Paris is VAST, there is no other word to describe a City with over 20 million inhabitants (That's about 4 times more people than Scotland in its entirety!!) Central Paris however (within the peripherique)is split into 20 Arrondissements or quarters as the are known. Thay are numbered in a clockwise spiral starting with no 1 in the very heart of Paris which is the Louvre. Even although it is vast, this split makes Paris very accessible to everyone and very easy to negotiate.

There are too many fabulous sights and places to mention but a cruise down the Seine in one of the many tourist boats is a must (cost approx £8). It last approx 1 hour and takes in some of Paris' most famous attractions (along the River Seine). My recommendation is, depending on the time of year of course, to leave your trip until as late in the day as possible and as well as taking in the wonderful sights in daylight, you may well be able to see the second leg of your journey in the semi dark. Many of the cruises offer candlelight dinner cruises, although some of them are quite pricey.

No trip to Paris is complete without a stroll down the Champs Elysees. Its impressive Arc de Triomphe is a must anytime but gives great views, especially at night - firstly though, you must negotiate the stairs, their are no lifts to take you to the fabulous views the top will offer! Try to avoid the Champs Elysees on Saturdays when it becomes a little bit like a cattle market - also, don't pay the prices in the pavement cafes as they are almost double the prices you will pay in a cafe just off the main drag.

There are countless museums and galleries and my favourite has to be the Musee d'Orsay which houses many of the impressionist works and is in an impressively converted railyway station on the South side of the Seine, in the famous St Germain district. It is not too expensive but arrive a=early to avoid the queues. Occasionally the Musee d'Orsay has special showings which do not charge an entrance fee. The Louvre which houses the most famous art works in the World, including the Mona Lisa is always extremely busy and if you want to visit, make sure you go early and buy tickets in advance. Some Hotels offer a booking service and will order your tickets in advance which allows you to enter the famous building without the lenghthy queues. There is a shopping precinct in the Louvre which does not require tickets for entry but prices are prety hefty and it is always very busy.

For me personally, the ugliest thing in Paris is the Eiffel Tower and unfortunately it can be seen from almost everywhere!! If you want to take a trip to the top do not go on a Sunday as this is the most popular day for a trip to the top, which does offer spectacular views. Expect to queue for at least an hour to take the lift to the top, regardless of the time of year, however if you feel fit, you can climb to the first level, lots and lots of steps (i didn't have the enregy or patience to count them) to the first level which still affords good views of Paris.

I still haven't sampled Paris nightlife to the full yet - all that walking and sightseeing is very tiring work - a nice meal and some very nice wine usually in the buzzing Latin Quater (best known for its University and Immigrants )then its bed before the start of another long tiring but wonderful day...