“There’s always next time.”
That’s been my mantra every time I’ve visited Paris. Whether I’ve been there for two days or three weeks, I’ve never quite hit everything on my “must see” list.
So it seems fitting that today I should happen across a recent post by my blog-buddy Marcia at InsideJourneys. Her experience in the City of Light was similar to mine:
Don’t get me wrong, I loved every minute of my three days but it went by so fast, if I didn’t have photos, I’d think it had been a dream.
Like me, Marcia came home with a bunch of “must sees” that will have to wait until next time. But as I perused her Top 10 list of misses I realized how lucky I’ve been to see so very, very much of Paris.
So today I thought I’d take Marcia’s list and give her a little preview of what she’ll get to see next time. Here are the first five.
1. Sunset cruise on the Seine • Many Parisians dismiss these as being too “touristy,” but they’re a lovely way to wrap up the day and see the city—plus the Eiffel Tower’s light show—from a new perspective.
2. La Sainte-Chapelle • Built by Louis IX to house Christ’s crown of thorns, this stunning chapel was consecrated in 1248. It still boasts much of the original glass and is a popular venue for classical-music concerts. Go on a partly cloudy day for the best light show.
3. Église Saint-Sulpice • Paris’s second-largest church (after Notre Dame), St. Sulpice may ring a bell because of its role in The Da Vinci Code. Although its interior is rather austere, it does house some interesting paintings—and a life-size reproduction of The Shroud of Turin.
4. Le Moulin Rouge • Josephine Baker and Edith Piaf once entertained a bohemian crowd at the Moulin Rouge, but these days it caters mostly to tourists. I seem to have misplaced my single Moulin Rouge shot so I hope you’ll settle for another Montmarte stand-in of equal or greater (cultural) value.
5. Montmartre • There are few authentic remnants of the bohemian neighborhood that was once home to Picasso, Dali, Modgiliani, Monet, and a host of other (mostly drunk) artists and musicians. But it’s still an excellent venue for art, people-watching and street photography.
So there you go, Marcia … a little taste of what you can look forward to next time. Please check back soon for the second half of your Top 10 list.
HeideBlog 
Bonjour.
Merci infiniment… ;):)
Et mes quatre yeux moi aussi. :):)
MO and his LEICA M3 from Paris.
Salut, mon cher ami ! C’est moi qui doit donner les mercis, Mo. Grâce à toi, j’ai vu des endroits mesconnus à Paris, et mon cadrage a amelioré beaucoup aussi. (Entre nous, je pense qu’il nous aide, avoir quatre yeux. 🙂 )
Once again, your blog intersects with what is happening in my own experience, prompting me to blog in response. You know where to find it.
What can I say, XpatScot? Great minds think alike! Loved your post … and at the risk of repeating myself: you really must take the missus to the top of the Eiffel Tower and then on a sunset cruise on the Seine. Both are magical experiences, no matter how many times you’ve been to Paris. (PS: I really would love it if our paths happened to intersect there at some point. Any chance you’ll be in Paris in November?)
Waaa, what are you doing to me???? I wanna go back! Girl, I LOVE to see Paris through your eyes! Any chance you could get your job to send you there for say, 6 months? And you get to bring your hubby?
One thing I have to say about Paris (then I’ll shut up for a little while): it’s a thousand times better than the photos and the movies.
PS: I only stopped blogging about it ’cause I thought people were getting sick of reading another post about a place I spent only 3 days in.
I’m glad my post inspired you. Can’t wait to see the rest.
Thanks, H!
Marcia! I’m so glad you found this post. 🙂 I was going to drop you a note, but then I thought it would be more fun if you just stumbled across it.
I join you in saying, “WAAAA! I wanna go back!” Oh, how I wish my job would send me there for six months (or sixty!). Alas, my current position is pretty much based in the States. But they do have an office in Paris, so you never know …
And I also agree wholeheartedly that photos, books, movies — you name it — will never do Paris justice. It’s such a feast for senses, and there’s no way to capture the joy of eating a crêpe as you listen to a street musician, squint to take in the sunset, and feel the cool evening breeze coming off the Seine. Sigh.
As for your worrying about people getting sick of reading about Paris … obviously I can speak only for myself, but please keep your Paris posts coming! I love seeing my favorite city through *your* eyes, too.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the things you missed, coming soon! 🙂
The photos are so beautiful, so sensitive.
I can see why you and Mo are friends — you share almost the same eye. Love his photos. He captures the romance of Paris so eloquently.
I am *very* honored that you would think Mo and I have a similar eye. I think he’s an extraordinary photographer … your description of him as “eloquent” is perfect. But what makes him very special indeed is that he is as much a technician as he is an artist. He really knows what he’s doing, and it shows in his images.
Sorry I haven’t been commenting, it’s been a little crazy here the last few months. Can’t wait for it to settle down.
In the midst of the craziness, my mind escapes to Paris. I’m walking the Champs Elysees, climbing the Eiffel Tower, relaxing at a cafe. An entire day will pass and I realize I didn’t get much done.
Sounds like we both could use another visit. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that your will need someone with your particular skills to work in Paris for sixty months (or more).
Listen, your photos have such a warmth to them, they not only capture the actual images, they also make me feel the emotion, they have soul. Mo’s are fabulous. I looked at them again and I agree: his technique and artistry show through and through.
I’ll find a way to sneak Paris in again really soon.
Thanks again, H!
Marcia
Oh my goodness, you are too kind, Marcia! Thanks so much for making my day (and Mo’s as well, I’m sure!). I hope we’re both able to make it back to Paris soon … and it would be super cool if our visits should ever coincide. I’d love to show you some of my favorite photo spots. 🙂
WOW !!!
Thank you so much InsideJourneys. 😉 🙂
Merci beaucoup. ;):)
Je suis honoré par tant d’éloges.
Merci, merci, merci à vous deux.
MO and is Leica M3 from Paris;
De rien, Mo ! Tu mérites tous les éloges du monde. 🙂
Well I for one will never get tired of your evocative shots of Paris! That one of the creperie is perfect, a little haiku of a photo. And I think you’ve captured the experience of standing in the Sainte Chapelle better than anyone else I’ve seen. I don’t know anything about photography, but I think your work is enchanting.
(En plus: moi aussi j’ai quatre yeux! Pour mieux voir le monde… 🙂 )
Merci beacoup, bêtedançante ! Tu as raison à propos de nos quatre yeux: ils sont pour mieux voir le monde — même s’il est un peu malformé. Seriously, though. Thanks so much for your lovely words. It pleases me enormously to know that my photos convey a little bit of the love I feel for Paris (and — usually — for its people). Hemingway really nailed it when he described that city as a moveable feast.
De rien! (Ooh, I do like ‘bêtedançante’…)
I enjoy your blog. I’ll bookmark it and return from time to time. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for your kind words! I appreciate the support … and I’m glad to know someone out there enjoys my random musings. And now I’m a fan of yours, too: Your apple pie and beef sandwich photos made me ravenous — and those swimming pool shots made me jealous. You really *are* living in paradise, aren’t ya?