SHE is cool, chic and endlessly sophisticated-and I have been in love with her since I was boy.

Paris . . . je t'aime.

And I love you even more now that you are just two hours and 15 minutes away on Eurostar.

It means that the affair first sparked by a school trip can be reignited two or three times a year- for a day-trip or weekend away.

And each time I find something new to send me home wanting more.

This time, it was the journey itself from Eurostar's stunning new home at St Pancras station. Since when did we restore stations with such majesty?

Prices start as low as £59 for a return, but 20 minutes have been shaved off the journey time.

And boy is it fun whizzing along at 186 miles an hour-it's like being on a plane on rails, only without the delays and hassle you get at airports.

There are up to 20 trains a day to Paris. And you arrive slap bang in the middle of the City of Lovers at Gare du Nord, so no bags to collect or time-consuming airport transfers to fret about.

Food

So which Paris should you enjoy? Why not try the GASTROMIC PARIS? The city deservedly holds the title of foodie capital of the world with more Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere else-10 with the best three-stars (London has one), 13 with two, and 42 with one star.

The perfect away-day would involve lunch at the restaurant of one of the world-famous celebrity chefs - Gagnaire, Ducasse or Robuchon. The last two both have restaurants in London, but they are not a patch on the French originals.

But if the credit crunch-and weakness of the pound again the Euro- doesn't stretch that far, you will find great food in the backstreet bistros.

The markets are worth a visit too. A good starter is Rue Cler which was once a simple neighbourhood market, but now attracts food lovers from across Paris. Other favourites include the ones on Rue de Buci and Rue Mouffetard, both on the Left Bank.

Still peckish? Check out La Grande Epicerie, the amazing food hall in the grande-dame department store, Le Bon Marché (24 Rue de Sèvres).

And the gorgeous French wine works out about £1 cheaper for the same bottle in a London restaurant.

Then there is ROMANTIC PARIS. It's not called the City of Lovers for nothing.Paris is the perfect place to put some Ooh La La into your relationship. Try the Museum of Eroticism near the famous Moulin Rouge, which inspired the Nicole Kidman movie. It is a wonderfully suggestive seven-storey celebration of all things sensual featuring paintings, sculptures and glorious objets d'art.

Then you could take in one of the world's most passionate works of art, Rodin's The Kiss, at the Rodin Museum which features 6,000 of his finest pieces.

Where do you go to pop the question? How about the 'Je t'aime' wall in Montmartre, where the phrase is repeated in 311 languages. Or what about the Jules Verne restaurant, perched 410ft up the Eiffel Tower.

Best value is the £56-a-head lunch menu-you'll be munching your foie gras with views of the Arc de Triomphe and Trocadero Gardens.

The most romantic place to stay has to be the sumptuous InterContinental Paris Le Grand hotel, which overlooks the city opera house. Need a love token to seal your love? Try the daily flower market on Place Louis Lepine.

No woman will not yearn for SHOPPING PARIS. With the Euro so strong, Paris isn't the bargain capital it was three years ago, but it still works out cheaper than most British cities.

And the fashions take your breath away. As a new dad, I couldn't believe the quality and range of the baby clothes-they put British designers to shame.

It is impossible to ignore the two great shopping centres-Galeries Lafayette and Printemps.

Or simply wander through the majestic boulevards hunting for bargains in the boutiques.

Don't forget the flea markets on Sunday mornings too. There are loads to choose from, but try Puces de la Porte de Vanves (for vintage clothing and the usual bric-a-brac) or the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen.

You don't have to be a culture vulture to enjoy ARTY PARIS. You could spend a day at the Louvre-home to the Mona Lisa-and wander through the glorious Jardin des Tuileries nearby. River

The Musée de l'Orangerie now rivals the Louvre in popularity thanks to its Monet water lily masterpieces.

If you love Van Gogh, try the Musee d'Orsay, a former railway station, which is also packed with fabulous impressionist paintings.

The Paris Museum Pass (www.parismuseumpass.com ), which covers almost all the major fee-paying museums and monuments, can save you money if you visit more than three of the biggies.

A two-day pass costs £25. Most national museums are free on the first Sunday of each month.

And there's even FAMILY PARIS. Kids love river trips, and a cruise down the Seine is a good way to see sites such as the Notre-Dame cathedral.

Take the Batobus (www.batobus.com ). At £10, it's a shade more than other bateaux mouches sightseeing boats, but unlike its competitors, it's a hop-on-hop-off service with stops near the major sights, and you can use your pass all day.

Or beat the queues and walk up the Eiffel Tower to the second floor (about 700 steps). At £3.50 it's £3 cheaper than taking the lift to the same level, or £10 if you go to the top. The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (the science museum) has lots of hands-on exhibits that children can play along with.

Let's not forget Disneyland Paris (08448 008111, www.disneylandparis.com ) too. Eurostar goes direct from St Pancras to the park.

And finally PARTY PARIS-there is nowhere better for a night on the tiles.

Show

Eurostar's Night Clubber ticket costs £42, leaving Saturday or Sunday after 4pm and returning the next morning on any service before 10.30am.

If you fancy starting with a show, however, book Cabaret Bobin'o, a modern-day version of the Moulin Rouge.

You get dinner, the main show complete with cancan dancing, and then the venue turns into a nightclub till 6am-all for about £90 a head.

For an edgier evening, aim for Oberkampf, the district that is Paris's party central.

The drinks are good value, and the area is a lot less threatening than many UK towns on a Saturday night.

Getting there

EUROSTAR has up to 20 daily services from St Pancras to Paris with return fares from £59. Visit www.eurostar.com , 0870 518 6186.

B&B for two at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand starts from 365 (approx £329). Call 00 33 1 4007 3232, www.paris.intercontinental.com (or www.cafedelapaix.fr for its restaurant). The one-day Mobilis pass allows unlimited travel on the Metro, RER trains and buses for around £5.

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