In a very natural, soft and traditional way with a smile they will wish you whether you understand or not “bonjour'. Sometimes they say "sava” and if you still blink they say "goodbye'. The beach or “prado' as it is called is another huge attraction. Every where in the tram or metro you will always find them crowded because in summer that is where you will find anyone. Weekend after the other we always have new places to see.

But every time we had to cross the View Port which is always lined with ships. It is the centre of the city. The day I went to View port there were a lot of paintings on display on the side. Almost all the paintings were on Indian people and a few on African women.

We had to walk down quite a distance to sit down and just gape at the expanse of blue sea water. The water was calm and there was a constant breeze. Here and there you could see teenagers with their friends, couples, young and old and newcomers strolling by. There were ships which had five star restaurants inside.

There are big lanes a little further around which look similar to any metropolis. If you go inside you will find a lot of ethnic stuff too. There are small stalls on the road selling stuff you must buy when you are in Marseille. My friend set her heart on buying soaps of all colors and smells. Sometimes mixed and varied they had rose and strawberry, almond and many others. It was reasonably priced and there were other beautiful things like mirrors and kitchen ware, all floral and filled with the brightness of the day. Much later I was happy to find an Indian shop which had all I needed. And for the first time I felt I was at home.

Marseille is a home for many Africans, Algerians and many others coming from the borders. The Indian community is quite small. Still Marseille is multi-cultural and historic. Next week we are going to the “calanques”. I know I will be exclaiming, “oh lalala”. That is the typical expression you will hear if they are very happy or they wish to say something when in football the ball nearly went into the goal post.

It is now known as The Louvre, is one of the most visited art museum in the world, a historic monument and a national symbol. It is also home to Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

The decorative arts department houses the Diadem of the Duchess of Angouleme which contains gold, gilt silver, 40 emeralds and 1031 diamonds. This crown matches an emerald necklace made by Paul-Nicolas Meniere in 1814.

Controversy debate surrounds the artworks and other cultural property seized by the occupying forces of the Second World War as the Louvre continues to hold 678 pieces of artwork. The Louvre administration has argued in favor of retaining these items despite requests by the source nations for their return.

Palais Bourbon

The Palais Bourbon is the seat of the French National Assembly, the lower legislative chamber of the French Government.

Within the library surviving from the noble family of owners who left France during the revolution, are the minutes of Joan of Arc's trial amongst other literature.

The Grand Palais

The Grand Palais is a large glass exhibition hall. It was closed for 12 years for extensive restoration work after one of the glass panels fell in 1993. It reopened its doors to the public on 24 September 2005. Hiding in its basement is a major police station to help protect its exhibits.

Palace of Versailles

It is a symbol of absolute monarchy which King Louis XIV espoused.

One of the seven rooms in Le Vau's plan - the Salon d'Apollon. It was suppose to be the king's bedchamber, but later was used as a throne room and later as a music or concert room.

The other three rooms the salon de Jupiter, the salon de Saturn, and the salon de Vénus had to make way to construct the Hall of Mirrors.

The Queen's bedchamber.

There is a barely discernible hidden door in the corner near the jewel cabinet by Schwerdfeger (1787) through which Marie Antoinette escaped the night of 5/6 October 1789 when the Paris mob stormed Versailles.

Chateau de Chantilly

The Chateau de Chantilly is open to public. It is now owned by the Institut de France.

The chateau and the Great Stables (The stables could house 240 horses and up to five hundred hounds) were featured in the James Bond movie "A View to a Kill".

Palace of Fontainebleau

The Palace of Fontainebleau is one of the largest French royal chateau.

With modifications of the château's structure, including the cobblestone entrance wide enough for his carriage, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte helped make the château the place that visitors see today.

Chateau de Sceaux

This Chateau was almost sold to real estate developers, fortunately through the effort of the mayor, Jean-Baptiste Bergeret de Frouville, it was saved. Today the château contains the Musée de l'Île-de-France. This museum contains one of the largest collections of the painters of the School of Paris, among which are four paintings of Maurice Boitel.

Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte

Vaux-le-Vicomte is one of Europe's finest constructions of its kind. After being neglected for 30 years, it was put up for sale. In 1875, Alfred Sommier bought it at a public auction. When Sommier died in 1908, the château and the gardens had recovered their original appearance. His son, Edme Sommier, and his daughter-in-law completed the task. Today, his descendants continue to work on the preservation of Vaux-le-Vicomte. The château remains a private property - owned by the comte de Vogue.

The gardens

The site, unlike Versailles, was naturally well-watered, with two small rivers that met in the park; the canalized bed of one forms the Grand Canal.

Chateau de Vincennes

The Chateau is a massive French royal castle in the town of Vincennes.

In the Chateau, the relics of the Crown of Thorns were temporarily housed while the Sainte-Chapelle was being readied to receive them. A fragment that remained behind received its own chapel at Vincennes.

First, there are the usual airline carriers. They are fast, safe, and reliable. But they are also pricey and may not always be an option. The second choice would be to go with a budget airline, but their reliability is often in question and in order to get the best deal you may have to fly on dates that do not cohere with your long anticipated travel plans. Fortunately, there are two other very good options to keep your plans afloat without sinking your wallet.

Trains

Fast, safe, and often less expensive than traditional airline carriers trains are how Europeans travel within Europe - and who better to learn from than Europeans themselves? Trains are a great option because not only do they provide an affordable way between almost all cities, but they run more frequently than planes and afford you the opportunity to see more of the countries you are visiting. In fact, an entire trip can revolve around a train trip. Perhaps you wish to retrace the path of the Orient Express. By train it's easy to get off at any stop and stay for a few hours, then hop on the next train to wherever you were going. Non-reserved tickets can be purchased for almost all trains giving the bearer an option of several months within which to travel. The flexibility and affordability are hard to beat!

So why chose anything other than trains for travel within Europe? Well, when trains are an option, you shouldn't! But sometimes towns are too small or too remote for train stations. In that case, take the bus!

Bus 

Often regarded as unsafe travel in Eastern European countries, busses - minibuses included - are safe ways to travel to areas where trains don't go. Busses are ultra affordable and occasionally good alternatives to trains when traveling on a really tight budget. Busses run very frequently and offer smooth traveling - most busses are well designed for comfort, even during extended trips. In fact, many conclude on the end of their bus journey that even Polish minibuses are superior to the Greyhound services available in the United States! The one drawback to busses is that bus drivers rarely speak English and stops are usually announced only in the native language so riding prepared is a must!

For great places to travel by train or bus within Europe check out this list of undiscovered travel destinations.

Whether by plane, train, or bus, happy travels!

Everyone has to go see the art in Paris. The culture and ideas are so unique. Therefore, one of the top places to visit would have to be the Centre Pompidou. Here are several things to do. You can visit a large library, a museum of modern art, and/or listen to music. The building was uniquely designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. Center Pompidou opened in 1977 and was named after the President of France (1969-74)

The Arc de Triomphe is another monument in Paris. This Arc gives one an opportunity to take great pictures of the city along with being able to admire its great architecture. Napolean Bonaparte had commissioned it be built in 1806 after a victory at Austerlitz. The Arc was in honor to those that fought in wars for France.

If you have children with you then you may want to visit the infamous Disneyland Paris. It is the largest theme park in Paris. Another theme park to visit is Park Asterix which has 27 attractions along with 6 shows and of course multiple rides for the adventurous and daring. There are a number of museums as well that your children may enjoy. There's the Grevin Wax Museum and a doll museum.

After an entire day of site-seeing one needs to visit the Eiffel Tower. The nightlife is fantastic. Have dinner in the Tower and enjoy the view of a beautiful city. This is definitely one of the top places to visit when in Paris. The tower was considered one of the tallest buildings in the world in 1889. Originally the tower was meant to be only temporary. It was built to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution. Yet, it remained standing and has become a symbol of France. Did you know that the tower is the main transmitter for television in Paris? Gustave Eiffel made the design of the tower as part of a contest and won. The Eiffel Tower has three floors and at each level you must pay to see it. If you want to enter it is about $6 and to get to the top you pay about $20.

