There’s no better way than to take in the magnificence of Paris except while enjoying a cruise on the River Seine.
The panoramic view from the Seine is a live lesson in France’s culture and history. You can spot the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame, the Pont Alexandre III, the Paris-Orleans Clock at the Musee d'Orsay, and many more monuments and structures replete with French history.
Depending on the weather, you can bask in the sunshine bouncing off the rippled water or be bathed in a mist that shrouds the river, its historic bridges, and the buildings along its banks. I got a bit of both — some sunshine speckled with clouds. What I found charming apart from the stunning views were these spirited gatherings of people dancing and laughing to foot-tapping folk music in alcoves off the banks. I brought back some of that Parisian free spirit along with me to Seattle.
