0 Exotic Facts To Know About Paris

Many people know the exotic city of Paris as the City of Light but they may have never heard of Paris being referred to as Lutèce. This is what Paris was formally called as this expression Lutèce, which is the French form of Lutetia, the Roman city where Paris now stands.

This was a town in pre-Roman and Roman Gaul. The Gallo-Roman city was a forerunner of the re-established Merovingian town that is the ancestor of present-day Paris. Lutetia and Paris have little in common save their position where an island, the Île de la Cité, created a convenient ford of the Seine. The name comes from the Latin, meaning Midwater-dwelling.

Paris is an exotic city and popular tourist destination along with being a rich metropolitan city. It is the largest city in France and also the capital. The city counts on innumerable historical avenues, monuments and museums and therefore considered to be an architectural wonder and boasts an exquisite eighteenth century heritage full of buildings and palaces. Paris was not always as large as it is today. When railway lines were laid out in the 1840's it allowed migrants to enter into the city. Paris, like other major cities around the globe has always been perceived as a city of opportunities and continues to attract tourists and immigrants alike seeking their fortune.

After having been witness to two severe bouts of cholera that affected the city enormously, Paris continued to grow quite quickly. Although the city of Paris is densely populated it has a relatively small metropolitan area. Paris is served by three airports and has a comprehensive rail and motorway network. Its rich artistic backdrop is attributed to the humble nature of French noblemen of earlier generations. A considerable number of these noble men and women were patrons of art. This prompted them to support art to such an extent that the city of Paris now prides itself with internationally renowned museums such as the Louvre.

The city of Paris rests on the banks of the river Seine and has a population of around 2.15 million in the city and 10.5 million in the Île de France (the suburban area around Paris) Paris is rated very high among the most famous fashion houses in the world and enjoys a fast and exciting nightlife. Estimates suggest that Paris plays host to more than thirty million visitors a year. Paris, is the exotic place in France...

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0 The Chichen Itza facts

There are many tourist spots in the Chicken Itza. You can find out here some of the tourist placeinformation in the below. You might also like:

The Pyramid of Kukulcan or El Castillo: The most famous landmark of Chichen Itza. This was a temple-pyramid dedicated to the Feathered Serpent God, Kukulcan. It is nicknamed "The Castle". Sculptures of the Feathered Serpents run down the sides of the northern staircase, and are set off by shadows from the corner tiers on the spring and fall equinox. (As of January 2006, you can no longer climb El Castillo.)

Interior Temple: The Maya would often build newer bigger temple-pyramids atop older ones. Archaeologists have constructed tunnels allowing a view of the earlier temple of Kukulcan inside the later one.
Go in the door at the foot of the north stairway, and you can go up a steep interior stairway up to the room on the top where you can see King Kukulcan's Jaguar Throne, carved of stone and painted red with jade spots. It is an impressive sight, but the climb up the narrow interior passageway may be too much for those with some claustrophobia. Note to those travelling to Chichen-Itza post March 2006: You are no longer able to climb the steps to the top of the most of the monuments. These areas have been roped off due to erosion and destruction of some of the sacred monuments.

Temple of the Warriors: (As of January 2006, you can no longer climb the Temple of the Warriors)

Great Ballcourt: There are 7 courts for playing the Mesoamerican ballgame at Chichen Itza. This one is by far the largest and most impressive, not just at the site but in all of ancient Mesoamerica.

Temple of the Jaguars: Attached to the ballcourt complex, with stone jaguar, feathered serpent columns, and murals inside.

Sweatbaths: There are many Zumbul che structures found in both Chichen Itza and Old Chichen sites. These Maya sweatbaths played an important rule in ancient Maya spiritual traditions as places to purify the mind, body, and emotions, thus getting in touch with one´s pure spiritual energy.

El Caracol- circular temple on a rectangular platform, also sacred to Kukulcan, served as an astronomical observatory.

High Priest's Grave - a smaller version of the "Castillo" served as a tomb for one of the city's rulers.

The Nunnery Complex - Chichen Itza's royal palace back before the arrival of the Toltecs.

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