Other places to see in Paris are The Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral, Picasso Museum, the Paris Aquarium, and Versailles. All of these places will give you view of history and beauty while appreciating the arts and finding new-found appreciation for the architecture.

I think vegetarianism is a great concept provided you really enjoy it and aren't doing it as a fad. A fresh rocket, arugula, romaine salad with fresh figs, pomegranate, goat's cheese, mushroom, tomatoes, avocado, boiled egg and some candied walnuts can be a really great salad.

You could go wild adding anything on a whim especially since in India you don't have to go far to find such delicacies.

Vegetarians in Vietnam:

Ok, so what if a veggie goes traveling to Vietnam or Thailand? I am not even sure that these countries have a word for vegetarians. Try saying you are a vegetarian in Bangkok.. at the princely Leboa Hotel or the Shangri-La. The waiter may fight with you for spoiling his day.

Try the fresh green papaya salad; it will come with mysterious dry shrimp even though you may have told the waiter a 100 times that you are a vegetarian. As for satay, you may fancy some cheese but could end up getting pork. It's tough being out in the world of carnivores.

I remember going to a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant in Seoul. I was intrigued because I was told I would be eating vegetarian food in a land where bulgogi (marinated beef barbecue) is eaten day and night. To my surprise, I found meat and fish on the menu.

We ate sitting on the floor so everything seemed calm and spiritual. Maybe that's why the meal felt vegetarian. But you could try the Korean pumpkin soup. Served as a starter, it is mouth watering. The Ghimbab Sushi, which is the only vegetarian sushi, is also stupendous. The trick is to have a good dictionary, or locate someone who can speak English fluently.

French Fervor

What about going west? to France, for instance. The garcon may freak if you choose a salad Nicoise without tuna. If you look hard, you will find a goat's cheese soufflé that could satisfy your palate.

There are 450 types of cheese in France. And another option is just pop open a good bottle of sauterne (desert wine) and chomp on some good Roquefort and baguette, especially if you have had a bad day with the snooty French.

A lot of good restaurants and chefs appreciate vegetarianism and will accommodate you; especially since you will be paying over 300 Euros for their tasting meal, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

Eating in Italy

In Italy, of course, you have hole-in-the-wall pasta shops where you can choose your type of pasta and top it with delicious sauces all made from fresh ingredients- pomodoro (fresh tomato), aioli (olive oil and garlic), or pesto (fresh basil). When in doubt, go on a desert binge. How can you refuse that melting fondant (melting chocolate cake) or a tiramisu (coffee sponge cake)?

I met a chatter whose name is Ulrich in my favourite chat channel. She was very sweet and charming girl. I spoke with her for fifteen minutes. I was stunned when she told me that she lived in small village called Fucking.For a sudden, I thought that she was joking with me. She was serious and insisted on living there. I opened my Google Earth map and searched for Fucking. She was right.There has been a village called Fucking for more than 1400 years.

Fucking: A small village in Austria

Fucking is a small village in Upper Austria. The exact location is 33 kilometers north of Salzburg and near German border. It is in the municipality of Tarsdorf.

It takes it's name from a traveller whose name is Focko. As far as I know, Focko is the name of a man who travelled this village in the 6th century. Fucking means “the place of Focko's people”.

The most surprising thing in Fucking is the traffic signs at the entrance and exit of the village. Most of the people seeing this sign stop there and take the photo of it. However, this sign has been stolen many times.

Fucking is rich in oxygen and fresh air since it is situated in the forest region. Due to it's natural beauty, it is one of the beautiful picnic areas of Tarsdorf. Even though it is a very small village and it's population is only 93, it is one of the well-known villages in Austria as a natural result of media interest.

