History and High Heels: The Best of Paris

Today, back in 1951 was the 2000th birthday celebration for the city of Paris. This epicenter of arts, innovation, academic advancement, fashion, and culinary excellence has reigned nearly as long as one of the premier cultural cities in the western world. This lovely grey city has such a romantic air that it is often referred to as the "City of Love," which is not hard to understand when you walk down the cool wide brick boulevards surrounded by smoky grey stone buildings and sweet little boulangeries or flower shops nearly on every corner. The Parisian people have endured much over their 2000 years of existence. After it was founded in approximately 250 BCE by a tribe called the "Parisii," the city was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BCE and renamed Lutetia. In 987 the city was returned to its name of Paris and became the capital of France. During the French Renaissance, Paris became the birthplace for the new religious, scientific, and political thought, as well as the transforming art techniques. It wasn't until the French Revolution in the late 1700s that these came new theories came to a head as the feudal era gave way to a rising urban nation. From here on, the French people were determined to have their say in the way the government ran and who should run it. After several hard hits in both world wars of the 20th century, the city and French nation had to take time to recover. Hitler's bombing had wrecked significant parts of Paris and priceless art pieces were lost to Nazi looting. Yet, it was from these ashes that the city was reborn. Paris has returned to its sense of self, with the classic grey apartments, rooftop terraces, Montmartre looming over the old city, and ancient cemeteries. There is just something about that city, something in the air or maybe its what you gain from walking down the Champs Elysee or seeing the nearly indescribable timeless elegance that runs throughout Paris and its people, there is just a certain je ne sais quoi that draws you back and leaves you wanting more.