Boat cruise down the River Seine! Something I've wanted to do since I could spell "Seine", and we finally got the chance to do it during our amazing 4-1/2 day stay in Paris. For those of you who've been following The Odyssey Which is our Trip (I'll give a list of links at the end of this post), you'll know we were really looking forward to this excursion, and not just because our feet were sore from spending hours gawking at masterpieces in the Louvre Museum.
There's nothing like happy travel companions!
The Seine
A river of rich historical heritage, the Seine is Paris' heart. It bisects the city more or less into a top and bottom half. You can find out more information about the River Seine here, here, here and here.
Left Bank, Right Bank
It turns out this is a source of confusion for tourists, because maddeningly the river doesn't flow in a straight line. Lucky for me I've worked a bit with rivers, and can tell you the left bank is the bank you see on your left when you're facing downstream (so if you were a rubber duck pointing forwards, floating on the current and not paddling because you're rubber, the left bank of a river would be on your left and the right bank would be on your right).
The other major way to orient yourself with respect to the Seine is to think that it flows towards the ocean, and that means more or less flowing northwest - meaning if you're on the east side of the city and "below" the Seine from a map perspective (so on the Left Bank), then the river will flow from your right to your left. If you were on the Right Bank, it would flow from your left to your right. Confused? Best way to unconfuse yourself is to go there and experience it firsthand.
Our cruise route
Our cruise departed from the Left Bank (Rive Gauche as it's known in Paris) from near the Eiffel Tower, chugged upstream (eastwards) to just beyond the Île de la Cité (that island on the "left" in the middle of the river just past the Louvre in the map below; the other island is Île St-Louis), then turned back to travel downstream to our departure point.
The route gave us a superb view of several of Paris' main attractions. It was Friday evening, the skies had cleared up, and we enjoyed golden sunlight warming Paris' features and making her gilded details sparkle.
A sample of the sights
Lovely bridges
We passed under some of Paris' extraordinarily beautiful bridges. This site has an excellent mapping of the bridges.
Here's a sample of what we saw. Paris doesn't skimp on gold!
Paris doesn't just do gold trimming on bridges. She makes sure her metal bridges are ornate and catch the sunlight with warm colours as well.
The bridge of romance and locks
This bridge used to be covered in locks which lovers would fix to its rails - until the authorities realised the bridge was at risk of collapse. You can see a few remaining locks as the dark bits on the railings.
But Paris comes through - although they couldn't accept locks being fixed to the bridge any more, now lovers attach them to this lovely fence on the Île de la Cité. The shiny, kind of bronze sheen on the fence? Thousands upon thousands of locks. How romantic!
The Louvre
Oh, so majestic. Approaching the Louvre from the river is almost more exciting than through the Tuileries. How exquisite is its exterior?
Île de la Cité
Parisians and tourists alike love to sit in the tree-shaded park on the downstream tip of the Île de la Cité. It is considered one of the best picnic spots in the city.
Notre Dame
This was our first proper view of Notre Dame, which we planned to visit on the upcoming Sunday. We were overwhelmed at the sight of this historic cathedral in the summer evening sunlight.
The Musée d'Orsay
This converted train station now houses some of the world's greatest works by the Impressionists and post-Impressionists. The building itself is effectively a work of art. I've wanted to go there since my first visit to Paris! Look for a post in a couple of days on our visit there.
The National Assembly
Where French politics happen. Officially. When they're not happening everywhere else.
Not sure what it is, but it's spectacular
Apartments by the river
Oh, the wrought iron on those balconies....
Back to port
And finally, we approached the Eiffel Tower again - you can see it in the distance, with that beautiful bridge in between.
@tim-beck and Emma armed with their cameras as we come back in to dock under the iconic shadow of the Eiffel Tower....
And then we were back on dry land. We had to keep the magic going a few more minutes. Just before hopping on the bus to return to our apartment, we treated ourselves to a few minutes admiring this carousel.
Other posts so far about this trip:
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/whirlwind-tour-of-paris-pas-de-calais-bruges-and-amsterdam
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/paris-day-1-part-2-of-several-posts-on-our-trip-to-paris-pas-de-calais-bruges-and-amsterdam
https://steemit.com/travel/@kiligirl/day-2-in-paris-for-team-beck-a-visit-to-the-louvre
All images by Linsey Dyer, Emma Beck and Tim Beck except where otherwise credited
Wow!! There seriously are a lot of bridges!! I remember having that conversation a few years ago about the left vs right bank of the river 😆
Thinking of your logo/banner at the end - did you get your Team South Africa one to use?
I guess if the city has been around since the 1100s and they started out on the Île de la Cité, they'd be pretty good at building bridges 🤣. Haven't seen a Team South Africa banner! 😱 This is what I get for going away when the action goes down. Let's chat tomorrow morning.
