Updated on June 17, 2013
Parisienne adventure
The Latin quarter is just south of the Ile de la Cite and is convenient walking distance from the main Paris attractions of Notre Dame Cathedral, the beautiful chapel of Sainte Chapelle, the Seine and the lively trading stalls along the river and the famous sidewalk cafes.
We found a tiny apartment in the Rue Des Artes and stepped out each morning into the buzz of Paris sidewalk culture.
The Bateau Bus (boat) is a great way to see the city from the river and relax into the lifestyle.
The wide stone-flagged walkways along the river are wide enough for people to sit for picnicks and take in the atmosphere. We bought a bottle of wine, a baguette and some cheese and spent a most enjoyable time having a twilight picnic by the Seine.
There are many tourist souvenir shops, cafes, bakeries, creperies etc At lunch and dinner time restaurants are buzzing with customers. Cuisine styles range from the very French to the very exotic, including Asian, African etc.
Walking further south from the river you’ll find the ‘real’ businesses, boutique book sellers and specialist shops of every kind. The old buildings are well preserved and maintained. The Latin quarter is known as a pick-pocket risk so watch your handbags, wallets and phones.
Walking Tours are available but wandering and discovering unexpected delights is also a good option.
Transport
There are tourist buses, commuter buses and underground trains (metro) as well as the river boats so there’s plenty of choice for getting around. We paid about €20 each for five days of unlimited travel on the bateau bus. It was lovely to escape the crowds, rest on the boat and glide past the fanous sights and landmarks of Paris.
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