Our Airbnb Location

Our Airbnb is located in the 6th arrondissement, also known as Saint Germain de Pres. Saint Germin de Pres is within the heart of the Left Bank or Rive Gauche and is associated with artists, writers, and philosophers.

According to Dream Plan Experience,

Saint Germain de Pres Paris is famous for its historic cafe culture. The Saint Germain district is where many iconic writers and artists lived and worked during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And, that wonderful cafe culture still exists today.

Au Chai De L’Abbaye

This popular restaurant across the street from our Airbnb apartment would be our evening destination for dinner.

First Full Day in Paris

Our first full day in Paris was wandering around without an itinerary to taking in the sights and exhaling into Paris… 

Left Bank Wanderings

Quai Malaquais

Quai Malaquais is along the Left Bank of the Seine River.

Quai translates to dock, waterfront, wharf, riverside, dockside, et al.

This is one of the smallest quais on the Seine River in Paris. It is between the Pont du Arts (pedestrian bridge) and the Pont Du Carrousel (road bridge).

Le Café des Beaux Arts

Time for some lunch at a cafe that has been open since 1900!

From 10best.com:

This cafe not only has the honor of being the closest cafe to the Pont des Arts, Rive Gauche, it also can claim that it’s been open for over a hundred years – since 1900 to be exact. Here you’ll find housemade desserts and a lunch menu that offers items more substantial than just a snack such as a plat de jour of steak and fries. It’s open every day until 2 a.m. and their day starts at 7 a.m. From the front sidewalk outdoor seating you gaze across the river at the Louvre and can sit for hours mesmerized watching the fashionistas, tourists, the bouquinistes and the cars pass by. The ambiance indoors is warm, friendly enough, and they even serve drinks for when you have that taste for a good, stiff whiskey.

Musee d’Orsay – 7th Arrondissement

After lunch we headed along the Quai Anatole France that walked us past the entrance to Musee d’Orsay and into the 7th arrondissement. With a tour booked later in the week, this second most famous museum in Paris was noted for its location and how to get there.

Pont Alexandre III

We walked along Quai Anatole France to Quai d’Orsay that brought us to the magnificent Pont Alexandre III.

Below is the Left Bank entrance of Pont Alexandre III with the two gilt-bronze statues of Fames (Greek Goddesses) restraining Pegasus on masonry socles.

One Fames holds a sword and is called – Renommée du Commerce (“Fame of Commerce”). The other Fames holds a horn and is called – Renommée de l’Industrie (“Fame of Industry”).

The Pont Alexandre III connects the 8th and 7th arrondissements.

We walked across this beautiful deck arch bridge that brought us to the Right Bank side of the River Seine.

Right Bank Wanderings

Artisan Market Along the Port des Champ Elyees

On the shores of the Right Bank we discovered an Artisan Market.

These shores are called Port des Champs-Élysées and is a thoroughfare in the Champs-Élysées district of the 8th arrondissement.

Here, I fell in love with and bought a lapis lazuli ring. You’ll see me wearing it in the lion eating my head picture and roasted chestnut pictures.

Artisan Market Fun

Under the Pont Alexandre III

Another “knowing” about Paris is the smell of urine, because many men pee outside. Using the tiolets in shops, cafes and restuarants is not really permitted unless you are dining there.

I didn’t notice this smell.

After walking through the Artisan Market, Michael had to pee.

Why not pee into the Seine from under the Pont Alexndre III!

Makes for a memorable story.

I didn’t pee.

I wanted the experience of walking under this bridge.

View From Cours-la-Reine

Leaving Pont Alexandre III, we walked the Cours-la-Reine towards Place de la Concorde that lends a great view of the Pont Alexandre III and Eiffel Tower.

Avenue Winston Churchill

We discovered Avenue Winston Churchill and a statue of the one time British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, on the grounds of the Petit Palais.

Across the Avenue from the Petit Palais is the Grand Palais.

Place de la Concorde

Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris, and is located in the 8th arrondissement at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.

Interesting fact, King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded in this square. Michael and I didn’t do anything so extreme, we just looked around, had a ride on the ferris wheel and ate some chocolate crepes.

Grounds of the Musee de Orangerie

After crepes, we wandered from the 8th arrondissement into the 1st arrondissement and the grounds of the Musee de Orangerie.

Courtyard of the Louvre

As we continued walking along the assorted quais or Right Bank waterfront of the 1st arrondissement , we came upon the Louvre museum.

We had a tour booked later in the week, and after a long day of walking at minimum we decided to check out the courtyard.

Passerelle de Solférino – Love Lock Bridge

We continued to walk the waterfront to the 7th arrondissement and walked up the stairs to the Passerelle de Solférino – a footbridge over the Seine – to take us back to the Left Bank side of the river.

We discovered we had stumbled upon a Love Lock Bridge!

Left Bank – Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

I always wanted to try roasted chestnuts!

I did not like them!

Aah… Paris…

S, 🇫🇷

March Break – 2016 – Paris, France

Paris, France – Arriving

Paris, France – Quai Malaquais, Le Café des Beaux Arts, Place de la Concorde, Riding the Roue de Paris, Passerelle de Solférino – Love Lock Bridge

Paris, France – Dinner at Au Chai de L’Abbaye

Paris, France – Easter Monday in Paris, Ile de la Cite – The Heart of Paris, Notre Dame and Ile Saint-Louis

Paris, France – La Palette,Yann Arthus-Bertrand & Musee d’Orsay

Paris, France – Les Deux Magots, Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Pres and YellowKorner La Hune Saint-Germain

Paris, France – The Louvre Museum

Paris, France – A Rainy Day in The Marais

Paris, France – The Eiffel Tower

Paris, France – Another Evening at Au Chai de l’Abbaye

Paris, France – Saint-Germain-des-Prés, The Latin Quarter, Place Saint – Michel Public Square, and Gastronomic Delights

Paris, France – I Hope To See You Again, My Friend