Hehe - I's want to cross each bridge 😆
I should have sent it to you as a DM on Discord - but will send you an updated html version now anyways 😉
Thanks, @cheeto.blue! 😊😊
In a cruise, you are looking at the City from a very different perspective. You have taken great and beautiful photos. Be amazed too by the stunning scenery of Lake Baikal, the world largest freshwater lake. Trans-Mongolia Adventure : Frolicking In Idyllic Village Of Khuzir
Thank you, @positivesteem. 😊😊
You are most welcome. Drop by for a visit when you are free.
😊😊
Hi Kiligirl , wonderful post about your Seine River tour. That is something I wish we had done while in Paris. Looks romantic and picturesque! Obviously. What is next for you happy travelers? Elli Mae🐓🐓
Hi Ellie Mae, maybe I enjoyed it so much because I'd wanted to do it for so long and the weather turned out to be beautiful, giving us that gorgeous light. Next on the cards for Saturday the 12th: a hop on, hop off bus tour of the city. That should be today's post...
Thanks for stopping in! 😊😊
I could see that as a good reason for you to go back to Paris one of these days! 😘😘
It looks like it was another great day! I'm great for you. Those pictures look great. I am very happy that you are very happy together
Thank you, @amedeo - appreciate the kind thoughts! 😊😊
Thank you too @kiligirl!
Pretty cool how you were able to snap a shot featuring the Effiel Tower as you were passing by it.
It seems like it was a relatively long boat trip which isn't necessary but as I can see how you passed by so many spectacular monuments.
My favourite shot out of all of these has to be the bridge as it looks absolutely beautiful
Great Photographs @kiligirl
Hi, @arckrai, that boat ride could have been four times as long and we would still have enjoyed it! Glad you liked the bridge. We were delighted by it 😊😊
A cruise down the Seine is a must in Paris! Beautiful! Enjoy your time there @kiligirl! I can't wait to go back. I just posted a story on some interesting "speak-easy" bars in Le Marais if you want to check out my post! :)
Oh my gosh, we loved Le Marais. Will check out your post tomorrow - did you go to Le Cactus? What a cool place. Thanks for stopping in, @real-refined. 😊😊
To be clear, on the boat I was the first to say: "We're inseine"
Too true, you did! 😂😜🤣🤣
Sorry we didn't do the cruise @kiligirl that looked eventful with some awesome photography sliding past you.
Thanks,@joanstewart. It's the first time in my several visits to Paris I've finally done the river cruise. Highly, highly recommended! Appreciate you stopping in.😊😊
really amazing and very fun and feel satisfied even though the journey is very far but be a drug for the race tired during my trip up to repeat to see the picture I almost forgot to comment really really the work and the photo is so clear and very bright color of my great seemed to go together
😊😊
wonderful photography from paris.
Thank you, @birjudanak! 😊😊
Happy nice day in paris @killigirl
Thanks, @klen.civil :-)
Ur welcome
😊😊
Btw, if you want seeing the tradition meugang in Aceh-Indonesia please your visit my blog.
@klen.civil
😉
😊
great post..
you look cute in the first picture
Thanks for the compliment, @nilim - that's my stepdaughter :-). I'm in the second pic with her.
Paris is such a beautiful place, just wondering when i will be able to visit.
I hope you get to visit soon, @swaraj. It's unreal how it's beautiful from the air, from far away, from close up, inside, outside - everywhere is beautiful.
I am delighted. Thank you for continuing to write.
Thank you so much, @dreamcatchers! 😊😊
Upvoted and RESTEEMED!
Aww, thanks, @imbritish, I really appreciate it! 😀😀
Cool city, one day I go and look too :)
Highly, highly recommended 😊😊
Good :))
👌
Loved the trip down the Seine myself. My wife was in awe the full trip!
Glad your wife also got the awe thing going. It's impossible to be cynical there - everything is so ridiculously beautiful. Thanks for stopping in! 😃😃
You really had fun in Paris. How was your experience in Paris, can you share with me?
Upvoted, follow back
😊
Hope you are enjoying their . Have a great journey ahead.
😊😊
Wow, some beautiful photos, @kiligirl
Your camera caught some crisp shots. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, @mphil! Much appreciated. Must give credit to my trusty Huawei phone camera. It's really idiot-proof 😊😊
Lol, it has a good lens for sure. :)
It's an amazing camera phone. Still learning how to use it. 😊😊
Happy faces <3 .. I have visited Paris, but completely forgot about this type of trip. I was to focus to play in Disneyland haha.. yeahh.. I feel myself even way too young back then :D
😊😊
great post
😊😊
I Love Paris :) Awesome photos its very Fantastic
Have a great day with your Lovely Family
Merci beaucoup pour le partage:)
Merci, @machhour. Ça me fait plaisir que les photos vous ont rappelé des souvenirs de Paris. Bonne fin de weekend!