Paris: 5 Things You Didn't Know

This article is sponsored in part by From Paris with Love, in theaters February 5th (What's this?)

Recently, Paris has gotten a bad rap with North American men. For those who have never been, it seems like a city filled with America-hating wimps who sit around all day in cafes drinking wine and writing poems. A trip there seems like an expensive waste of time forced upon us by girlfriends looking for the unrealistic romance Hollywood has sold them. "The City of Light," however, is much more than the iconic images and stereotypes that we’ve been fed. Paris is the original Las Vegas, the original Amsterdam and the original New York City. With a long, interesting history and a very liberal culture, the city is arguably still the most interesting place on earth. Here are five things you didn’t know about Paris. 

1- The Eiffel Tower was only meant to stand for 20 years

Gustave Eiffel and crew constructed the tower in two years, completing it in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle (the World's Fair). It served as the entrance arch for this World's Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. Originally, people complained it was an eyesore and looked forward to the structure’s 20-year permit ending. The military, however, realized it made an excellent long-range radio tower and the installation of a permanent base in the tower in 1906 ensured its survival.

2- The first public striptease dance was performed in Paris in 1894

In the 1880s, Parisian shows, such as the infamous Moulin Rouge, featured hot scantily clad women dancing. This environment led to the birth of the modern striptease. It went like this: A woman sashayed on stage, suddenly she realizes a flea is in her clothes, when she can’t shake it out, she begins removing articles until nude. You have to wonder if this led to the throwing of fleas on random women in the street.

3- The French have sex more often in a year than any other culture

While internet surveys are certainly not foolproof, they are still essential to calculate things scientists cannot easily prove. For example, which nationality humps the most often? The Durex Global Sex Survey, touted as the largest of its kind, polled how often people in 22 countries get busy. Not surprisingly, France is No. 1 with a bullet. They claim to “bake baguettes” 167 times a year. New Zealanders have the dubious distinction of having the most unprotected sex, so avoid hobbit sex.

4- Electricity has nothing to do with Paris’ nickname, "The City of Light"

For those who thought Vegas owned this nickname, you should stick to slot machines. The famous moniker, "La Ville-Lumière" came about during the Age of Enlightenment when Paris stood as the center of education, art and philosophy. Artists, writers and sculptors traveled from all over the world to live there. The name continued to seem appropriate as the city modernized with large gas lamp-lined avenues.

The final of our five things you didn't know about Paris is rather violent... Next Page >>