Welcome back to Paris
When you first arrive in a new city, you can’t wait to get out and explore. There are new sights to be seen, new experiences to be had. But if it’s somewhere you’ve visited many times before there isn’t that urgency. New sights can wait for tomorrow. Today, on arrival, your desire is rather to reconnect, to regain that sense of feeling at home. And for me, in Paris, that means a walk by the Seine.
On our most recent visit we arrived in a September heatwave. For the first time, we’d chosen to rent an apartment. It was tiny, and was to prove less than perfect, but one thing it certainly had going for it was location, right on the Rue de Seine near Saint-Germain-des-Prés, our favourite part of the city.
Once we’d settled in and unpacked we made a beeline for the river where we hoped to pick up a cooling breeze. Our walk took us along the Rue de Seine, past its many fascinating galleries, most showcasing either African and Australian Aboriginal art, or contemporary artists.
On the Rue de Seine
It was certainly a bit more comfortable down by the river, and lots of other people obviously felt it too. The quais were lined with sun-worshippers as well as others taking advantage of patches of shade provided by bridges and trees. It was a great area for some street photography.
We followed the Quai to the Pont Neuf and on to the Ile de la Cité where I took the photo of the statue of Henri IV already shared in my ‘postcard’. In our favourite Place Dauphine we had a rather messy fast-melting ice cream!
In the Place Dauphine: boules and the Palais de Justice
We then walked through the flower market which was relatively cool and shady. The Wallace Fountain there was in great demand, as they were all over Paris during our stay.
In the flower market
We stopped to check progress on Notre Dame, as we’ve done on every visit since the fire. They are making good progress, as the Friends of Notre Dame website reports: https://www.friendsofnotredamedeparis.org/reconstruction-progress/
Then we crossed back on to the Left Bank for more photos on the streets around the Place Saint Michel followed by a much-needed beer stop!
Yes, sorry Jo, but it was definitely an ice cream and beer day, not coffee and cake. But I hope you’ll enjoy this ‘Monday Walk’ just the same!
I visit Paris regularly; these photos are from my recent September 2023 trip
64 Comments
rkrontheroad
Loved “walking” this street with you! Glad to see that gargoyles are still intact on Notre Dame.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ruth – I think some of the gargoyles needed restoration after the fire but they’re looking pretty good now.
Mike and Kellye Hefner
I enjoyed the walk around Paris, Sarah! It’s so nice to see everyday life in a city that usually commands photos of the tourist areas.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you enjoyed this walk Kellye 😄 So much of Paris is lovely, not just the obvious tourist spots – although this area IS very touristy!
equinoxio21
👏🏻
Sue
Aaah, nostalgia….
Sarah Wilkie
I think I’m permanently nostalgic for Paris, apart from when I’m actually there!
Sue
Years since I have been, but I remain nostalgic! It wouldn’t be the same place, now…..
Sarah Wilkie
I don’t know, it doesn’t change (in the centre) as rapidly as many cities. It still feels pretty much the same to me!
Sue
The Boulevard St German was dear to me….
Wetravelhappy
Sarah it’s great that you included pics of the Notre Dame construction. I was very curious. Ah I’m sure the apartment you rented is still 100x better than the backpackers room (hahaha oh my gosh) that my hubby and I got in 2003, our very first couple’s trip after our first son was born. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, Notre Dame is coming on. Amd yes, the apartment ws probably far better than that and wouldn’t have been too bad had it not been such hot weather!
Image Earth Travel
Love the photos! Great to see Notre Dame is coming along nicely. I haven’t been to Paris since 1985!
The first time for an apartment? What accommodation to you usually book when travelling? I don’t stay in dorms anymore and my parnter insists on a private bathroom (not shared unless absolutely necessary). We go more for self-contained apartments as travelling slower so cook meals mostly to keep costs down. We’re out until 2025, so need to budget. 😉
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 We tend to book hotels when travelling outside the UK and for short breaks nearer home, but for our week-long stays in Newcastle we choose apartments so we can spread out and take more stuff with us. We treat it more like a home away from home, we go so often, and we don’t want to feel we have to be out all the time as you do with a hotel! Lately we’ve started opting more for apartments on European city breaks too – not for the self-catering (we’d rather eat out on holiday than cook, and are fortunate to be able to afford to do so) but for the flexibility of knowing we won’t be interrupted by cleaners and have our own space. Mostly it works out well but this was out first Paris apartment stay and we were less impressed with this one. We’ll try a different one next year!
Image Earth Travel
Fair enough, apartments can be hit and miss but we always read the reviews before booking.
Another tip, if there’s no reviews or is new on the platform, we don’t book as did this twice and the owners cancelled on us almost immediately. I get the feeling that some apartments are still lived in by ownere and owners move out for the summer to rent out.
Teresa
The last time I went to Paris was chaos because I went with a tour group so I didn’t have time to relax. But in a few weeks we will be back and I hope this time will be more to my liking. But knowing me… I may go rush rush rush again!
Sarah Wilkie
It’s never ideal seeing a city with a tour group, you always end up spending too little time in some places and sometimes too much time in others. I hope you manage to slow down a bit this time Teresa – how long will you spend there?
grandmisadventures
Walking along the Seine is a cultural experience all its own. It’s always amazing what you see and no walk is ever the same 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
You’re so right, no walk there is ever the same, and I think that’s true of all great cities – and maybe of all great walks!
Suzanne@PictureRetirement
Sarah, we have visited Paris a few times, and having hit all the touristy spots, I like knowing that there is no sence of urgency to repeat those outings. Besides, the best discoveries are made while wandering. Love this pictorial of your recent visit.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Suzanne – ‘the best discoveries are made while wandering’, that’s so true 😀 And without the need to tick off the big sights that’s something you can really indulge in!
