Paris.
Isn’t it strange how once you’ve visited a place, there is a different type of familiarity when you hear about the location on the news? That has recently been the case as I hear about the flooding along the Seine in Paris.
There RER C line is temporarily closed. That was the line we took to visit the Palace of Versailles. I have walked inside the Louvre. We have strolled along the banks of the Seine.
Along the Seine.
I visited Paris last April.
Springtime in Paris.
I could just swoon saying those words.
It was during my first overseas trip and Paris was more lovely in the spring than anything I had imagined.
No trip to Paris is complete without a stroll along the Seine.
Pont de la Concorde.
Our first view of the Seine was from Pont de la Concorde. This is the bridge that connects Quai des Tuileries at the Place de la Concorde (on the Right Bank) and the Quai d’Orsay (on the Left Bank).
I’ll let you in on a little behind the scenes secret. The hubby and I watch Vikings on the History Channel. He had been to Paris many years prior to our trip and here he is pointing out the background on the attack of Paris. If you don’t watch the show (while it’s not historically accurate), the episode was based on the Siege of Paris in 845.
The historical accounts are that the Danish Viking Reginheri (thought to be the same person as the legend of Ragnar Lothbrok) sailed a fleet of about 120 ships along the Seine, raiding the city of Rouen as he progressed. They went on to pillage Paris, which at the time was an island city, located on Île de la Cité, where you now find Notre Dame.
Right Bank of the Seine.
While we walked along the Seine numerous times during our visit to Paris, my photos are predominately from the Right Bank of the Seine. We walked from the Jardin des Tuileries to Notre Dame.
Museé d’Orsay.
While I did not have a chance to visit the Museé d’Orsay, I did admire its architecture.
The museum building was originally a railway station, Gare d’Orsay. It was finished in time for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. It was the terminus for the railways of southwestern France until 1939.
After 1939, it was used for suburban services and part of it became a mailing center during World War II.
In the 70’s, the idea came about to turn the building into a museum. The plan was for the museum to bridge the gap between the Louvre and the National Museum of Modern Art.
The museum officially opened in December of 1986.
The museum is open daily (closed on Mondays) from 9:30 am to 6 pm, with extended hours until 9:45 pm on Thursdays.
With works by Renoir, Degas, Manet, and Van Gogh (just to name a few), it will definitely be on my “must see” list when I return to Paris.
Have you visited the Museé d’Orsay?
If so, what your favorite piece of art?
Views.
All along the Seine, the views are breathtaking. Miss Sunshine was ill for most of our time in Paris. However, she was a trooper and soldiered on during our walk to Notre Dame. This was the view from a water break we took before perusing the stalls of the bouquinistes.
Love Locks.
There are numerous love locks along the Seine. While one of the most famous locations for their placements is along the Ponts des Arts bridge, we found them while walking along the Quai des Tuileries.
While I admire a good love story, I did not leave a lock.
The weight of so many locks can eventually create damage. I have my memories and I’ve snapped some photos of the locks both here and in Amsterdam.
Travel.
I feel very lucky to be able to travel. To have visited Paris and to have walked along the banks of the Seine.
Have you ever been to Paris?
Which area was your favorite in which to spend your time?
We had a very short visit there and I hope to return again someday.
I hope to return again to Shakespeare and Company, to look amongst its book-filled shelves. To admire the doors of Paris as I stroll along the rues and boulevards. There are daydreams of sitting upon my current favorite Corner of Paris and watching the vibrancy of Paris.
And, of course, to see all that I missed.
Let your light shine!
Amy
Hi there, Amy!
I’ve been to France many times, but never “visited” Paris… It was just an in & out thing everytime I landed there. I hope to go someday, though. And when I do… I absolutely have to visit the Rodin Museum! Have you been there yourself?
Thank you for the Vikings reference… I am a big fan of the series too!
The love locks thing has started in Copenhagen too, on the bridges over Nyhavn. I couldn’t resist leaving one when I first visited in May 2016. It was still there when I went back in Feb & Sept 2017!!
Thanks for sharing the lovely walk and your family’s souvenirs 🙂 xx
Hi Cyranny!!
I have not been to the Rodin museum. We were only there for a few days and traveling with three teens, one of which caught a bug while we were in Amsterdam (or on the plane there!). We quickly went through Notre Dame. Saw the Mona Lisa (and a few other pieces) at the Louvre. We also walked all the way to Sacre Coeur and then saw the Eiffel Tower (from outside the security checkpoint…there just wasn’t enough time). Oh, and we did a full day out to Versailles.
I’m interested to see where they are going with the Vikings series! 🙂
I haven’t completely ruled out ever leaving a lock somewhere. They were selling them all over Paris.
I’m glad you enjoyed the walk!! 🙂
Very much 🙂
Thank you for the virtual but awesome tour 🙂
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!! 🙂
Insert heavy, happy sigh here 🙂
There’s just something so romantic about the Seine. 🙂
I believe you 🙂
I love Paris! I have been twice but would go back in a heart beat. I never miss a chance to get there. Love you pictures 🙂
Thanks!! I’m glad you loved the photos. I’m pretty sure that I will return to Paris again someday. We wanted to give the kids a taste of Europe for their first (and mine) overseas trip. We were in Amsterdam for a couple days and took the train to Paris for a few more. It wasn’t near enough time, but it did pique their interest (and mine!!) in travel, which was what we hoped for.
Never been to Paris but visiting in the springtime is definitely on my bucket list!
It’s funny all I saw was “Seine” in the title and I immediately thought to this animated kids movie my daughter has been watching “A monster in Paris” and they sing a song “La Seine and I” and I mentally sang it while reading your post!
I hope that you get to visit someday!
I’m thinking that I must have seen that movie. The image looks familiar. I may have to see if I can find it. It was crazy to be walking along a place I’d read about in stories and had seen in movies.
I actually just checked the first of a series out from the library called “Loch Ness” because I will be traveling there and wanted to see the countryside. 🙂
This brings back so many memories of our trips to Paris before we had the children.
I’m sure you both had an amazing time there. I only wish we’d had more time.
Paris ranks high on my list of places to visit…one day. But it looks so amazing!
We enjoyed our brief time there. I hope to be able to return again someday!
It’s been a while (a long while) since we’ve been to Paris, but I remember how I loved Musee d’Orsay.
I did not get a chance to visit the Musee d’Orsay but I did admire its architecture. We were only there for a couple days and our daughter was sick for most of it (even though she was a trooper and went on long hikes through the city) 🙂
It felt much cozier than Louvre. That’s what attracted me the most. Good job, daughter 🙂