Brace yourself for a not-so-thrilling ride down the Seine River and a touristy extravaganza as we conquer all the iconic landmarks on the Big Bus Tour. Fasten your seatbelts, folks!

Breakfast - Room Service

Our day started with an exciting knock on our door, and guess what? It was room service delivering our eagerly awaited breakfast! We couldn't resist indulging a bit because, come on, we're in the city of love and croissants!

The food was beautifully showcased on a delightful wooden tray adorned with flawless decorations! However, the portions were as petite as a French poodle, and the flavors were as lackluster as a mime on a rainy day. The one thing that did bring a glimmer of delight was the cappuccino,

thanks to its energizing caffeine kick! Following our posh yet uninspiring breakfast, we bundled up in layers, hailed an Uber, and made our way to the fabulous cruise spot, Paris Seine Port!

Activity - The Cruise

When we first pulled up, we couldn’t miss the Eiffel tower looming over the port, still looking spectacular in the daylight. But we were scratching our heads trying to locate the Cruise – you know, the one that’s supposed to be part of the Big Bus Tour. They did send us an email but with not-so-great directions. After walking around the area, we finally spotted some numbers by the ports and found it. The line was already getting pretty long despite us getting there a good 30 minutes early.

Atlas, we boarded the boat and chose seats by the big windows and a door leading to the deck. Inside, we found vending machines, a bathroom, TV screens, and even some peculiar phone headsets. Although the top deck was closed due to high water levels, we were still able to enjoy the journey from the bottom deck.

The captain informed us that we wouldn’t be able to complete the full loop due to windy weather, but we remained excited for the adventure ahead. The boat sets sail and off we go!

After just 10 minutes, two men chose to position themselves right in front of our window! It was a bit disappointing at first, blocking our view, but guess what? I still managed to catch glimpses of some amazing sights and even capture a few photos! We sailed past iconic landmarks like the Louvre, the majestic Eiffel Tower, a replica of the Statue of Liberty, and smoothly glided under some breathtaking bridges.

The TV screens on the boat displayed the intriguing view ahead, which was pretty interesting but they intermittently showed messages about the on/off status of talking, which initially puzzled us. However, we soon realized it pertained to the peculiar payphone-like devices onboard.

Pressing a button would trigger a language change, although the functionality was lacking, and the information provided was not relevant to the surroundings.

After about 20 minutes or less on the cruise, the boat turned around and headed back to return to port. The cruise failed to impress us, and it is unlikely that we would embark on it again. The experience was rather simplistic, lacking in detailed commentary.

Big Bus Tour

We stepped off the boat and made our way to the Big Bus Tour meeting point, located next to the magnificent Eiffel Tower. Excitedly, we hopped onto the bus and quickly grabbed some headphones. Plugging them in, we selected the English language option.

Our first destination was the enchanting Notre Dame, at stop number 5. On our way we passed by some other landmarks such as the Champ De Mars, Opera Garnier, and the Louvre. The bus’s audio was surprisingly engaging, I mean, it had some really cool commentary that spilled all the tea on the history of the landmarks, and even threw in some side stories and fun facts. The bus drove across a bridge and dropped us off a street away from Notre Dame.

Lunch - Cafe du Metro

We took a stroll around the streets and realized it was the perfect time for lunch, with several inviting restaurants and cafes surrounding us. So, I whipped out my trusty Yelp app once again to locate the nearest eateries, and that’s when “Cafe du Metro” popped up – with its enticing menu. It ended up being up the street.

We arrived at an elegant black building adorned with a charming white awning. Nestled between a small park, roundabout and several other buildings, the cafe exuded a delightful ambiance.

We were promptly shown to our table as soon as we arrived. The interior of the café was charming, exuding a bright and modern atmosphere. Our waiter welcomed us with warmth and courtesy.