On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
We get to spend the day today in Paris! The third picture is my absolutely favorite, and it was taken from the Pont Neuf over the Seine. Auntie Anne is not the only who regrets that they didn’t do a river cruise on the Seine! I would love to have seen those photos! Maybe we can all pitch in and send her; it can’t be that much if we all pitch in, right? ~WaterGirl
Auntie Anne
I think I’ve said this before, but visiting France was one of my bucket list items. My friend and I spent a few days on our own before our 2017 tour started, mostly so we could explore places not included on the tour. These are just a few of the pictures I took as I gawked my way through Paris.
From the terrace of the Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussman, you can see spectacular views of the city. It’s one of the best free things to do in Paris.
We went everywhere via Metro. You couldn’t ask for a better transportation system – it was clean, well-marked, and the people were friendly and willing to help lost tourists. We got really turned around at one point, and the nicest man helped get us sorted out.
This was taken from the Pont Neuf over the Seine. My one regret is that we didn’t do a river cruise on the Seine.
From the interior of Notre Dame, looking up at one of the magnificent windows. When the cathedral burned two years later, we realized how lucky we had been to visit it.
This was one of my favorite places – the Place de Vosges. It was built by Henri IV from 1605 to 1612.
Place des Vosges initiated subsequent developments of Paris that created a urban background for the French aristocracy and nobility. The square was often the place for the nobility to chat, and served as a meeting place for them.
When we were there, the square was full of families with children, playing in the square and enjoying the fountains and gardens.
The Archives Nationales were created at the time of the French Revolution in 1790, and the original documents range from AD 625 to today. The beautiful buildings include the Hôtel de Soubise and the Hôtel de Rohan in the Le Marais district.
rikyrah
Paris????
p.a.
Pretty shots, thanks!
John Revolta
I was amazed the first time I saw a Metro train come rolling into the station- on rubber tires! They hardly made any noise! It was kinda surréaliste.
cmorenc
My impression of the couple of times I’ve been to Paris: Greatest city on earth, if only the French didn’t live there :=)
otmar
Nice pictures.
When we visited Paris a few years ago we did make the cruise on the Seine. I think I submitted some to One the Road back then.
Do you want more?
JPL
The pictures are wonderful and the first one does show an amazing view of the city.
gkoutnik
Only been to Paris once, for a day, in 1980. At that time, photography was not allowed in Notre Dame, but a friend had shown me how to “shoot from the hip,” as he called it: take pictures with the camera hanging down on it’s neck strap. I have almost the identical pic of the rose window. Good times. Liked Sainte-Chapell much better.
We had planned a trip to Paris – also a few days on our own, and then a tour – in May, for our 40th anniversary. Maybe someday. Thanks for the pics!
J R in WV
@otmar:
OH, Otmar, one can never have too much Paris!~! Please, more!!
Pictures of Paris don’t have to be of anything famous, just the streets and buildings, the traffic, whatever. We only spent 2 nights and one full day in Paris, after two weeks around the Pyranees, touring archaeological sites, winding up in Toulouse, where tht tour broke up and we took the train to Paris the next day, which was interesting in itself.
I love France, rural, urban, anywhere I’ve been. I want to visit the battlefields of
bothall the wars, the coast to eat seafood, the mountains to see geology right out there in the open. Where I grew up you have to work to see geology, but now I know there are places where it is right there in front of you.Auntie Anne, thanks for sharing your time in Paris!!! Otmar, thanks for sharing Europe with us!!!
ljt
Went to Paris to celebrate our 35th anniversary in 2018, my last (hopefully not final) trip abroad. I love, love, love Paris. Thank you for sharing your memories!
debbie
Beautiful!
donatellonerd
there’s the Batobus, which takes you from stop to stop along the river. imo, much nicer than the tourist boat tours, though i like those too. i have a lot of Paris pictures (i live here) if anyone’s interested. snow, floods, sunshine, gray, all the moods of Paris.
