Ever Ready: Out and About in Paris Day One

Saturday, September 26, 2026

Out and About in Paris Day One

Our two days in Paris were action-packed, with a variety of experiences from 8:30 AM until dinner on the ship. Our bus picked up a local guide as we then toured the city for a panoramic view of iconic places. We began with the Eiffel Tower for photo opportunities and some historical information.

We stopped at a quaint nearby district to look around. We have been told to bring our own water bottles on this trip, as France prides itself on water conservation. The public is encouraged to fill their own reusable bottles rather than using plastic bottles. This photo shows an elaborate water fountain where you can refill your bottle.

Instead of window shopping, Parisians call it window licking. And oh my, what tantalizing foods there were. We stopped for cheeses,

pastries

and the tour guides arranged for chocolate sampling.

We had only a few hours of free time in the afternoon, so unfortunately we couldn't do the entire list my daughter had made for us based on location sites from the TV series "Emily in Paris."

The Tuileries Garden is a public garden between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. It was created by Catherine de Medici as the garden of the Tuiles Palace in 1564, it was opened to the public in 1667 and became a public park after the French Revolution. Since the 19th century, it has been a place for Parisians to celebrate, meet, stroll, and relax. The gardens are lovely, with several ponds, benches, and a carousel. We enjoyed lunch there.

Paris has been called the City of Lights but is also known for its bridges. Paris has 37 bridges across the Seine: 5 are pedestrian-only, and 2 are rail bridges. Three link Île Saint-Louis to the rest of Paris, 8 do the same for Île de la Cité and one links the 2 islands to each other.

When we returned to the ship in late afternoon, we went up to the sun deck. The Captain planned an early evening sunset cruise to enjoy the iconic sights of the Seine, including the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.