Dianemarie (DM) Collins and The DM Zone traveled to France as part of our #CelebrityCruises vacation to the British Isles. France is still the most visited country on earth. We arrived in Paris during the flooding of 2016 when many of the prime venues to visit were closed like the Louvre. But we did not let that deter our travel as we boarded a very cool 5 wheel tourist cart at Notre Dame Cathedral and headed out for photo opportunities all over Paris.
We stopped under the Eiffel Tower and took a couple of photos as our driver fended off the Paris gendarme and we stopped in the middle of the famous Champs D’Elysee and took a picture of the Arc de Triomphe. More photos taken of the Paris Opera House, palaces, bridges over the Seine and the flooding that was occurring in 2016.
Rivers in Europe are bursting their banks from Paris to the southern German state of Bavaria, killing six people, trapping thousands more in homes or cars and forcing everything from subway lines to castles to the Louvre to shut down. French authorities were especially concerned about the rising waters of the Seine, which winds through Paris and was expected to peak Friday, June 3, 2016.
Here, the Seine bursts its banks near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, June 2, 2016. Officials were putting up emergency flood barriers along the swollen river after days of torrential rain — including near the Louvre, home to priceless works of art.
Paris: The City of Light
It almost goes without saying, but the French capital is a huge draw for foreign visitors – over 30 million of them a year in fact, more than any other city in the world.
There’s the city’s romantic image, the stunning architecture, the Louvre museum, the iconic Eiffel Tower as well as the simple pleasure of sitting at a café terrace and watching the world go by (not to mention the stunning sunsets).
And don’t forget Disneyland, which is a destination in itself for foreign visitors. With around 15 million visitors each year, the theme park, just to the east of the French capital is Europe’s top tourist destination.
France is, of course, inseparable from its famed gastronomic traditions and the chance to dine on French specialties, even the clichéd snails or steak tartare are no doubt a major part of what attracts visitors to the country. France knows this and is keen to protect its status as the world’s food capital.
France has some 39 sites on Unesco’s World Heritage list, putting it fourth in the global rankings. Museums and art galleries are also a major pull for tourists. The Louvre alone, home to the Mona Lisa among around 35,000 other artifacts and artworks, attracts 9.7 million visitors a year, more than any other museum in the world.
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Dianemarie is an accomplished actress, dancer and entertainer who has performed from dinner theaters to nightclubs to Broadway. Join DM, a YouTube personality, as she travels the world and documents her life and travel adventures from all over the globe. For over 15 years, Dianemarie has hosted The DM Zone – a syndicated, online television channel that is hosted across multiple video platforms across the Internet. The DM Zone is a compelling platform for politicians, authors, actors, athletes, musicians and other creative professionals. http://TheDMZone.com
