#815 Champs-Élysées, Paris, France

One of the most famous roads in the world is the chic, impressive, promenade Avenue de Champs-Élysées in Paris,and they themselves call it the most beautiful avenue in the world. Leading up the hill to the impressive many pronged roundabout hosting the Arc de Triomphe, and leaving the Place de la Concorde and its obelisk, the Louvre Museum and the Tuileries gardens behind it, it is the epitome of French style and culture. Now, of course, it is populated with high street brands and other shops already known around the world, but it still has its (very touristy) cafes and shines with the Christmas lights and parades of Paris.

 It's width of 10 lanes typify French tree-lined city planning that can be seen across the world. These trees are horse-chestnut, but other cities host their own species depending on the climate. It is named for the Elysian Fields of Greek mythology. A very pretty place!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champs-Élysées

Imported pcs from parisdigest.com and http://gmvsfr2.pbworks.com/w/page/13132112/Les%20Champs-Elysees

And http://www.bricoleurbanism.org/beautiful-urban-moments/champs-elysees-goes-green-literally/

And http://www.hotel-paris-friedland.com/en/visit-paris

#868 Mont St. Michel, France

www.wallpaperswide.com

www.patheos.com

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Mont_st_michel_aerial.jpg

When you have a large rock in the middle of a delta on the edge of the ocean, what should you do with it? Turn it into a fortified castle of spectacular proportions! With a maximum height of 90 meters above sea level and a scant 44 population, there are more tourists than locals on any given day! Because it is connected by a tidal causeway (which was only made permanent/dry in 1879), it makes a spectacular picture, surrounded by ocean, when it is high tide, some 14m above the low tide water level.

With a rich history of refuge and strongholds, it was first used as a Gallo-Roman fortification in the 6th century. By the 8th century, when it was called Monte Tombe, it had a more monastic function, and by the 10th century, it was a strategic part of the Normandy defenses. The Romanesque church of the abbey was added in the 11th Century. With narrow streets winding up the hillsides, and an imposing appearance from the distance (and up close). It is an amazing place of living history.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel

#898 Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

http://www.frenchcravings.com/tag/eiffel-tower-image/

When I was on the top of this amazing structure, I was more than on top of the world: I was in heaven. It was on the Eiffel Tower that I first discovered that I am exhilarated by high places. I wanted to walk up and then walk down, both vetoed by my family. Sadly, don't have my own photos so commercial ones will have to suit. I looked at the chained in viewing platform imagining the crazy people who caused such confinement to be necessary. I loved watching students throw paper darts off the top, and seeing them sail away with the wind. What an unusual symbol of a country, but a beautiful one. I remember hearing that Parisiennes hated it when it was first built, but of course, now they wouldn't dream of it.

The collapsible toy, whether in the form of a pencil sharpener, or some other such thing... I think that must be one of the most famous souvenirs and so clever!

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/eiffel-tower-landmark.htm