Marie
I’ve touched on this briefly recently – the pleasure of returning to a place you already know – and can therefore avoid the ‘must do’s’ of that first visit. Such a joy to wander Paris at leisure. My interest was immediately spiked when you mentioned booking an apartment – it’s always great to get a good tip – but it wasn’t to be…. hope it didn’t spoil the experience too much…
Sarah Wilkie
Not in the slightest, and it did have its plus points (location and price) but wasn’t ideal for a heatwave and even without the heat I probably wouldn’t recommend it. I think we’ll be trying a different one next year so watch this space!
Sylvia
Sarah, it must feel wonderful to know Paris so well that you immediately feel at home! I, too, am a big fan of your street photography and I love your opening photo but many others as well! OK, I love ALL of them really!!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sylvia – as always I really appreciate your feedback 😊
wetanddustyroads
I’m a big fan of your street photography. You usually find the most interesting places and people on your strolls. I like the little shops you photographed and I’m also glad to hear that repairs to the Notre Dame are progressing well. And ice cream and beer on a hot day – sounds perfect to me 🙂.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m happy you enjoyed these street photos ☺️ And Paris is full of interesting little shops and quirky corners etc 😃
bushboy
I saw the title and though that I’m opening that post. Oh well I did didn’t I……sigh. I love Paris even the small spaces where I stay, around the Canal St Martin area. Then you finish with “I visit Paris regularly” jealous not 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Ah, sorry Brian, I didn’t mean to make you so depressed and jealous 😉 😃 The Canal St Martin area has some lovely spots too!
the eternal traveller
I’d be happy to replace cake with ice cream, especially on a hot day.
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes, nothing beats good ice cream on a hot day!
Amy
How wonderful to visit this beautiful city agin. Thank you for the walk through your photos. 🙂
So glad to the progress of Notre Dame!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Amy ☺️ Yes, it’s great to see Notre Dame starting to come back to what it once was!
Rose
Thanks for the lovely walk, I felt as if I were right there with you. I could feel the warmth, taste the ice cream, and smell the Flower Market. I’m so glad you gave updates of Notre Dame, thanks for the link. The Paris Wall Newspaper outside Shakespeare & Co was a delight to read.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Rose, it was a pleasure to take you along with me ☺️
Susanne Swanson
Somehow I replied to a comment instead instead of a new comment. About right for commenting from my phone! 😁 Lovely walk in Paris!
Sarah Wilkie
That happens a lot, don’t worry about it!
GeoDel PhotoTravelogue
I was in Paris only once. Somehow, all you mentioned felt familiar to me. It would be nice to be back in Paris.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad to have brought back good memories. Somehow Paris does cast a spell over many who visit.
Tanja
Lovely walk.
Susanne Swanson
How wonderful to be able to visit Paris so often you can enjoy it at a slow place! Loved taking this walk with you!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Susanne – we are very spoiled living so close to Paris 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 😀
Nemorino
From your photo of the Théâtre de la Huchette, I see that on that day they performed La Cantatrice chauve (The Bald Soprano) and La Leçon (The Lesson) for the 19,700th time since February 1957. I saw both plays on a rainy night in November 1966, in their tenth year at this venue.
Brad M
Brings back so many memories of places visited when were there in 2009. Thank you.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad to have brought back those memories Brad!
Heyjude
How lovely. On my last visit to Paris in 2010 I felt no great need to seek out the tourist hotspots, but randomly wandered. We stayed in an apart’hotel in Place d’Italie which wasn’t too bad, though the kitchenette was teeny! But it was close to a shopping centre and metro station. Your lovely photos remind me how delightful Paris can be. (And how horrified I am to find it has been 13 years since my visit)
Sarah Wilkie
I’m glad to have reminded you of the delights of Paris – and maybe inspired you not to leave it another 13 years?!
restlessjo
Don’t you have a significant birthday coming up, Jude? Paris beckons.
Heyjude
I do, but nothing planned. R will be here until 2nd. Maybe Spain later in the year?
Sarah Wilkie
Ooh that’s a good idea Jo 🙂 But then, Paris is always a good idea, as Audrey Hepburn famously said!
restlessjo
It’s a tricky business finding the right place to stay, isn’t it, but at the end of the day it’s all about the place and I know you have a love affair with Paris. I’d have been down on the quay too, or on a Bateau Mouche. How long since the Notre Dame fire? Ages, it seems. Dread to think of the cost and effort involved. Many thanks for sharing, Sarah 🤗💙
Sarah Wilkie
Absolutely, especially if you don’t want to pay a fortune in an expensive city! This apartment was in an amazing location but was very stuffy because we couldn’t open the windows – the only one that would open any distance was immediately above the smelly communal dustbins in the courtyard! Lots of smaller niggles too – despite the location I doubt we’ll go back. Back to Paris, yes of course, but not to that apartment.
The Notre Dame fire was in April 2019, so over four years now. But they’ll get there, I’m confident of that!
restlessjo
Sorry, Sarah- I just saw the link to Notre Dame. I read this earlier on my phone.
Sarah Wilkie
No worries Jo – after all, I recently did the same on your Ushaw post!
margaret21
What a fabulously intimate diary from someone who no longer has to focus on the must-sees.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 😊 But we also always do some sightseeing too!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Capturing the essence of one of our mutual favourite cities in words and pictures. Everything we love about this great city is here in this post…
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thanks Phil, I’m happy you think I’ve captured it so well 😊
margaret21
Of course! But now you have a good take on exactly what you want to see.
isaiah46ministries
We were there in May of this year, and it was so wonderful. These photos bring back memories.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad to have brought back good memories for you – it is indeed a wonderful city!
Anne Sandler
Wonderful street photography Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Anne 🙂