Free Entrance at the Best Museums in Paris

Paris is undoubtedly one of world’s cities with the most important museums of historical and contemporary art and architecture.  Not only the recently opened, eye-catching feats of modern architecture in the world, the Louis Vuitton art museum, but dozens of outstanding, world-wide known places enchant locals and visitors alike. 


Get your Paris Pass
Free Metro Travelcard & Entry to 60+ Attractions 
It’s your all-in-one package and will save you time, money and stress, providing you everything you need to discover Paris!  

Examples of Paris Pass Benefits:
Free Entry to The Louvre Museum with the Paris Pass.  Normal Entry Price: Adult: €12.00
Home to hundreds of thousands of classic and modern masterpieces, the Louvre is the icing on the cake of French culture and a testament to European art history – it’s not surprising that it’s also the most visited art gallery in the world!

Centre Pompidou   
The National Museum of Modern Art at the Centre Pompidou houses one of Europe's most important collections of contemporary art.

Musée d'Orsay  
The Musée d'Orsay's light, airy rooms guide you through three floors of amazing modern art, from Degas' ethereal dancers to Monet's water lilies, all the way to Gaugin's leafy jungles. Major works by Van Gogh, Delacroix, Manet, and others are shown too.

Museum of Modern Art of Paris - Picasso Museum   
Contemporary art buffs will enjoy a visit of the city of Paris' museum of modern art, created in 1961 and housed in the distinctive Palais de Tokyo. The terrace outside the palace allows a striking view of the Eiffel Tower.

Rodin Museum   
In addition to Rodin’s iconic works such "The Thinker", the museum hosts an extensive sculpture garden that's a true pleasure to explore.

Carnavalet Museum   
Pay a visit to the Carnavalet Museum. Housed within the walls of two Renaissance-era mansions, the Hotel de Carnavalet and the Hotel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau.  The Musee Carnavalet in Paris includes an ornate garden.

Musée du Luxembourg   
Situated on the stately grounds of the Luxembourg Gardens, this museum is one of Europe's oldest, and was opened in 1750 as France's first state-run collection of paintings.

Musee Jacquemart-André  
This is another lesser-known gem in the Paris arts scene that focuses on masterpieces in 18th century painting. 

Louis Vuitton Art Museum    
The hyper-modern ship-like museum building opened its doors on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne park, on Monday in a glitzy ceremony attended by French president François Hollande.
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, known for designing the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Guggenheim Museum building in Bilbao, Spain, the striking structure boasts 12 glass sails which billow around the museum's main building - nicknamed 'the iceberg'.

There are certainly many more places for historical and modern art lovers to explore in Paris.  Which one is YOUR favored museum?

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Interview with Linda Kovic-Skow: FRENCH ILLUSIONS

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A pleasure to meet Linda Kovic-Skow, the author of the highly popular book French Illusions, an amazing true story of a young American au-pair at a Château in the Loire Valley, west of Paris.
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Linda, how would you describe your book to someone who has not yet read it?
In the summer of 1979, when I was twenty-one, I contracted to become an au-pair for a wealthy French family in the Loire Valley. To secure the attractive position, I pretended to speak French, fully aware that my deception would be discovered, once I arrived at my destination.  Based on my diary, French Illusions captures my often challenging, real-life story inside and outside the Château de Montclair.

The over-bearing, Madame Dubois, her accommodating husband Monsieur Dubois, and their two children are highlighted as I struggled to adapt to my new environment. Continually battling the language barrier, I signed up and attended classes at the local university in the nearby town of Tours. When I encountered, Adam, a handsome young student, my life with the Dubois family became more complicated, adding fuel to my internal battle for independence.

Is there a message in your book that you want your readers to grasp?
Set in the beautiful Loire Valley, French Illusions, my remarkable true story, recounts my exploits as a young, adventurous woman filled with dreams. It’s not too late to create your own memories. Go out and explore the world. Life’s for living, after all.

What inspired you to start writing? 
About five years ago, after my husband and I dropped our youngest daughter off at college, I went through a sort of mid-life crisis. I missed being a mom and I wondered how I would fill the void. Sure I had my part-time bookkeeping business, but it consumed only a few hours a day and it was not interesting any more. Something was missing, but what?
This prompted me to review what I like to call my “mid-life list.” This is similar to a “bucket list,” with an important twist. The idea was to refocus myself and figure out the things I wanted to do with my life in my fifties – while I could still do them. My list was short.

