It’s been ten years and we’re back in Paris, ready again to stroll up and down the banks of the River Seine and wonder through the Tuileries Gardens.
The old city remains as wondrous as ever, pulling us into its many historic hideaways and alleys, its corner bistros, flower shops, castles and cathedrals.
Yes, if you have not been to Paris, the time is now. And if you HAVE been to Paris, the time is still now.
Of course, the city is different for everyone; so, all we can do is tell you what Paris is to us, and you can make up your own mind.
Firstly, the Eiffel Tower is not just a “touristy thing”; it is an icon, and worth visiting from up-close (perhaps from the lawns of the Parc du Champs de Mars). If you have time, get in one of the lifts and go up to the top (THIS is a touristy thing, but it’s still worth it).
Be sure to visit Notre Dame Cathedral; she is the jewel of the city and a marvel from any vantage point. Her bell towers, gargoyles, stained glass, and flying buttresses will leave you breathless. While you’re there, find “point zero” (from which all distances in France used to be measured), which is laid into the cobblestone only steps from the façade, and spin three times and make a wish. It’ll come true. Ours did.
While you’re on the Ile de la Cité, check out the Sainte Chapelle for more mind-blowing beauty, before skipping leisurely over to the Conciergerie (aka “Death’s Dark Antechamber), where one can tour the final holding cells of many who were guillotined during the French Revolution—including Queen Marie Antoinette and “The Incorruptible” Maximilien Robespierre.
Across the bridge from Notre Dame (to the south) is Shakespeare & Co., one of the coolest bookstores in the world. Stop in… and buy a copy of Les Miserables… then read it and wait for your life to change. It will.
While you are south of the Seine, head to the Latin Quarter, visit the Paris Pantheon (and greats like Hugo, Dumas and Voltaire in the crypt), stroll through the Luxembourg Garden, descend into the catacombs for 2.2 kms of floor to ceiling skulls and femurs, and meander your way to the Hotel des Invalides (wherein you can see an absolutely mind-boggling amount of military history, old weapons, armour, and of course, the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte himself. (We have to say, “Boney’s stuffed horse freaked us out a little bit.)
Ok, moving on… north side of the Seine… The Louvre. Get there. Just not on a Tuesday (it’s closed). You can’t “do it all” in one visit, so don’t try. Just pick what you “must see” and enjoy everything else on the way. Of course the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo are mobbed like living rockstars, so be prepared to get your elbows up and mow some art-lovers over to catch a glimpse. Oh, and wear comfy shoes… or you’ll have to walk barefoot while carrying your wedges (ask Shaunna).
After the Louvre, walk the Tuileries Gardens (stopping to ride the merry-go-round if that’s your thing) and continue on down the impressive and iconic Avenue Des Champs-Elysées to the even-more-iconic Arc de Triomphe.
Still want more?
Walk the Avenue de l’Opera to the Palais Garnier and continue north into Mortmartre for a different Parisian flavour. You’ll find the commanding Basilique du Sacre Coeur (be prepared to climb hundreds of steps), many artists peddling their wares, a hopping red-light district, and the very famous Moulin Rouge. (Tickets are pricey and sell out quickly but, somehow, we were given front row seats and were close enough to be hit with feather boas during the show… a life detail we want etched on our tombstones.)
If you have the desire to get out of the city for a day, take the train (the R.E.R. westbound) to Versailles. It’s easy. The palace is opulent, the gardens are lavish, and Marie Antoinette’s estate and “play village” is a relaxing and beautiful walk.
This is the perfect time to live out that fantasy of being a member of the Bourbon line of kings, before hopping in a rented golf cart (that is surprisingly slow and turns off automatically if you veer from the “designated area”).
But after returning to the city, and this may be the most important thing of all… Relax.
Seriously.
If you don’t do one, or two, or ANY of the things we just mentioned because you found the perfect bistro table, outside the perfect cafe, that sells the perfect cappuccino… then don’t move if you don’t want to; you’re already winning.
