When a person is in Paris for the first time ever, and a person has purchased a thing called The Paris Pass, which gives one unlimited access to far too many things to see and do, and a person has walked 18,000 steps in one day but is still not willing to give up, clearly the thing to do is to find a restaurant barge on the Seine, eat a relaxing meal, and then hoof it next door to the cruise barge for an after-dark river cruise. But be sure to push off at 9 p.m., when the day has just become night, and the lights on the Eiffel Tower spring to life, illuminating the dark in a joyous, sparkling display of crazy.

From the river, we can see the water side of the Louvre, the neighborhoods, the Île de la Cité, and everything we love about this section of Paris. We pass under the Pont Neuf, which means “new bridge” but is actually the oldest bridge across the Seine in Paris. The banks of the river are alive with people — walking, sitting, sprawling, kissing, dancing, partying, and bicycling. Paris is a different city when seen from the water.

Many would say this is a very tourist-y thing to do, and we agree with happy smiles. We are proud tourists, touring away like crazy. It’s an amazing close to a day packed with yes. Watch the video, and see the tower sparkle.

 

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