Banks of the Seine

…parts of Paris. Browsing the bouquinistes, buying a sorbet on Ile St Louis and eating it down by the river, sitting on Pont Neuf and waving at the bateaux-mouche. It’s a piece of tranquility in the middle of a very busy city.

I remember the strike of Nov ’95. One month without public transport. And I had to cross the river to attend a breakfast meeting (chez Nina Ricci) with my class from Sciences Po at Place Vendome. It was 6am. I walked down av St Germain and reached the left bank of the River Seine. The bistrots and cafés lining the Bank were just stirring. It was cold and very quiet. The stalls of the Bouquinists were still closed.

I looked at the Seine and was filled with wonder at its beauty. The river was flowing through as it had for time eternal, passing under the beautiful historical bridges, passing by monuments like the Notre Dame, le Palais du Louvre, la Cité, la Tour Eiffel…Paris at its most beautiful.

Whenever the hustle and bustle of Paris wide awake got to me, I’ll picture myself standing on the Banks of the River Seine at 6am in Nov 1995 and remember why I love her.

During Summer in the past few years, the City has been organising a rather tacky (depends for who) event on the Banks – Paris Plage. Kids love it though. It gets all noisy and crowded but then it’s quite an idea building a beach in the heart of town.