River Seine, Paris

We took the high-speed Eurostar passenger train from London St. Pancras and crossed the English Channel to reach Paris on 25 August 2014. The prospect of traveling through the Channel Tunnel had long intrigued me. As an engineer, I’ve always appreciated the remarkable complexity involved in constructing a tunnel beneath the sea. Spanning 50.5Km, the Channel Tunnel - often called the “Chunnel” - is an extraordinary feat of engineering, second in length only to Japan’s Seikan Tunnel at 53.85Km. The Chunnel consists of two 25-foot diameter rail tunnels spaced 98 feet apart, with a 16-foot diameter service tunnel running between them.

Like many great cities situated along a river, lake, or coastal front, Paris owes much of its elegance and grandeur to the River Seine. A leisurely cruise along the Seine offered us a panoramic glimpse into the heart of the city, allowing us to quickly grasp its rich history and architectural splendor.

Even at the gentle pace of the cruise boat, the views passed by almost too quickly to fully absorb the intricate designs of the many bridges and the exquisite façades of the buildings lining the riverbanks. We learned that there are 37 bridges spanning the Seine within Paris - ranging from the oldest, Pont Neuf, which is over 430 years old, to the newest, Pont Charles-de-Gaulle, completed just two decades ago. Each bridge told its own story and added to the timeless charm of this remarkable city.

River Cruise.

This massive amount of locks left at the bridge side rail add another
 couple of tons of load to the bridge structure!

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One of the most prominent sights in Paris was the Eiffel Tower. It was practically visible from every corner of Paris.