THE SEINE, THE SEINE

After an enjoyable breakfast of café au lait on the picturesque market street, rue Daguerre, we headed for the Gare Montparnasse to buy tickets for the train to Bordeaux. The train station was crowded with people heading in every direction. We had to stand in line for an eternity. But, it was worth it. We now have our tickets and a rental car reservation for the trip to the Périgord. Then, a short Métro ride up Blvd Montparnasse and the cafés made famous by the likes of Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald.

Escargots washed down with a pleasant Beaujolais from Brouilly made a fine, light lunch (gotta save room for supper!) As many times as we have been in Paris, we’ve never taken a ride on the Bateau Mouche—tour boat. It is a version of the tour boats that ply the waterways of Fort Lauderdale. We always wanted to take the tour, but always ended up saying, “Next time.” Then, “next time” would come and we’d say it again. Now, we’ve done it. We, along with a busload of Japanese tourists

and several busloads of French school kids who delighted in amplifying their screams with echoes every time we went under a bridge.

Like kids everywhere they were exuberant and invulnérables.

The quays along the banks of the Seine were lined with cruising, liveaboard barges

and people enjoying a fine summer day. Even though the French always seem to be rushing to wherever they are going, they know how to take it easy.

This certainly wasn't the first time we've seen the landmarks of Paris, but seeing them from the river provided a new perspective.