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Simon Calder takes a different look at the French capital of Paris. Instead of by foot, he is touring the city by boat with a cruise on the River Seine.
By Simon Calder
Looking at a familiar city from a new perspective can be a rewarding experience – and Paris has more possibilities than most for doing so.
You can, for example, take a trip through the city's underside with a visit to the sewers or catacombs: more fun than it sounds.
The Metro, which most people imagine is an underground railway, actually has some sections that whisk you across the city at roof level.
But perhaps the most fascinating approach is to take cruise from the Ile de la City, the island in the heart of the French capital, down to the Eiffel Tower and back upstream to Notre Dame.
Choose a boat with a live commentator – rather than pre-recorded announcements – and you get an engaging introduction to the city from river level. And thanks to frenetic competition between the operators, you can expect good value and high quality.
I'm already looking forward to my next Seine cruise – after dark, when Paris really sparkles.
Our Travel Diarists report their own stories as they travel the world. Compelling, funny and always enlightening, their words (and videos) are written for you.
Our Travel Diarists report their own stories as they travel the world. Compelling, funny and always enlightening, their words (and videos) are written for you.
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