, also known simply as the Beaubourg or the Pompidou
Centre.

Another attraction are the Catacombs of Paris, which are a famous
burial place with its network of subterranean tunnels and rooms located
underneath Paris and you can go on an official tour through the old
quarries.

And the banks of the River Seine in Paris will offer visitors an
unforgettable experience by being able to get to see the sights from a
completely different perspective, while cruising in a boat and perhaps
sampling the French cuisine at the same time.

However, for those of us who would like to get away from it all, the
Ile de France region of which Paris is at the centre becomes an ideal
place, offering a multitude of nature, history, art and culture, but
all within only a short distance from the periphery.

So, within the Ile de France region, you be able to discover more
than 500km of navigable waterways, as well as many more kilometres of
footpaths and historic sites along its beautiful rivers and canals.

But not far from Paris in the Ile de France region you will discover
rich picturesque countryside and forests all within a short distance of
the periphery and it boasts three National Parks and four National
Forests that allow you to get away from it all and enjoy the natural
beauty of France along with the slow pace of French country life.

With stunning scenery, idyllic towns, peace and tranquillity, along
with the abundant wildlife that await its visitors, it is the perfect
setting for a drive in the country, an invigorating walk or a typical
French picnic lunch in the open air.

And although Paris still tends to have that allure as a destination
for lovers, there is also an enormous amount to do for children of all
ages and the adults alike! Disneyland Paris with all of its magic is
obviously one of those destinations, along with Parc Asterix, but there
are also some great modern museums that provide interaction, making
learning fun.

And from interesting, historic towns, to the centre of Paris, back
to the forests and national parks, to amusements or glitz and glamour,
Paris has something for everyone to enjoy, but make sure that you
allocate enough time to experience this incredible region of France.

The terroir is a group of vineyards or vines from the same area which
have a common soil and climate. And nowhere else, other than Burgundy
in France, is it held so fondly.

Burgundy is a region situated in central east France, which
experiences bitter cold winters matched with beautiful warm summers. It
is the home of 1.6 million inhabitants.

Burgundy (Bourgogne) is famous throughout the world for its wines.
Spanning over 31,500 square kilometers (over 12,000 square miles), with
a 360 km (225 mi) strip stretching 100km (60 mi) south of Paris, down
from south of Dijon to north of Rhoône, houses 99 different wine
appellations.

Ranging from the vibrant red Pommard and Corton to the medium
Beaune — to the sparkling whites, the dry Chablis or Chassagne
Montrachet, over 180 million bottles of some of the fines wines are
made in this region.

As an aftermath of the French revolution the vineyards belonging to
the monasteries were broken down to smaller plots – which exist even
today.

The finest quality wine, designated as “Premier Cru” – is available
from 600 of the vineyards in the region while 33 of them is credit to
produce the even more classy “Grand Cru” wines. Among these the most
renowned are Montrachet, Chambertin and Clos Vougeot.

Made from the pinot noir grapes, the burgundy red wines taste best
with Boeuf Bourguignon or pheasant. On the other hand a Chablis or
their sparkling white wines go best with anything from shrimps to goat
cheese.

The famous white wine called Chablis derives its name from a
village of the same name. These are dry whites with an acidity that
refreshes. The special Chardonnay grapes thrive in limestone that has
been made richer with remains of fossils.

As an accompaniment to lamb or grilled chicken, the best choice is
the fruity-flavored, world famous Beaujolais made from the Gamay grape.
These grapes grow in granite limestone.

The ever-popular and delicious red is grown in Volnay for the last
8 centuries. The grapes are Pinot Noir grown across 600 acres which is
responsible in producing 1.3 million bottles of this amazing wine which
has the flavors of raspberries and violets.

And then there is Meursault, located close by, famous for its
Premier Cru labels of finest white wines. 2.5 million bottles of the
finest wine, Chardonnay, aged anywhere between 3 to 15 years is grown
in just over 1000 acres. Fish in white sauce go extremely well with
this fine wine with its almond and apple flavors.

But what still makes the headlines is the red Pommard with its
tannic and manly flavor, staging a comeback after many years of
decline. From just 780 acres of Pinot Noir grown in limestone and red
clay are produced 1.8 million bottles of this wine with the flavors of
black cherry and black currant. Goes excellent with game venison and
roasted red meat with Livarot cheese, these can age from 5 to 15 years.

Whatever your taste buds need, there is very little chance of returning home disappointed with a Burgundy.