Love Is in the Air – Romantic Paris and Its Best Kept Secrets

 

With spring in full bloom everywhere, there is no better place to be in love than Paris. Birds tweeting in the air, flowers blossoming in the gardens, temperatures rising and hems getting shorter, all this making a perfect setting for the ultimate romance. E. E. Cumings quotation Spring time is love time takes on a special meaning in romantic Paris. Here seduction is everywhere, on the boulevards, in cafés, filling countless terraces, even peeping at us from ad posters of barely there lingerie clad models.

 

Nowhere in the world will you find that many people holding hands, kissing passionately and exchanging tender caresses openly in public, putting thus on display their affection in an unreserved fashion. It appears, the secret of Parisian amour lies not only in the exceptional historical and cultural setting, but also in the way the French proclaim the enjoyment of life, le joie de vivre. Happiness, joviality and exultation of spirit, convey for them less the popularized sense of the trendy quote, but reflect more a life’s philosophy involving many existential spheres. No wonder then that the whole city is devoted to passion in its broader understanding, including culinary delights, architectural highlights and of course the affection per se.

 

While it’s absolutely impossible to list all that Paris has to offer in terms of romance, here’s a short collection of places to fall in love with:

 

1. Balloon de Paris

Proclaim your love right there in the open sky, and book a balloon flight with Balloon de Paris from the Andre Citroen Park. Take a souvenir picture while holding your beloved one tightly at 150m above Parisian ground and enjoy spectacular aerial views of the City of Light.

Image via sciencesetavenir

 

2. Lake Daumesnil

If you’re a fan of aquatic pleasures, go to Bois deVincennes (the largest green space in Paris) and rent a rowboat. This will allow you to reproduce the scene from Bridget’s Jones Diary, without hopefully the unfortunate falling. Naturally followed by a picnic on the surrounding lawn - since all Parisian parks are free to be dined on in public.

 

3. Jardin du Luxembourg

Visit the embracing Acis and Galatea sculpture (mythological couple from Ovid’s Metamorphoses), have a amorous stroll in the Italian style gardens created for Marie de Medicis in 1611, and culminate it with a kiss in front of the famous fountain.

Image via aviewoncities

 

4. Le Chalet des Iles

After sunset, take a short ferry ride to Chalet des Iles in the Bois de Boulogne Park. This Swiss-style Chalet, surrounded by alleys of trees offers an inviting terrace in summer and an indoor fireplace in winter to suit the most romantic taste.

Image via Chalet des Iles

 

5. Musée de la Vie Romantique

For those of you who enjoy literature and the intellectual crème de la crème of the 19^th century, this museum is the unconditional must. Step into the world of George Sand, Frederic Chopin, Liszt and Delacroix, and immerse yourself in the musings of the greatest romantic masters. Before leaving have a seat outside in the little yard, and finish the enriching visit with a light lunch.

Image via timeout

 

6. Ladurée

Tempt your darling with a sweet little pastry from Ladurée, particularly the one called Baiser (kiss), which is a macaron delicacy filled with raspberries and picturing a pair of red lips. She will never forget the exceptional taste, and above all, the decorative wrapping boxes to bring home as a souvenir.

Image via yelp

 

7. Paris by boat

Surprise your partner with unbeatable luxury and take her on a Champagne cruise reserved just for the two of you. And top it up by making a gastronomic halt at La Maison Blanche, enjoying dinner overlooking the roofs of Paris right there at your feet. Or if you’re rather on a limited budget, savor French fine dining during a cruise on one of numerous Bateaux Parisiens along La Seine.

Image via ParisCityVision

 

8. Hotel Amour

Book a night (or two, or three) in the Hotel Amour (Love Hotel) of Montmartre and indulge in the ultimate setting for a romantic getaway. Each room here is decorated in a different style, some less, some more erotic, yet all within the boundaries of good taste. Or, if not staying for a night, simply take a peek and have a drink at the hotel bar, while admiring the coveted outdoor garden filled with enamoured crowd.

Image via hotelswelove

 

Bonus (since it's not strictly in Paris, but in Versailles):

 

9. Château de Versailles

Every Saturday from June 20^th until September 19^th enjoy a semi-private tour of the golden castle, including a classical concert and dance in the Hall of Mirrors, followed by a Night Fountain Show in the whimsical garden. Have a stroll on the lantern-lit terrace with a glass of Champagne in your hand and a loved one by your side, and let yourself be mesmerized by the view of spectacular musical fire works. This will be a magical evening you will never forget.

Image via Château de Versailles

 

Whatever the reason for your visit to Paris, never forget to be in love when enjoying the top capital for amorous ambience.

