Paris When it Twinkles

Paris really is a beautiful city. And it's even more beautiful at night. The Eiffel Tower twinkles with lights every hour on the hour for five minutes as soon as it gets dark. In mid-October, that means the magic begins at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m. it's dark enough for a real light show.

The Eiffel tower twinkles on the hour.

We weren't the only ones to admire the twinkling lights that make the iconic tower sparkle. At night, a crowd of onlookers gather at the Champ de Mars to admire the Eiffel tower splendor. Afterward, there's a slow promenade when everyone walks along the Seine back to a hotel or apartment. It's absolutely magical.

We walked from the Eiffel tower to the Champs-Élysées metro stop and it was a beautiful nighttime stroll. Not once did I ever feel unsafe. We walked past the dreamy Seine with riverboats lighting the waters on their many twilight tours. Couples strolled hand-in-hand in the cool night air and Parisians walked their dogs.

The Prettiest Train Station

Paris through a Musee D'Orsay clock.

Earlier that day we toured the Musee D'Orsay, the art gallery housed in a beautiful old train station. Even if you don't like Impressionism, it's worth a visit just to see this magnificent converted train station. The outside looks more like a palace than a train station and the art is beautiful.

Kirk particularly liked the Van Gogh paintings on display. His self portrait exemplifies how Van Gogh pushed Impressionism to the edge. I liked Monet's water lillies and the painting of the woman in the poppy fields. So romantic ...

Even if you're not super thrilled with art, the train station's many clocks featuring beautiful views of the Parisian skyline are something you won't want to miss.

Here's a tip: Take the metro to Tuilierie garden and walk through it to cross the Seine and arrive at the Musee D'Orsay. Children are playing, businessmen are lunching and people are just hanging out on the lush grounds. It's just a short walk through the garden and across the bridge over the Seine to the Musee D'Orsay. It's more fun than simply taking the train straight to the museum.

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