MrSnrub
I love Paris as well. Thanks for the pics.
arrieve
I’ve done the tourist boat on the Seine (with friends who had never been to Paris) and I’d rather just walk along the river myself. As I recall the multi-language commentary was even more annoying than usual — “To your right, the Champs-Elysees!” when that’s nowhere near the river. Still it was Paris, and I love Paris every moment, every moment of the year. Fresh baguettes with butter and jam for breakfast is alone worth the airfare.
randy khan
@gkoutnik:
Sainte-Chapelle is a wonder. It was the first place my wife (then girlfriend) took me the first time we went to Paris together and it amazed me. And it’s been nearly as amazing every time we’ve gone back.
I’ve done the boats that just go up and down the Seine, but not the ones with narration. It’s great when you’ve been walking for hours and just want some time to relax and see some sights (maybe sights you’ve already seen, but from a different angle).
Auntie Anne
@randy khan: I agree. Sainte-Chapelle is marvelous. I actually preferred it to Notre Dame and thought about including a picture from there. Another OTR, maybe . . .
Auntie Anne
@donatellonerd: Please submit your pictures! I loved Paris – we walked all over the place; I couldn’t get enough of it.
And good to know about the Batobus – if I ever get back there, it will be on my list.
eclare
Thank you for the photos! I love Paris, only been twice, I hope to get back someday.
frosty
We took a trip to London, Normandy, and Paris in 2014. We only had two days in Paris. It was the flip side or your visit because the only things we did were Seine River tour and going up the Eiffel Tower. Oh, and eating every meal in cafes in the Place de la Contrescarpe just down the street from our Air BnB. It was one of those amazing little places that aren’t on any tour.
ETA: It sounds like we took the Batobus since we got off to see the Tower and then got back on.
WaterGirl
@otmar: Of course we do!
WaterGirl
So many of you have been to Paris.
Everyone – please submit your Paris pics!!!
I think maybe we should have Paris Week – what say you? Or is it better to stretch them out a bit, or maybe a month or more of Fridays in Paris?
edit: Please, everyone. Write out your descriptions in Word or somewhere else and then just paste them in when you do the form. It goes much more quickly that way, and then if there’s a glitch in the form (we have seen 2 in the past month) then you have only lost 5 minutes of your time instead of the lovely descriptions that go with your photos!
meander
For some mid-20th century Paris on the Silver Screen, check out “Cleo from 5 to 7,” Agnes Varda’s 1962 film about a young woman (Cleo) who is having a difficult day (medical issues). During the film, Cleo travels around Paris in taxis or on foot, with the camera following along. The film is streaming on the Kanopy service and elsewhere. The DVD from the Criterion Collection has a bunch of interesting features, like interviews with the director and stars, and a modern-day motorcycle ride that follows Cleo’s path. (Another bonus: some kittens make a short appearance in Cleo’s apartment)
JustRuss
@gkoutnik: I visited Paris in 1986, and took some pictures in Notre Dame. Although I think they only allowed cameras in an area near the entrance.
InlovewithParis
My sister and I have stayed in Paris for 2-3 months each year for the past 6 years. I just want to say we not only LOVE Paris, but we also adore her people. The locals have always been so warm and helpful to us. Unlike what some tend to think about them being “rude”, if you are friendly and at least attempt to speak some French (especially in regard to the initial greeting!), then they are quite genial. If you have an “attitude”, they will respond with one as well!
Auntie Anne
@WaterGirl: Can OTR handle a short video? I took one of the Eiffel Tower lit up at night – it’s less than 15 seconds long.
Fridays in Paris sound lovely . . .
WaterGirl
@Auntie Anne: If you can put your video up on YouTube (there are simple instructions online) and send me the link, I can add video to the post. It doesn’t even need to be really short. :-)
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@InlovewithParis:
We lived there for a few years, and that was absolutely our experience as well. In all that time I encountered exactly one episode of unsolicited attitude, and that was from a waiter who was being indiscriminately rude to everyone, French or foe.
I have lots of pix of Paris and travels elsewhere in France, both from our 1997-2002 sojourn and from more recent trips. I’ll get off my duff and scan/submit them. Ste-Chapelle in 2018 after the windows had been restored was SPECTACULAR. I will never stop regretting that I didn’t bother to go into Notre Dame on that trip, because I’d been so many times and it would always be there, right? ?
otmar
@J R in WV: I just checked: back in 2017 I already submitted some of my Paris pictures.