THE BEST OF PARIS BY MALINKA MAX

Editor's Note: For the second time in the year. Cosmopol has been honored with the contribution of Malinka Max. She is a multifaceted woman whose refined sense of style and social skills have located her in the top level of event coordination. Now she reviews for our audience the places she met on her last trip to Paris with the recognized photographer Alena Graff.

No matter how many times travel experts tell people to try to avoid visiting Paris during the summer,there will still be millions of people. Why would you ask? - Because the late-late spring andsummer are the best time to be here! And if you find a travel expert who tells you to skip a tripto Paris altogether and go to Cote D’Azur, let me know so I can slap them.In other words, even though spending the whole three months in the summer isn’t necessarily whatI’d recommend, a summertime trip to Paris is definitely going to be glorious and – this goeswithout saying – better than no trip to Paris at all.As tourists flock to Paris in the summer, the city transforms into a bustling hub. Some would saythat it is by this time that Paris becomes very un-Parisian: long, moody rains would finally stop,longer nights allow for many fun festivals and special events. Regardless of what anyone says,Paris still remains one of the most romantic cities in the world, and no one will argue about that!So all that said, a trip to Paris in the summer months is a must-try experience and one that you

should experience at least once in your lifetime.

Here are 10 enjoyable and culturally stimulating activities you can look forward to in Paris duringsummertime:1. Love music? Paris got something for everyone: For fans of electronic music, there’s ThePeacock Society Festival in the Parc Floral de Paris in early July, and right before that JazzFestival takes over the park in mid-June. Paris Street Music Festival, one of the mostpopular musical events in Paris, starts June 21st. During World Music Day, hundreds ofmusicians gather on the streets, cafes, and bars of Paris to give free performances ondifferent kinds of music from rock, jazz, hip-hop, world music, electronic music, and so muchmore. Those who prefer classical music would enjoy the Classique au Vert festival at theParc Floral in August.2. Crazy about movies? - How about outdoor movies in beautifully manicured parks? TheCinéma en Plein Air festival from end-July to end-August at Parc de la Villette allows you torelax on the park’s green lawn while soaking up on French and international films. Catch newreleases, cult films, as well as short films and enjoy the atmosphere with hundreds of other filmlovers like yourself. The best part? It’s totally free.3. Looking for a chic cocktail with a view? Head on over to Hotel Raphael rooftop bar. You willexperience a true Parisian moment and get those cool looking selfies with Eiffel Tower on thebackground.4. How about some high-end shopping? Paris is all about it: head on over to Avenue Montaigneand don't forget to pop into extraordinary Louis Vuitton store on Champs-Elysées where whilestanding on the red carpet in front of their massive gold entrance doors, security personnel willperform “airport-style” body scan of you and your bag. Bonjour frisky!5. Tired of overly commercial and overpriced “Moulin Rouge” and “Lido” cabaret? Enjoy showsat open-air theaters, soak up on both the beauty of Parisian outdoors and the culture. Eachyear, tourists and Parisians are treated to the Paris Quartier d’été which happens from July toAugust. Here, you’ll see plays performed by street theaters, dance shows, and musicalperformances, and yes, even the circus! Another bonus: most of them are free of charge. 6. Got wine? - Will picnic! Another popular thing to do in the summer is to have a picnic in one ofthe many breathtaking parks in Paris. There are so many to choose from. But if you want topush it a little bit above the bar, then why not try riding a hot air balloon, too? You can do that atthe Parc André Citroën. 7. One of the must things to do in Paris, even if you don't enjoy opera, is to visit the PalaisGarnier. Built in1861 to symbolize architecture and opulence of Napoleon III’s Second Empire, itis one of the most beautiful landmarks in the French capital, and possibly the most famousopera house in the world that has the largest stage and 7 tons bronze and crystal chandelier.Palais Garnier offers tours during the day, and many exquisite classical operas, avant-gardeballet and other performances. The Phantom Of The Opera was inspired by these walls andthe latest editorial commercials for Balmain was shot here. The palace is so breathtaking thatthe picture does not do it a true justice - you have to see it for yourself. 8. Want to see Paris from a different perspective? - Take a boat tour on the Seine river: Themajestic city and its famous spots sprawled out before your eyes as you cruise, Parisian windblowing on your face. Daytime cruises offer drinks, and in the evening you could have aromantic candlelit dinner while absorbing architectural beauty around you. What could be moredelightful?9. Want to experience the glamour of Louis XIV? - Visit Chateau Versailles situated only 15 milesoutside Paris. There are more than 700 rooms of impressive art and over-the-top antiquefurniture, including 1,200 fireplaces and 60 staircases to explore. The gardens of the Palace ofVersailles cover 30,000+ acres. They included 400 sculptures and 1400 fountains. Thisimpressive estate is so massive that it cannot be covered by foot in one day. Fun fact: In today'smoney it would have cost $2.5 billion to build.10. Last but never least, and for some is the most important thing to do in Paris, is to visitLouvre Museum which housing 65,000+ priceless artworks including Leonardo Da Vinci’s MonaLisa. Interestingly enough, during Napoleon Bonaparte rule, this painting was hung on hisbedroom wall. You would have to wonder if she was an inspiration for many of his victories?…But when you see her in person, you will quickly realize that is her world-famous status, which inmany people’s minds made her larger than life, in reality, Mona Lisa is only 31 inches by 21inches. Being roped off from the viewers, and sitting behind very thick bulletproof glass you willhardly see all the details of her mysterious smile. So although everyone should get a glance atMona Lisa, just for the sake of saying “I saw Mona Lisa” - do enjoy an enormous collection ofprecious artworks that Louvre has to offer!As you see there are so many things to enjoy in Paris this summer! Hopefully, I inspired you tobook that ticket and have an adventure of your lifetime, create your own memories!I would love to hear from you and share your Parisian memories with me so I can publish themin our future publications! Please send yours to malinkamax@gmail.com