From Jardin du Luxembourg we walked leisurely towards the Seine– passing the Saint-Germain-des-Prés area still in the 6th arrondisement, and crossing the river to Île de la Cité.

Les Deux Magots, one of the popular cafés in the area, along with Café de Flore. Camus, Sartre, Picasso, and Hemingway used to hang out here.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Abbey is Paris’ oldest church, we spent some time looking around. I failed to note and see Rene Descartes’ ashes, which are kept here.



We walk some more and get to a lively shopping street- I presume that it is Rue de Buci. There are so many people on a Sunday; no good photos from there, sadly. We queue to get gelato at Amorino, and it’s one of the best I’ve had from the trip, even better than those I’ve tried in Italy. We walk some more and see Voltaire’s statue, and we finally reach the Seine.The Paris Boquinistes- books and souvenirs sellers by the Seine. Such vendors have been here since the 1500s, and the best spots are given by seniority.

Crossing Pont des Arts, a wide pedestrian bridge that has become a popular place for couples to leave padlocks to the railing.
Scenes from the banks of the Seine.



We reach Île de la Cité, literally the center of Paris, the island where Notre Dame stands. Taking the metro to Trocadero to finally see the Eiffel Tower. Here are two shots from the Cité metro stop. The second is a photo of the ‘metro innards,’ if you will. Dark and grimy. This is all you see when the trains pass the underground passageways.