Well, it’s almost Valentine’s Day, and what could be a more romantic gesture than stealing away to the most European city in the North America? It’s moody, dark and sexy. And yes, it’s in Canada. Quebéc City, the government seat of Québec, Canada, is a jewel upon a hill, its stately skyline looking out over the Saint Lawrence river. It’s as close to being in a French village as you could possibly get, yet still retains its own Canadian charm.
poutine on the ritz
Paris is one of THE magnificent cities of the world, and its main airport? C’est si bon! It is the second largest airport by volume in Europe and the 10th largest in the world. Obviously Paris is a destination in its own right, but as a port to the rest of the world, if you’re headed to Africa or the Middle East, good chance you could be stopping here, too.
The hub for Air France, this airport is named after the leader of the French resistance against Nazi Germany during WWI who later became president of the newly re-democratic France, Charles de Gaulle. The history is complex, so you’re gonna have to trust me when I say he was a very notable French figure in the 20th century. They don’t name airports after just anyone (see: the soon to be Muhammad Ali airport in Louisville).
There are three Terminals, but the set up is not exactly like other airports. Terminal 1 is for airport operations, mass transit stations, shops and restaurants, check in counters and baggage claim. Terminal 2 is split into sub-terminals 2A-2G. 2E is where your long haul flights will be, as it can accommodate Airbus A380. Air France international flights are almost all exclusively run through Terminal 2 (American, Delta are also Terminal 2, while United flies through both 1 and 2A). 2F is for intercontinental European and 2G is in a separate building and is dedicated to regional Air France flights. Terminal 3 is for budget airlines.
Remember: ✈️ = hate it to ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ = louvre it (sorry i couldn’t do any better, i’m le tired)
Convenience to the city: ✈️✈️✈️✈️ (16 miles away, but RER metro transit will take you from central Paris –and there’s a new express trains coming soon. There are also express buses and old fashioned car travel as well)
Ease of navigating through terminals: ✈️✈️✈️ (there are CDGVAL trains that will take you from one terminal to the next; it does get confusing though and there’s not a lot of helpful people jumping at the chance to help you)
Convenience of check in/security lines: ✈️✈️✈️ (there are a lot of travelers here, that doesn’t make things go quickly)
Dining:✈️✈️✈️✈️ (there is only one thing to know and that is there is a Laduree in 2F. Otherwise, there’s a McD’s, Starbucks and Pre-A-Manger along with french offerings)
Bathrooms: ✈️✈️✈️ (fair for an airport of its size)
Charging stations/wifi: ✈️✈️✈️✈️ (Free wifi, charging is available — don’t forget your Type E adapter!)
Amenities: ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ (this is Paris, home of Cartier, Dior, Chanel, Hermes, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Longchamp, Saint Laurent –you will find them all here along with well known Italian brands too 😉 All that’s missing is Goyard and Louboutin and then you’d have the best place ever airport shopping center in the world. There are MANY lounges available as well — Air France/Delta SkyTeam in like all terminals, American, Etihad, Air Canada, El Al, Emirates, Qatar, SAS, Lufthansa, United/Star Alliance, Cathay Pacific. Also, this airport was used in both U2 and Alan Parsons project album artwork, so extra cool points. J’aime cela!)
Paris is one of THE magnificent cities of the world, and its main airport? C’est si bon! It is the second largest airport by volume in Europe and the 10th largest in the world. Obviously Paris is a destination in its own right, but as a port to the rest of the world, if you’re headed to Africa or the Middle East, good chance you could be stopping here, too.
The hub for Air France, this airport is named after the leader of the French resistance against Nazi Germany during WWI who later became president of the newly re-democratic France, Charles de Gaulle. The history is complex, so you’re gonna have to trust me when I say he was a very notable French figure in the 20th century. They don’t name airports after just anyone (see: the soon to be Muhammad Ali airport in Louisville).
There are three Terminals, but the set up is not exactly like other airports. Terminal 1 is for airport operations, mass transit stations, shops and restaurants, check in counters and baggage claim. Terminal 2 is split into sub-terminals 2A-2G. 2E is where your long haul flights will be, as it can accommodate Airbus A380. Air France international flights are almost all exclusively run through Terminal 2 (American, Delta are also Terminal 2, while United flies through both 1 and 2A). 2F is for intercontinental European and 2G is in a separate building and is dedicated to regional Air France flights. Terminal 3 is for budget airlines.
Remember: ✈️ = hate it to ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ = louvre it (sorry i couldn’t do any better, i’m le tired)
Convenience to the city: ✈️✈️✈️✈️ (16 miles away, but RER metro transit will take you from central Paris –and there’s a new express trains coming soon. There are also express buses and old fashioned car travel as well)
Ease of navigating through terminals: ✈️✈️✈️ (there are CDGVAL trains that will take you from one terminal to the next; it does get confusing though and there’s not a lot of helpful people jumping at the chance to help you)
Convenience of check in/security lines: ✈️✈️✈️ (there are a lot of travelers here, that doesn’t make things go quickly)
Dining:✈️✈️✈️✈️ (there is only one thing to know and that is there is a Laduree in 2F. Otherwise, there’s a McD’s, Starbucks and Pre-A-Manger along with french offerings)
Bathrooms: ✈️✈️✈️ (fair for an airport of its size)
Charging stations/wifi: ✈️✈️✈️✈️ (Free wifi, charging is available — don’t forget your Type E adapter!)
Amenities: ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ (this is Paris, home of Cartier, Dior, Chanel, Hermes, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Longchamp, Saint Laurent –you will find them all here along with well known Italian brands too 😉 All that’s missing is Goyard and Louboutin and then you’d have the best place ever airport shopping center in the world. There are MANY lounges available as well — Air France/Delta SkyTeam in like all terminals, American, Etihad, Air Canada, El Al, Emirates, Qatar, SAS, Lufthansa, United/Star Alliance, Cathay Pacific. Also, this airport was used in both U2 and Alan Parsons project album artwork, so extra cool points. J’aime cela!)
There are not enough adjectives to describe the wonder of Paris. No one needs a guide to this city, there are a million ways to enjoy it, and the little discoveries down every alleyway are what makes this place special. You don’t need a ton of money, you don’t even need to see any of the popular tourist attractions. You could walk around for days and not spend one cent and be content. It’s all splendor. The air is different when you arrive in this city of light and magic. You feel different, you get a new lease on life– nouvelle joie de vivre.
I’ve been all over the world, and there is no city that causes my heart to take flight like Paris. No city that comes close in terms of architecture and art and food. It’s the ultimate muse for any travel fantasy, it puts the lust in wanderlust. There’s a romanticism that cannot be recreated anywhere else; it’s no wonder that Paris salons attracted the best in art and literature to a bohemian lifestyle in the capital city.
To get a true sense of the city, you have to at least spend 4-5 days here. My first visit more than a decade ago lasted for almost two weeks. I saw the entire city as a 16 year old, and even though we did not have smart phones back in the dark ages (le horreur), I’ll never forget the moments during that trip. It started my love affair with France and gets reignited every time I come back. C’est magnifique.
la vie en rose
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