Woke up early on Monday at our Merlot apartment near the river in Paris.  I grabbed my camera and tore out of the apartment for a short run along the Seine.  What a gift, watching the sun rise over Paris!  I gazed in awe from the Pont Alexandre III near the Invalides. The sky turned pink and yellow while the sun slowly rose above the beautiful river, touching the water and the monuments as it rose.

I thought how lucky I was to have this morning: to be in Paris, stay in an apartment near the Seine, to walk to the river a few blcoks away:  the light, the beauty and magic…for these special moments. C’etait magnifique!

Vowed to learn more about the bridge and the bronze statues which range from powerful god-figures to an absolutely charming nymph straddling a wriggling fish. I’m no great runner and it didn’t matter at all when I started to walk. I headed towards the Louvre and slowly wended my way home:  fifteen minutes from the Musee’ d’ Orsay to my door. I loved every moment!

Taking it all in, I was reminded of a book I read by Harlan Coben where the protagonist finds himself in Paris.  It’s a good mystery from an excellent writer.

Harlan Coben from Long Lost:

But more than that, Paris makes you feel alive.
Makes makes you want to feel alive.
You want to do and be and savor when you are here
You want to feel, simply feel, and it doesn’t matter what.
All sensation is heightened
Paris makes you want to cry and laugh and fall in love and write a poem and make love and compose a symphony.

Merci M. Coben, on ne peut pas mieux le dire.

Commanding the sun to rise over Paris

Perfect reflections of the Grand Palais and Pont Alexandre III

Charming and playful statue of a nymph riding a fish!

Every neighborhood of Paris has its special parts, but remember this sunrise. However much I enjoy more distant neighborhoods, from the outer Marais to Montmartre, I’ll always want to live near the Seine.

Water so still buildings and trees perfectly reflected.