The first event I wanted to tick off when I visited Paris was a cruise on the river Seine! Don’t ask me why not the Eiffel Tower 😊! I am mad that way, unconsciously pick something a little different.
A river reflects the pulse and life of the place. Around the river is where life began, and civilizations were born. The river is the silent witness to everything, life or death. I missed the boat tour on Tiber in Rome, and did not want to miss this! Thames in London was captivating. And I always get nostalgic whenever I go on the boat across the Holy Ganges in North India. The thought of how the city flourished over the years with the river as its eternal witness, sends a pleasant thrill down my spine, filling me with awe.
Paris has endured many wars, violence, looting and plundering. This enchanting cruise revealed that Paris is still enduring a lot of violence and disruption.
The tour started at the Port de la Bourdonnais, nestled at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Gliding away, we were treated to the glittering views of the “Iron Lady” herself while the boat gently eases on. The ornate Musée d’Orsay soon comes into sight on the Left Bank, its grand architecture now home to the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. Further along the river, boats float by the renowned Louvre Museum, passengers catching glimpses of I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid and the museum’s sprawling classical buildings, standing tall still resplendent and breathtaking.
As we were nearing the awe-inspiring Notre Dame Cathedral, which was next on my list, we were informed that it was under repair and not open to visitors. A tiny reminder about the number of times this city has witnessed arson and plunder. Across from this iconic cathedral is the Palais de Justice complex, including the towering medieval Conciergerie that held prisoners during the French Revolution.
We circled the Iron Lady once again and made our way back to the Port de la Bourdonnais. We were misty eyed, very half-hearted as we disembarked the boat, and promised to get on the cruise once again, soon.
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