London Paris

2 London & Paris September 24- 25, 2011 smh.com.auThe Sydney Morning Herald September 24- 25, 2011 London & Paris 3SPECIAL PROMOTIONYEAR AHEADTwo cities, six monthsof spectacular events,one chance to win *WIN YOUR VERY OWN WHISTLE-STOP TOUR OF THIS CLASSIC CITY PAIR ATLONDONANDPARIS.COMEtihad Airways, the world’s leading airlineCitroen 2CV**, with “4 roues sous un parapluie”More layersof historyThese vibrant cities will host a rich varietyof events in 2012, writes Keith Austin.George Orwell was famously down andout in Paris and London but that was1933; these days, it’s more aboutgetting down and going out in two ofthe world’s most loved capital cities.One difference between now and Orwell’s dayis that back then, Paris was indeed ‘‘anothercountry’’. Today, with the Channel Tunnel and theEurostar train between London’s Saint PancrasInternational station and Paris’s Gare du Nordstation, they’re more like adjacent suburbs.Indeed, it can sometimes take longer to get acrossLondon in a car than it does to go to central Paris.And I mention cars for a reason – one of themain attractions of both cities is theiraccessibility, thanks to the London Undergroundand the Paris Metro (and let’s not even get startedon the rental bicycles, known as Velibs, in Parisand Boris Bikes in London).I, for instance, am writing this on the CentralLine train inLondon. I got on atBethnal Green ineast London(Victoria andAlbert Museum ofChildhood;Columbia Roadflower market, Brick Lane) and in 25 minutes,will alight at Shepherd’s Bush in west London tolunch at Pho, the excellent Vietnameserestaurant in Frank Lowy’s huge new WestfieldLondon development.And the same goes for Paris. The Metroextends into every nook of this intimate city: onemoment you are at Trocadero (Eiffel Tower,Theatre Nationale de Chaillot) and the next you’readmiring the soaring gothic spires of Notre Dameafter alighting at Saint Michel-Notre Dame Metro.And while both cities groan lovingly underEuro stars ... (top) the Louvre, Paris; St Paul’s from London’s Millennium Bridge.many layers of history, they havealso embraced the present andfuture. History and beautypermeate Paris from end to end,while in London, the past pokestantalisingly through like flowersout of a snowdrift. Here’s a bit ofVictorian England, there’s aRoman ruin, there’s a castle the Normans built.Overlaying both cities are the type of modernevents and places (La Defense, the LouvrePyramid, the London Eye, the Gherkin) that keepa city vibrant and relevant.In the first six months of next year, Paris has,among other things, the French Open tennis(watch games on the big screens outside theHotel de Ville in the Marais district), the ParisJazz Club Festival, an Edgar Degas exhibition atthe Musee d’Orsay, a Matisse exhibition and the20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris. The TimBurton exhibition lobs at the still-contentiousPompidou Centre from March but if all thisexcitement is too much, head to the littleheraldedParc de Belleville in the20th arrondissement for panoramic views of thecity and the charmant bar Le Mer a Boir. Justdon’t tell anyone I told you.London has the Olympics next year but in thecontext of what the city has to offer – in thecontext of history – it’s a mere blip, a few weeksof sporting endeavours, which cast anexaggerated shadow over a city that has muchmore to offer.This is the London of Dickens andShakespeare’s Globe (both of which arecelebrated with exhibitions and festivals nextyear), of Churchill and the Chelsea Flower Show.It’s where Damien Hirst and David Hockney willhave major shows in 2012 and is the place thatwill celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.Champagne on the EDF Energy London EyeKensington Palace GardensA Herald Special Report ■ Editor Bellinda Kontominas, bkontominas@smh.com.au ■ Advertising Jessica Lamb, jessica.lamb@fairfaxmedia.com.au, 9282 2307.■ Readerlink 9282 1569 ■ Cover Big Ben, the London Eye, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Digital manipulation by Greg Bakes.Photo credits: AP Photo, Pawel Libera, Juliet White, McCormick-McAdam, Getty Images, AFP Photo/Valery Hache, Francois Guillot, Remy de la Mauviniere, CRT IDF/Tripelon-Jarry, CRT IDF/Maisant, P.Greboval, W. Alix, Alfred.Mandeville Hotel, West EndDo London ~ Parislike a localFly to London in comfort and luxury with Etihad Airways - votedthe World’s Leading Airline for the past two years running. Takea friend and arrive in time to celebrate the buzz of the Queen’sDiamond Jubilee weekend and look forward to four nights atthe luxury Mandeville Hotel, right in the heart of the city’s WestEnd. Enjoy a Champagne experience on theEDF Energy London Eye, take afternoon tea inKensington Palace Gardens (former residenceof Diana, Princess of Wales), visit a choice of 55top attractions with your London Pass, then takethe stylish Eurostar train straight to the heart ofJardin du Marais Crazy Horse Eurostar from London to Paris Bateaux Parisiens on the SeineParis, luxuriating in stylish Standard Premier along the way.In Paris enjoy four nights at the Jardin du Marais, 4 starboutique hotel in the famous and trendy area of Marais.Experience a city tour in a classic Citroen 2CV, with “4 rouessous un parapluie”, an evening of top cabaret with champagne,at ‘Crazy Horse’, a beautiful dinner cruiseon the Seine with Bateaux Parisiens and getimmersed in the culture of the city with ametro travel pass † and Paris museum pass ††valid for over 60 museums and monumentsaround Paris.Show your savoir-fairewith a chic trip onEurostar from just $57*Hop on the high speed Eurostarand travel tout de suite betweenthe hearts of London and Parisin just 2hrs 15mins.Visit eurostar.comFOR FULL DETAILS OF THIS AMAZING PRIZE AND TO ENTER, GO TOWWW.LONDONANDPARIS.COM* Price for a single fare based on Euro-AUD conversion on 13/09/2011.Prices quoted on eurostar.com in Standard class start from €42.5 one way.* Terms and conditions apply. For full terms and conditions go to www.londonandparis.com ** copyright P. Legros/Citroën Communication for the 2CV place la Concorde picture † Valid for 5 days (Zones 1 to 3) †† copyright Paris Museum Pass