Ever since my second trip to Paris in '92, I have always liked to end my visits with a trip on the Vedettes du Pont Neuf ride on the Seine after dark. Maybe it's the memories of rushing across the Pont Neuf to catch it with an old boyfriend, and then watching him miss the next to the last step on the way down to the boats and go sailing through the air (Scooping him up at the bottom with hugs and kisses was more than worth it). Or maybe it's just the twinkling, brilliant, views of a different City of Light at night from the water.
With summer light later into the evening, I had to catch the 8pm boat in order to be able to get to the train station in time. The ride lasts an hour and runs on the hour. I thought about catching the 9pm boat, but it would have been a run to the Gare D'Austerlitz at the end of a long exhausting day...8pm won out.
I was glad it did. We set off into a setting sun, just in time to get a few final shots of the Eiffel Tower near dusk. Making the turn, the sun seemed to be running away from us. It felt like a race, but a race I was happy to lose. The dramatic scenes of the Seine at dusk wowed me, in ways that the twinkling City of Light at night never have.
And, I think you can see why.
Back at the top on the Pont Neuf, it was time to say a bientot to Paris one more time. All I could think is what a day this has been! And then...there he was...
...Gene Kelly, dancing across the ledge of the Pont Neuf singing: "What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm in! Why, it's almost like being in love." (From Lerner and Lowe's Brigadoon)
Who needs love-locks when you can have this?
This, is being in love!
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