What makes Paris so charming, so seductive?

Why does it arouse such admiration?

Perhaps because Paris is not always Paris:

it would be a mistake to assume that the city is harmonious

and uniform from the center to the outskirts.

Paris is more like a cluster of villages, each of which

has retained its own appearance, character, customs,

and even fragrance. Each neighborhood has its own

fashions, faces, storefronts,

organization, hierarchy, and

rituals. By resisting any tendancy

to centralize or standardize, Paris has managed

to retain a feeling of intimacy and human scale

unique among capital cities.

And Parisians are always on the lookout for something

exceptional and original. True Parisian chic

entails not only discovering a little restaurant where

the food is better and the interior more original than

anywhere else, but also knowing

enchanting streets untouched by time, boutiques

where rare items are cultivated like hothouse flowers,

and charming courtyard gardens far removed from

the urban noise and bustle.

Living in Paris demands special attention and sensitivity-skills

which can be acquired only by habit or

long experience. For an insider's introduction, however,

one need look no further than this revised edition

of Living in Paris , which includes an updated visitor's

guide to the city's best addresses.