The cities of London and Paris are historical rivals. But today, the two are closer than ever. This is because the high-speed Eurostar train connects London to Paris in only two and a quarter hours. It takes less time to cross the Channel than to go from London to Newcastle in the north of England Nowadays, London is a bigger city and has a larger population than Paris. In fact, the population of Paris is getting smaller. Both cities work to ensure a better quality life: they discourage the use of cars, and they try to make the city greener. Compared to Paris, London has more skyscrapers, and it seems more modern and dynamic. The City of Light is more conservative and maintains the traditional French way of life. The capital's many tiny bakeries still sell freshly-baked baguettes and croissants, people still fill the famous sidewalk cafes. Paris boasts of its cuisine and fashion. Paris is still considered more glamorous than London, and it is the center of the top designer brands. London has a more informal food culture with lots of ethnic restaurants and bars. Paris has nine three-star Michelin restaurants, the height of excellence. London has only one. As for entertainment, young people say that London is livelier and has more options than Paris. The British writer Samuel Johnson said: "When a man is tired of London, he is tired oflife." The Parisians say: "When a man is tired of London, he comes to Paris for a good meal.