Canal St. Martin

Canal St. Martin is a quiet and rather romantic area of Paris, which is well known to the people of Paris, but a bit obscure to tourists. It has been featured in films, but not many tourists know where it is. Located in the 10th Arr. It is another waterway which originates at the Seine and bisects the city northeast. It connects with the Bassin de la Villette and continues northward. Tree lined and with many small bridges crossing, the canal feels like a scaled down Seine. Dotted with small shops, restaurants and parks, Canal St. Martin is a good place to go when you are feeling lazy and wanting to take the sight-seeing slow. One of the pass times of people in the area is watching the tour boat navigate the complex system of canals. When entering one portion of the canal, the boat is lowered into the other portion and this occurs a few times till the boat is on the lower portion of the canal. I suggest taking the boat, which boards at the Quai de la Loire and Avenue Jean Jaurès, just in front of the movie theater, and after the ride, take in a movie or eat at one of the nearby restaurants. Since this area is off the usual track, you get to see another side of Paris, one that is a real city and not just one big museum.