The Travel Team’s dream came true when we had the chance to stay on a houseboat on the Seine in Paris, right near the city’s heart. We rented the houseboat through Tripadvisor and found the booking process incredibly easy and straightforward.
Our houseboat, Chalik, was anchored among other houseboats near Gare d’Austerlitz, just beside Pont d’Austerlitz, and it was going to be our home for the next four days. Initially, walking on the boat took some getting used to. It usually stayed pretty steady, but whenever a tourist or freight boat passed by, our houseboat would gently rock as it acted as a wave breaker for the other boats further in the harbor. After a few days, we got so accustomed to the rocking that even solid ground started to feel unstable!
Living on a houseboat means dealing with confined spaces, which can be both cozy and a bit crazy, depending on how many people are with you and your state of mind. When you can’t change the number of guests, adjusting your mindset helps.
Staying on the houseboat felt like having a private apartment by the waterfront. We could sit on the outside terrace and take in the beautiful view of the Seine, enjoying moments that made us feel like true Parisians, especially when tourist boats floated by. The boat was in excellent condition, so we had none of the inconveniences you might expect. We could relax with a glass of wine, cook dinner, or have breakfast just like at home, but with the magical touch of being right on the river.
Trying something out of the ordinary led us to an extraordinary adventure. Speaking a bit of the local language also helped us connect with Parisians, making the experience even more memorable. Remember, extraordinary adventures can happen anywhere—you just have to be open to them!
suansuan