©1998 R. F. McDonald
The Commission touristique de l'union française welcomes visitors from the alternate Earths who happen to find themselves on this world, quite probably the crown of all of the known worlds. And if this world is the crown, then Paris is certainly the most brilliant jewel. Its historical significance alone as the centre of the Age of Revolution (1792-1836) would ensure it of eternal importance, even if its tremendous cultural vitality and its economic importance were discounted entirely ...
... Paris' history stretches back to the pre-Roman era, when the Gaulish town of Lutèce -- located on the Île-de-la-Cité -- became one of the main centres of the Gauls in the era when they were fighting against the advance of Roman tyranny. Fittingly, it is on the Île-de-la-Cité, almost two millennia later, that the Age of Revolution (1792-1836) began, when the masses of Paris revolted against the oppressive ancien régime, and spread their revolution throughout Europe despite a despicable series of massacres that ended only upon the execution of Louis XVI at the site of the first stirrings of revolutionary ardor. The site of this, the most important event in the history of Occidental civilization, is commemorated by the Temple des Sacrifi, the renamed Nôtre-Dame Cathedral. In past decades, the entire Île-de-la-Cité has been handsomely refurbished and rebuilt according to the latest precepts of the Architectural School, and connected to the famous Ville souterraine; the Communauté globale has designated the Île-de-la-Cité as being part of the global cultural patrimony ...
... Montmartre is quite probably the most sombre area of all Paris, for it is here that the worst years of the Age of Revolution were passed. In the guillotines on rue de la Pénitence, almost fifty thousand people throughout Europe were executed by the barbaric regime of Napoléon II. Fittingly, the masses of Paris put an end to these barbarities by killing the tyrant with his own weapons of terror. After the establishment of the Union française, Montmartre was converted into a centre of French and Parisian government. The Hôtel de Ville -- seat since 1867 of the Parlement of the État de Paris -- is open to visitors, and adjoins upon the Musée de la civilisation occidentale in the Ville souterraine. The Musée traces the development of Occidental civilization from the first stirrings of the revolutionary spirit in the souls of the Greeks to its stifling by the Romans and their Church, to the brilliant inspirations of the Enlightenment philosophes and the spread of the revolutionary spirit to places as distant as Paraguay, Japan, and Siam ...
... The Louvre complex is the most famous art museum in the world. The Louvre main building -- a converted palace of the ancien régime -- is filled to bursting with traditionalist paintings and sculptures, along with a few surviving Revolutionary tableaux. Still most interesting is the Louvre annex several hundred metres below it in the Ville souterraine. The underground annex -- easily reachable by the Métro, just off of the Neuilly-sous-sol stop -- houses the experimental art collection. Here, even the casual visitor will be impressed by the impressive collection of modern and abstract paintings -- the work of the Catalan Salvador Dali is especially impressive. Of special note are the recently-installed collections of prototype interactive holographic projectors by the Commune artistique lyonnaise, and the growing collection of works of art purchased by the Sécrétariat français de la culture. ...
... Finally, when you have finished your tour of the ville lumière, feel free to explore beyond Paris. TGVs and low-cost flights from the Aérodrome nationale link Paris with the rest of the French Union. We recommend that you visit Francfort and Strasbourg -- both cities with a thriving Franco-Germanic culture --, the beautiful city of Toulouse in the heartland of ancient Languedoc, and the self-governing province of Gascony, with its distinct Romance language and a thriving viniculture industry. If you want to explore beyond France, by all means, feel free: Under the Accords communautaires européens, any citizen of Europe (or passport holder) can travel throughout the European continent. Feel free to cross any of the irrelevant national borders that you wish -- as long as you have your pass card, that is.
Vive l'humanité! En bas l'oppression!
Note to visitors: It has come to our attention that many monolingual English-speakers have come to our world expecting to easily converse with English-speakers throughout our world. This is a mistake -- in fact, ever since the Humbling of England (1805-17) and the devastation of New England and Virginia in the Occidento-Japanese War, English has been a minor regional language, of much the same stature as Ruthenian, Iroquoian, and Quechua. French is the common language of international trade and culture in our world; we suggest that upon arrival, you immediately proceed to a Centre d'éducation tardive, where you will promptly be instructed in the basics of the French language upon production of your pass card.
(From the English-language tourist guide A Guide to the French Union: Paris, Wallonia, Burgundy, Rhineland, Languedoc, Auvergne, Atlantic, Gascony, published by the Imprimerie européene, Versailles, État du Paris, Union française, 1998.)
[ITA Travel Update: The Earth of Communauté globale is a recent addition to the TDRS rail routes. Communauté globale is a new world, and only two rail heads have been founded: One near Louisbourg, the other near Frankfort. Within the regions defined by various guides, the ITA has rated with a Class B travel warning: Cultural differences will occur, but no serious harm will occur to the itinerant traveller as long has he obeys all laws and regulations.
The ITA is in negotiations with Communauté globale as to whether or not they want to join the ITA as a full world or as an affiliate. Also, the only guide books available are those written by member nations of the Communauté globale and not by a neutral third party. Because of this the remainder of this Earth is rated with a Class C travel warning: People and cultures unknown. No advisory available on potential harm that may before a traveller to this world. Travel to these areas are at your own risk.
The ITA is sure that the Earth of Communauté globale will soon be rated to a Class A world.]