Would you like to go Fucking and be one of the Fuckers? So, this is your guide.

Buy a ticket that lasts 24 hours and you can ride the bus as often as you want. There are about 14 stops along the route and you can get off at any of them and join the bus the next time it comes by that way. Excellent value. The problem with the tour round Marseilles is that there aren't very many interesting places to stop, but the ride itself is worthwhile.

The ride begins at the Old Port. It's worth taking time to sit in a café for a while here, reading a book, watching the life around the waterside. The bus sticks to the road along the coast for the first while with good views from the upper deck. Then it heads inland heading up a very steep hill on top of which a Church, Notre Dame de la Garde, supports a statue of Mary and Jesus who are supposed to keep watch over the city below. Unfortunately the statues didn't make a very good job of it during the war.

The Church is probably the only stop worth getting out at, not for the sake of the edifice itself, but for the amazing view out over the city and the bay. The golden baby Jesus is of quite improbable dimensions. The representation of him and his mother is fairly repugnant and the Church rather tacky, but all the technical details can be had from the various notice boards, and visitors have ample opportunity of donating as many Euros as they please.

But the view. Out in the bay are the islands that can be visited by boat from the Old Port, but maybe it's worth getting a look at them from the hill top first. One of them is home to the prison made famous in Alexander Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo, or was it the Man in the Iron Mask. Whichever. All that you see from the vantage point is fair food for a lively imagination. Spend as much time as you wish here and get the bus on back to the Old Port when you've done.

It's a lovely way to see Marseilles. One of the other advantages of this ride is that the passing traveler gets to be amazed at the oddness of so many strangely designed houses that have been squeezed onto the steep slope of the hill. You can fantasize about which one you'll buy to retire to.

Then there's the whole history of the place to get into as well. The running commentary brings the travelers up to speed on who held power and for how long right up to the present day. Loads of information on the war time Resistance, the destruction during the 39-45 war and the subsequent re-building.

It's a trip worth taking, and the Old Port will still be there when you get back, with the cafes, bars and restaurants to take care of the evening itinerary.

GuGong, China

• Airfare from New York (JFK) - $1,497; from Los Angeles (LAX) - $1,356; from London (LHR) - $1,071
• Nearest Hotel: Shangri-la China World Hotel; Cost per night (avg.) - $314
  

Imperial Palace or GuGong (Forbidden City, Zijincheng) in China was a Royal Administrative site for royal use and public access during the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Chinese history. It was recorded that the third emperor of dynasty Ming built this palace before he successfully took over the politic and crowned himself emperor. There have been a total of 24 emperors of Ming and Qing who dwelt in this palace. The palace has 9,000 rooms to accommodate imperial families, administrators, eunuchs, maids and soldiers. It has also served as a major location for discussing internal administrative affairs. Now, this palace has been turned into a national museum for tourists to visit and preserves many classical Chinese architectural structures of imperial splendor.

Located in the heart of Beijing, it has easy access to Tiananmen Square while the city of Wangfujing is located to the east. In 1961, this ancient palace was approved by the State Council as the National Palace Museum displaying protected heritages. By 1987, the palace was listed by UNESCO as a “World Heritage”, reflecting the cultural dimension of historical value which has gained international recognition.

The White House, United States of America

• Airfare from New York (JFK) - $136; from Los Angeles (LAX) - $226; from London (LHR) - $684
• Nearest Hotel: The Captial Hilton; Cost per night (avg.) - $399

The White House is one of the more well known symbols of America and is obviously home to the president of the United States and his family. This "palace" is a two-story building and is located in Washington, DC. It was initially established in 1792 and officially became the US President’s official residence in 1800. President Roosevelt first used the phrase “White House” in 1902, referring the to white color of the Presidential residence.

