History Hound Travels

Yesterday, you may recall I posted about the Eiffel Tower and a little about Paris hotels. Today, I want to talk about the Axe Historique, which runs from the center of Paris, westward. This precisely laid out axis began with building of the Champs-Élysées, and today it extends from the Louvre to the La Grande Arche, and almost 400 years! That just amazes me, but it is true. Marie de Medici developed the idea for what became the Champs-Élysées in 1616, and the latest addition, La Grande Arche de la Fraternité was inaugurated in 1990. This monument was designed by a Dane, and was designed to celebrate humanity instead of military victories. It’s often called a modern Arc de Triomphe (which also sits on the axis).

One could easily spend a couple of weeks exploring the monuments, gardens, museums and shops on the Champs-Élysées and the Axe Historique. And of course, you’d rather spend money on admissions and souvenirs than hotels in Paris. In addition to the attractions already mentioned, the Place de l’Étoile, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the Jardins des Tuileries and the Pyramide du Louvre all demand a visit.

Let’s talk a bit about this Parisian landmark. This instantly recognizable icon was constructed in 1887, and at that time, it was the tallest structure on earth. It held that title until 1930. It is so tall that it sways in the wind!! I don’t think I’d much care for that feeling!

There are a total of 710 stairs to reach the upper observation platform on the third level. And it takes at least 50 tons of paint, in three different colors, to paint it. The tower was designed to be easily demolished, because it was only supposed to stand for 20 years. The city kept it because it proved valuable for communications.

Now, if you go to see the tower, you will of course need to look at Hotels in Paris. There are Paris Hotels in a variety of price ranges to fit any travel budget, because who wants to spend all their francs on Hôtels en Paris when there is so much to see and do?

Photo Credit: Rüdiger Wölk, Münster, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License.

If you are planning to go to Orlando, I have a site to recommend to you. They specialize in orlando hotels, but they have links to just about everything you need in order to visit Mickey and the gang. You can get your hotel, your car, even complete vacation packages from the links on this site. And their telephone number? Ya’ll!! 1-800-Orlando!! Yeah.

Head over and check them out to see what kind of deals you can get, and check out the city guide, too. There are lots of good tips in that section, including area restaurants and information on the public transportation (or lack thereof). If you are planning to end up in Orlando, be sure and start here.

Let’s talk about luxury holidays. When you hear a company describe themselves that way, what do you expect to be different? What sets luxury holidays apart from their less exalted counterparts? For me, it’s lack of hassle and pampering. I don’t want to have to make separate arrangements for ground transportation, for example. I want a shuttle or cab to already be at the airport waiting for me. And I want to be offered a massage or spa treatment, I don’t want to have to go hunt one down. And ideally, I’d like an all inclusive price, so I don’t have to worry about this and that expense, but only my spending money.

I found a company that offers those kinds of amenities, but unfortunately for me, it’s in the UK. Take a look at their Maldives holidays to see what I am talking about. You get an idyllic location and impeccable service for one reasonable price. All you have to do is show up at the airport. In the UK. Or what about these Mexico holidays? I wonder if they could allow you book your own transportation there for a discounted price? I think I could manage figuring out how to get there if they’d take care of everything once I arrived, LOL!

This site is geared toward teachers, but it a great place for history buffs. Eyewitness to History The site has numerous first person accounts of historical events. The primary sources often have pictures, too. It’s an amazing site. Just hit the front page, and start clicking. You can also subscribe and they will let you know when they add new stuff. The site covers everything from Ancient History to the payoff of Spiro Agnew in 1971.