Sometimes the best thing to do in Paris is to just BE A TOURIST. We've been here for two weeks and with that much time it is fun to try to pretend you are a local. It's exciting to try the restaurants the locals eat at and make the effort to speak only in French or to picnic in the parks far outside the cities center where few tourists ever venture. But in a magical place like Paris, it is definitely rewarding to see the biggest sights, stroll down the most famous streets and eat out in the most popular neighborhoods. And today turned out to be a great day to be a tourist in Paris.
The George Pompidou Center, where we began, is a fun, crazy building housing an incredible modern art museum. On the roof, you get a fabulous panoramic view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower all the way up to Montmartre. I don't think any local would ever tire of this sight. And inside, the museum's permanent collection is amazing, don't miss it!
it was a really, really hot today (well over 90 degrees), too hot to walk so we took out bikes and headed out for a dinner at Le Christine in St. Germain. As we were riding over the famous Pont Neuf bridge we looked to the right and wow! A magnificent sunset over the Seine. (See pic above). It doesn't get much better than that.
After a lovely dinner at Le Christine, where we enjoyed another "modern French" restaurant (one can only take so many traditional French meals), we strolled along the Seine and ducked into Place Dauphine, a picture perfect almost movie set looking plaza tucked away off the Pont Neuf bridge. It was almost empty, quiet with the same soft yellow lighting that makes this entire city look magical at all times. We sat down on a bench and enjoyed the moment. Ah, to be a tourist in Paris. C'est magnifique!
View our slideshow below and don't forget to click 'show info' to display the captions.