After our first meal in Paris, we decided to go for a stroll around Avenue Termes and meet up with Nahomy and Kelvin at the Metro station. This was our first chance to really see how the locals act, passing many cafes and boutique stores along the way. This is rush hour and there are plenty of local Parisians strolling the streets, some holding on to a briefcase, while others simply carry a baguette. Eventually we reached the Metro on Avenue Termes and met up with our fellow travelers.
The cavernous Metro system in Paris is one of the easiest / accessible transportation systems in the world. It is dependable and fast. I recommend buying the ten ticket pass, which comes out to a little over 11 Euros; trust me you will need them. With ticket in hand, we swing into the Metro for the very first time. A good mixture of locals (who want nothing to do with tourists) and cheery tourists from all over the world await. As the Metro hums along, we notice that there is a three piece band playing music towards the back of the cabin. This is one of many encounters with musicians both on the Metro and outside it. Music is certainly not frowned upon in this great city.
We get off near Rue de Rivoli, adjacent to the Tuleries Gardens, and check in for our scheduled boat tour of the River Seine. With some time to kill, we hit a cafe for a quick drink, after all it's 90 F and humid. We bid au revoir to our fellow travelers and on we go on the massive bus that will take us to our boating destination.
This is where it truly hits me, on a boat down the Seine, watching the scenery all around me...the Eiffel tower in the distance, Notre Dame pillars, ancient bridges, lush residences, the way the sun lights up the city. It's all magical. It's hard to explain unless you are there and experience it. This part of the world with so much history, resonates with magic and a clarity unlike anything I've ever experienced. This isn't just some old world city, this is magic, this is beauty, this is exactly why I needed to be here, this is Paris. It is charming, it is ethereal, almost like a fairy tale. I thanked God countless times while on that boat, thinking how lucky I was. Never will I see the sun set like I did while on the Seine. And still..this is just day 1. C'est tres bon!