1. Learn to play the piano
2. Travel to Africa to see the elephants
3. Travel to Tahiti and see the island of Bora Bora
4. Travel back to France (with my family this time)
5. Write a book

At the time, I didn’t own a piano and, with two daughters in college (on the east coast no less!), I couldn’t afford a trip to Africa or Tahiti. I had already traveled back to France in 2001 with my family, so that left me to examine the fifth item on my list more closely. If I did write a book, would it be fiction or non-fiction? What genre would I choose?

The answers to my questions came to me in the shower (which is where many of my ideas seem to materialize, strangely enough). I decided to hunt down my diary from my au pair adventure in France and compose a memoir. It took me three years and countless hours to write French Illusions, but now I can scratch another item off my mid-life list.


Who is your favorite character and why?
One of my favorite characters in my memoir is Madame Dubois. Given her very arrogant, unforgiving attitude, she is the natural antagonist in my story.  As I worked my way through my diary, I recounted many heartbreaking interactions with my patron. Give us an excerpted quote from your favorite review of your book:

“This memoir from new author, Linda Kovic-Skow, is a must-read for all of us that have longed to explore the world, but don’t have the courage of the vivacious, young protagonist. Looking for a new direction in life, Linda yearns for adventure in her hopes of becoming a glamorous flight attendant. But, when she fibs her way into a job as an au-pair in the Loire Valley of France, she soon discovers that her expectations aren’t quite in line with those of her new employer.
The story flows nicely as she paints a picture of the quaint towns and rolling hillsides of her new home, but the highlights for this reader were the vignettes with the children, especially little Antoine. His adorable one-liners and interactions with Linda never ceased to brighten my mood. The relationships with the rest of the family are nicely developed throughout the book, and the dialogue reads well. Don’t be surprised when you see French dialogue on the page, though, because it is a convention that carries throughout. Overall, I thought that Francophiles and casual readers alike could enjoy this story, and I personally can’t wait for a sequel!” – Amazon Reviewer
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What would/could a reader or reviewer say about this book that shows they “get” you as an author?
A few readers have told me that my memoir reads like a novel and, at times, they have to remind themselves that French Illusions is non-fiction. I consider this a great compliment. Successful narrative non-fiction, above all else, must encompass good storytelling techniques such as character development and dialog.

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What genre have you not yet written but really want to try?
I would love to write a children’s book someday filled with stories surrounding the pets I acquired growing up. My love for animals, coupled with my parents lassiez-fare (let it be) attitude towards child rearing, resulted in some great tales. It would be fun to put them down on paper.
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What general advice do you have for other writers?
Hire a professional editor. I mean it. You can’t edit your own book. You won’t see the mistakes because you are too close to the writing. It will cost you a few hundred dollars for a line editor, a bit more if you need some in-depth editing, but it’s the best money you will ever spend. I cringe every time I read a negative review where the main complaint is formatting, spelling or punctuation. You want readers to judge you solely on the content of your story.
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Where can readers learn more about your writing?

http://lindakovicskow.com/

Don’t miss Linda’s lovely book trailer: FRENCH ILLUSIONS 

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Ominous: Borders: Coffee

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Set in PARIS, this thriller surges ominously through the psyche of modern Europe. Conflict is rife; danger is everywhere. You will be tempted to trawl through Paris, to drink in the bars, or smoke on dark street corners. Be warned… watch your back… Inspector Vasseur has his favorite table on a battered sidewalk.
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Alone he sits on hot summer nights, allowing his instincts to grapple with the mysterious case of innocent deaths along the River Seine. In other parts of the city, the Stalker trails her female targets, hell-bent on seduction; the Baker clings to his French traditions despite the temptations of the world around him; two beautiful women set up a coffee society – one leaves the prison of her insular creativity and the other relishes life in all its forms.
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An obsessive and beautiful classical violinist is pitted against a malevolent killer; it’s summer in Europe and the cafés and bistros hum with robust and colorful activity. 

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They bring out the very evil in some, and the pursuit of romance in others. In this tightly plotted novel, borders are stormed, emotional, sexual, and psychotic; and borders weave danger around lovers of coffee, the creative, and the finest of foods.  Discover why author Peter Standish Evans holds a deserved and special place among the new breed of thriller writers. Ominous: Borders: Coffee will be a dog-eared and red wine stained addition to your book collection!

Ominous: Borders: Coffee is available in print and digital

               

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About the Author:
Despite leaving the “fine art of facts” to scientists, both poetry and fiction remain his constant companions. He is an ardent reader, and now enjoys writing full time.

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Peter Standish Evans has two children, and divides his time somewhat equally between Europe and South Africa. He holds a degree in English Literature from Natal University and a Masters from Witwatersrand University.  Read more about the thriller author at SavvyBookWriters.

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