Buckingham Palace, England

• Airfare from New York (JFK) - ; from Los Angeles (LAX) - $614
• Nearest Hotel: Crown Plaza London St. James; Cost per night (avg.) - $296

Buckingham Palace was a palace originally established for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. In 1761, George III used this palace as his private residence and it was then known as “The Queen’s House”. It became the royal palace of Queen Victoria in 1837 and includes 19 state rooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms and 52 principal bedrooms as reported in a 1999 book published by the Royal Collection Department. There is a well known statue of Queen Victoria created by the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock in 1911 in front of the main gate.

Grand Kremlin Palace, Russia

• Airfare from New York (JFK) - $972; from Los Angeles (LAX) - $1207; from London (LHR) - $520
• Nearest Hotel: Swissotel Krasnye Holmy; Cost per night (avg.) - $438

Grand Kremlin Palace or Great Kremlin Palace was built between 1837 to 1851 on Borovitsky Hill in Moscow, Russia. The exterior building portrays medieval Russian and Byzantine architecture and includes nine churches from the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries, and more than 700 rooms. It was reported that the former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and the former Soviet General Secretary Mikhael Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty at the Grand Kremlin Palace during the Moscow Summit on June 1, 1988.

Palace of Versailles, France

• Airfare from New York (JFK) - $629; from Los Angeles (LAX) - $759; from London (LHR) - $214
• Nearest Hotel: Pullman Versailles Château; Cost per night (avg.) - $237

Palace of Versailles or Versailles was built in the 16th century under Louis XVI. It is located in the city of Versailles, 16 km west-southwest of Paris, France. It includes a 70 meter long hall of mirrors, luxurious apartments built for the king and the queen and the famous Le Norte French park. Before the 1789 revolution, it served as the center of the French monarchy which housed 20,000 nobles and was finally turned into a museum by Louis-Philippe in 1837.

The Potala Palace, Tibet

Due to the present unrest in Tibet, travel anywhere near the palace is currently highly restricted.

The Potala Palace was established at an altitude of 3,700 meters on the side of the Marpo Ri in the center of Lhasa Valley in China. The palace was built by King Songtsen Gambo to greet his bride, Princess Wen Cheng of the Tang Dynasty of China. This palace has been recently named one of the “New Seven Wonders” by the American television show “Good Morning America” and the newspaper “USA Today”. The palace occupies an area of 41 hectares, is 115 meters in height and has a 13-storey main residence. It is divided into the “red palace” for religious affairs and the "white palace" for political affairs. The palace is richly decorated with paintings, jewels and ornaments.

The Topkapi Palace, Turkey

• Airfare from New York (JFK) - $1,262; from Los Angeles (LAX) - $1,239; from London (LHR) - $375
• Nearest Hotel: 7 Hills Hotel; Cost per night (avg.) - $322

The Topkapi Palace is a glorious building located on the Seraglio Point overlooking the Sea of Marmara and Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. Its initial construction commenced in 1459 and it was built under the orders of Sultan Mehmed II who was a conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople. From the 15th to the 19th centuries, this palace was the official and primary residence of Ottoman Sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860). The palace portrays classic Ottoman architecture and also contains huge collections of Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, robes, porcelain, shields, armor, and a large display of Ottoman treasure and jewelry as well.

Blenheim Palace, England

• Airfare from New York (JFK) - ; from Los Angeles (LAX) - $614
• Nearest Hotel: Macdonald Bear Hotel; Lowest per night (avg.) - $183

Blenheim Palace is one of England’s largest houses and was constructed between 1705 and 1722 in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England. This palace was originally a gift to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, in the military triumph against the Bavarians and French. The palace is surrounded by a magnificent lake, sweeping lawns and formal gardens. Inside the palace, the highlights of particular interest are the beautiful carvings and paintings, as well as the monumental Great Hall with its painted ceiling depicting the battle of Blenheim. The state rooms are decorated with numerous hanging tapestries and includes a room commemorating Sir Winston Churchill with elegant pieces of furniture and large collections of portraits by Van Dyck, Laguerre, Reynolds and Kneller. In 1987, this palace claimed its place on a list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Note: All prices are in US Dollars and are approximate/average prices from a general search. Airfares given are round-trip fares and do not necessarily include all taxes.

