Guest Post
A Romantic Rendezvous
Reputed as the world’s most provocative city, Paris has earned its flirtatious reputation by casting a spell on visiting lovers to saunter hand-in-hand along the shady tree-lined boulevards, exchange kisses on twinkling bridges and seek out romantic cafés. Be aware that Paris’ spell is so powerful you may find yourself making – or accepting – an invitation to tie the knot in some insanely romantic spot! Here are 5 intensely alluring Parisian settings rumored to be Cupid’s hunting grounds:
The Sacred Heart
Admittedly, proposals on the Eiffel Tower have become a bit passé since Tom Cruise’s flamboyant marriage to Katie Holmes ended so disastrously — but take heart, there’s still a way to woo your love and keep this iconic monument in the moment! Arrange to take an evening stroll through the Sacré Coeur, admiring its lush gardens and artistic wonders while steering your loved one up to the dome. From this second highest perch in Paris, you’ll have a panoramic vista with the Eiffel Tower perfectly positioned to play its part in a heartfelt request for your beloved’s hand.
Love at the Louvre
Surrender to the power of love on the Mighty Aphrodite, Mythical Love Stories tour, a thematic trail offered every day (except Tuesdays) that deftly directs you through the Louvre to masterpieces devoted to iconic figures of amore. Ogle Venus in her sumptuous forms and ponder scenes where Cupid spurs on mythological lovers like Zephyr and Psyche. This hour and a half tour may so fan the flames of chivalrous love that it climaxes in a proposal beneath the La Pyramide Inversée at the Carrousel du Louvre under the infamous glass pyramid.
Feast on the Seine
Climb aboard a floating mansion like the Don Juan II to sail off into the Parisian sunset with your precious one, sipping exquisite French wine and nibbling regional cheeses while listening to discreet music floating up from the mahogany bar. As night falls, you have a ringside seat as the monuments, streets and bridges of Paris outline themselves in twinkling lights. Settle into an intimate window table for two with white linen service to savor an elegant five-course feast. Afterwards, dance check-to-cheek on the deck as the three-hour cruise returns to Port Henri. From there, a stroll across the illuminated bridge leads to the charming island of Île Saint-Louis brimming with picture perfect settings for an impassioned proposal.
Classic Courting
The ideal romantic setting for the ultimate declaration of love “je ne peux pas vivre sans toi” (I can’t live without you), awaits at the Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux Arts de la ville de Paris in their exquisite Garden Café. After strolling through the magnificent gardens and exploring galleries brimming with centuries of art, settle into a cozy table tucked amid butter-colored columns and screened from view by enormous potted plants to pitch some serious woo.
A Snuggle Spot
Photo by Raimundo Hamilton
Surprisingly, it doesn’t cost a bundle for accommodations in a romantic Paris hotel which you can book on a budget site like HostelBookers. For example, the Hôtel Taylor welcomes lovers to nestle into an elegant, yet efficient, soundproofed room looking over an adorable one-way street loaded with shops and restaurants. Help yourself to a Continental breakfast buffet until 11 am and take advantage of the free Wi-Fi to search out destinations in the surrounding neighborhood where inviting parks set the perfect stage for proposals to bloom like the flowers.