Walking the Seine River
From the Eiffel Tower I walked toward the Seine River through the city. I wanted to walk the streets of this storied city before walking the banks of the river. Eventually, I found the river at a spectacular bridge that I’m sure you have seen in movies. I could see the Eiffel tower poking over the roof tops and festivities the other way near the Louvre. That’s the direction I started walking.
I walked down on the banks for a while, and up on the road for a while. Along the way I was in awe of the beauty of Paris. I passed museums and cafes. Sculpture dotted my path in terms of art and architecture. It was lovely.
Notre Dame
My walk’s end point was the heart of Paris. Literally, Paris is laid out from the square in front of this edifice. Notre Dame, the spectacular gothic cathedral sits on the banks of the Seine River. In front of it, a small square spreads out giving room to admire the stunning building, which at night is still breathtaking.
I sat on a bench and wrote some postcards to my nieces and nephews then got a closer look. A busker played guitar in front of the cathedral with a couple of people dancing. Below, by the river, revelers enjoyed a bar. For being 2 a.m., the city was still alive. If I concentrated hard enough, I even saw a dark shadow ducking behind the towers and gargoyles overhead. Someday, I’ll make it back to tour the inside of the building and the crypts beneath. This “Midnight in Paris” moment made me want that even more than before.
The Louvre
From Notre Dame, I walked back down the river. I passed the Palace of Justice and crossed to the other side of the river. Eventually, I found my second I.M. Pei building of the day 6,000 miles away. The Louvre is a spectacular historic building in and of itself. But, when you add the starkly contrasting pyramid of glass and steel in the center of the main courtyard, it is even more beautiful. Of course, being the middle of the night, I could not go in the museum. I only admired it from outside.
At this point my energy was fading very fast. I had been awake for nearly 48 hours and had walked several miles in Doha’s extreme heat and had a full day of work before getting to Paris. So, after the Louvre, I found a taxi and went back to the airport to try and sleep a little.
My “Midnight in Paris” experience may not have included time traveling, but it was still magical for me. It was a dream to walk the streets at night for only a few short hours. I want more now. It is like smelling some deliciously fresh bread and not being able to break the crust and enjoy it. I will return to Paris and smother that fresh bread with creamy butter. When? I don’t know, but I’ll do it! I kind of hoped my flight would be cancelled or delayed, so I could go back into the city. It was on time, and I flew direct to Dallas.