There is so much to see and do in Paris, it's difficult to know where to start. Apart from all the sights, be sure to factor in people-watching time in one of the city's numerous cafes.

Sights and Culture

Remember the tragic story of the hunchback of Notre Dame? Well, here's a chance to see where the story all started. The church of Notre Dame has an incredible history - built in the 12th century, it is one of the oldest buildings in Paris and sits on the banks of the River Seine. It's the perfect place to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon before strolling over the bridge to while away the hours in a cosy café.

A trip to Paris wouldn't be complete without experiencing the city's most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. An impressive 1,051m high, take a lift to the top for a truly wondrous view of the city. But be sure to take a jacket or shawl with you - it can get pretty breezy at the top of the tower!

Music fans will want to visit Pere Lachaise, the cemetery where famed rock star Jim Morrison was laid to rest. You can hire a buggy to take you up to his shrine which is often overrun with Doors fans.

Shopping

Galeries Lafayette is a brilliant department store with everything from designer labels to their own very reasonably priced and trendy labels all under one roof. But when in France, the thing you really want to look for is lingerie - there's a fantastic range here you will want to snap up. Plus check out the mouthwatering cosmetics section.

Nightlife

If clubbing is your thing, Paris is packed with super cool places to go. But be warned, it's not cheap. Les Bains is still the city's most famous hotspot where models and fashionistas all go to hang out. If you want to get past the snooty guys on the door, make sure you dress to impress.

Eating

As you'd expect from the country where gastronomy was born, there's a wealth of places to eat and drink in Paris. I've visited the city many times and taken pot luck and it's almost impossible to have a bad dining experience - unless you happen to be vegan. Take a stroll around Forum des Halles, a pedestrian-only area crammed full of interesting boutiques. Take your pick of cafes and restaurants for a truly French experience. Choose an outside table, sit back and pretend you're in a movie. You can sit for hours with a chocolat chaud or beer in most places and you won't be hassled by the waiters.

In the heart of the Southern Alps, just over the lavender fields across from the crowd of the Mediterranean Sea nestled in the Blanche Valley, lies Seyne-les-Alpes.

Far from the beaten track, this village is primarily renowned for the breeding of mules.

Every year at the end of August there is the celebrated fair, where farmers from far and wide come to admire the latest breeds.

There is an enchanting atmosphere to this valley, where the radiance reflecting off the snow capped mountains and the rural odours mingle to create this preserved refuge. You may catch the fragrant scent of the sea air and at the same time breath in the sharp mountain breeze. You may cross through the forestland on skies or snow rackets, and on the same day stroll along while bordering grazing fields. Here gardens and fields have no boundaries, giving the feeling that the land belongs to every body and nobody.

Cattle live in the outside air virtually all year round while horses graze on the field during summer as well as winter when they dig up the odd clumps of grass buried under the snow, while waiting for the farmer to pass with the odd bail of hay.

Here a calm attitude prevails. An atmosphere of typical: “what we can't do today we'll do tomorrow”, with an added touch of genuine friendliness, unlike the next door French Riviera, where tourists are considered as dispensing machines.

The folk's lack of efficiency blends in with the undulating valley, a smooth rhythm that brings harmony back to the restless minds. Even the roads that cut through the unspoilt landscape seemed to radiate an undisturbed quality.

This is where one re-establishes a link with nature, here is an environment that has been undisturbed by Man's manipulation, where the old customs still hold on firmly. The folk are nearly all farmers who have passed on their love for the land throughout generations.

While following the narrow lanes you may see hillocks of stones, formed by the discarded stones thrown by the rough hands of those men and women who worked the land in passed generations, and who continue to heap up those stones that make their earth so difficult to cultivate. As the stones are piled up, the rocky hillocks rise from the land, leaving landmarks that reveal the men's and women's obstinate nature.

This is where the real character of France still lives, where men have not abandoned their traditions and have tried to come to terms with progress without loosing grip of their land.