 

You Will Never Believe These Bizarre Truths About Men

 

1. Part of daily routine for most men is pogonotomy (otherwise known as beard cutting or shaving); cultivating facial hair is called pogonotrophy. During his lifetime the average man will spend 3340 hours shaving off 8,4 m of whiskers, or nearly 3 kg. Apparently women find bearded men more attractive. Test below:

Image source: mafea.soup

 

2. Women aren't the only ones to produce breast milk. Right after they're born boy newborns can secrete a tiny bit of liquid from their nipples. It's called witch's milk.

Image source: pixabay

 

3. Don't blame him if he can't differentiate all the colours you're able to as a woman. Colour vision deficiency is sex-linked and attributed to 8% men while to only o.5% women. Responsible for the condition is the X-gene, so if some genes are damaged or missing, colour blindness will be expressed in males with a higher probability.

 

Image source: atchuup.com

 

4. Men and women perceive taste differently. This is due to an anatomical fact according to which women have more fungiform papillae (the little red dots on the front surface of your tongue) and more taste buds. Tests also showed that 35% of women are supertasters, compared with just 15% of men.

Image source: unsplash

 

5. Tubby tummies - Men have close to twice the visceral fat (beer belly) as that of women. Women have more subcutaneous fat (the kind under the skin) than men, so those extra fat calories tend to be deposited in their arms, thighs, and buttocks, as well as their bellies. Because men have less subcutaneous fat, they store more in their bellies.

Gif source: reactiongifs.com

 

6. No wonder he keeps you awake at night! Snoring sound - air turbulance vibrating the structures in the ‘upper airway’ - ranges from 50dB to 100dB, the equivalent to a pneumatic drill. The louder we snore, the more likely we are to be overweight.

Image source: pixabay

 

7. In pre-biblical times, men would swear on their own penises. The word testify is derived from a Roman legal practice of swearing on one’s testicles. The word penis comes from the Latin word for “tail.” Australia’s Walibri tribesmen say hello by shaking one another’s penises.

Image source: pixabay

 

8. Women weren't the first ones to wear high heels. In fact, the earliest high heel is depicted on a 9th-century AD ceramic bowl from Persia worn by men. Heels were used to hold the rider's foot in stirrups.

 

Image & fact source: bbc.com

Courtesy of Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto

 

9. Men were also the first ones to wear stockings. They were called hose and by the twelfth century a staple in a man’s wardrobe. Women generally wore socks, pantyhose weren’t even invented until 1959.

"Robin Hood: Men in tights" gif source: tumblr

 

10. Adam's Apple - that chunk of bony cartilage that's wrapped around the larynx is derived from the biblical story of Adam and Eve. When the serpent persuaded them to eat the forbidden fruit, a piece got stuck in Adam's throat. Caitlyn Jenner has had her laryngeal prominence removed along with a facial feminization surgery and breast augmentation.

Image source: pixabay

30 Reasons Why Blogging Is Better Than Sex

 

There’s no better way to start the New Year than talking about sex, isn’t it? Something I haven’t done in a while (I mean talking of course ;) ) which is why I decided to look into this subject a little deeper.
 
I got intrigued by a recent survey, according to which 46 percent of women would rather give up sex than lose their Internet connection. I presume the same truth would also apply to blogging.
 
Here are 30 reasons why blogging is better than sex:
 
1. The only thing getting pounded is your keyboard.
2. You don’t have to morph into a sex goddess to get people’s attention.
3. Instant gratification is guaranteed, always.
4. You don’t have to fake a thing.
5. You don’t need to be vocal.
6. The only thing vibrating here is your mouse and not a glow-in-the-dark gizmo.
7. You don’t have to anticipate the climax. Hitting the publish button is the climax.
8. You don’t need a lubricant. Things being slippery is counterproductive in writing.
9. You don’t have to talk dirty to keep going.
10. You won’t wake up the kids with loud moaning.
11. You don’t have to get intoxicated to get into the mood.
12. You don’t have to brush your teeth beforehand.
13. You don’t have to practice the “O” face.
14. You don’t have to incorporate extended foreplay to get excited.
15. You don’t have to wait for your partner to come.
16. No need for setting the mood with candles and music.
17. You can be as disinhibited as you like.
18. You don’t have to trim anything.
19. You don’t have to worry about contraception.
20. You don’t have to stress about failure.
21. The only spooning you’ll be doing is snugging your laptop.
22. You don’t have to worry about him snoring.
23. Your G-DRIVE is easier to operate than your G-spot.
24. You don’t need to be as flexible as a Cirque du Soleil acrobat to culminate.
25. The only thing ejecting is your memory stick.
26. When someone says they love your blog, they actually mean it.
27. Nothing comes between you and your laptop.
28. You can delete negative comments with a click of a button.
29. You don’t have to fake a headache.
30. You don’t have to see a therapist afterwards. Blogging is therapy.
 

Happy New Year 2017!