Celebrations at the Seine River

This Friday evening, the Olympic Games will open on the Seine River, a waterway that slices through the heart of Paris. Delegates will arrive by boat to herald this eagerly awaited celebration of global competition, marking the start of two exhilarating weeks.

For me, the Seine is a reservoir of memories, a backdrop to countless celebrations and challenges. The summer of 1992 was a season of camaraderie and discovery. My roommates and classmates from the University of Paris would gather supplies for our weekend picnics, tucking cheap bottles of wine, a $1 baguette, and camembert into our backpacks. We’d sit by the river, discussing our dreams, strict teachers, and the nuances of learning French, all while waving at tourists cruising along the Seine.

That summer was a mixture of homesickness, shared struggles, and the thrill of embracing life in a foreign land. A few months later, a breakup letter from my American boyfriend marked a turning point. Burning the letter and throwing his dog tags into the Seine felt like a ritual of renewal. I celebrated a new chapter of freedom and self-discovery, symbolized by those dog tags sinking to the river’s bottom. (I wonder if they are still there, at the bottom of the river?)

During that winter, my walks along the Seine after phonetics class became a cherished routine. The sight of Notre Dame against the quiet beauty of a tourist-free Paris made me feel at home. My heart healed, and I began to fall in love with the city and with who I was becoming within it.

In June of 1993, just before returning home, two college friends visited me. As I showed them around “my city,” I felt a sense of achievement. Sitting on the same riverbank as the previous summer, my friend Laura and I discussed life and mortality, a conversation that left a lasting imprint on my soul.

Two years later, leading trips to Paris became a passion. No longer a student with a cheap bottle of wine, I was now a teacher on the boat, sharing the city's beauty with my students. Over the past 25 years, I’ve enjoyed introducing countless loved ones to Paris, each visit adding to the rich tapestry of conversations and memories.

For those visiting Paris, the Seine offers countless spots to celebrate life. My favorite is a picnic on the “quais” in front of the Saint Michel fountain, with a view of Notre Dame. (metro stop: Saint Michel) Another favorite is a cruise along the river, marveling at the illuminated monuments.

https://www.bateauxparisiens.com/en/cruise-tours.html (RER stop: Champs de Mars/Tour Eiffel or metro stop: Bir Hakeim)

Have you celebrated by the Seine? If so, I’d love to hear your stories!

Love, Beth