Welcome to Paris!
Born and raised in Paris, here is the best of it. Reading my blog, you will get to understand Paris, the Parisians and the places they like to go. I will give you tips to easily get around this city whose wonders will make you want to come back.
A brief introduction.
Paris is, as we all know, the capital of France. France is divided into regions and departments which all have a number. Paris's region is the Ile de France and its department number is 75. One can see where people are from according to... their cars! Indeed, the last two numbers on a license plate correspond to the department a person lives in.
One should know that when referring to Paris, the French also include the towns that surround Paris. However the Parisians who live "intra-muros" don't consider you are from Paris if you live in one of these towns... that's what we call the Parisian pride 
)
Paris is like a big circle crossed by the Seine river. La Seine divides Paris into two parts : the right bank ("la rive droite̶ 
and the left bank (la rive gauche). When looking at a map of Paris, the right bank is above the Seine and the left bank is below.
Finally Paris is divided into 20 "arrondissements" or districts, which all have a "mairie" (cityhall). But the leading cityhall is the one in the 1st arrondissement. It is a marvelous building and during winter time, you can go ice skating on the cityhall square. Take the subway and get off at Hôtel de Ville (line 1)
Paris is like a snail : starting in the middle is the 1st arrondissement. Going clockwise in a spiral are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.
According to the arrondissement you are in, you will find historical monuments, architectures, social calsses and cultures.
I will make you discover the wonders of each arrondissement and you will definitely know Paris as well as -if not better than- the Parisians themselves!
