Paris overnight

 April 12.

The digital Byway Journey Guide that came with our booked itinerary is easy to use providing directions for getting from each train station to each hotel (and back as well) as well as providing information relevant to the hotel's neighborhood.

For our arrival in Paris the guide directed us to use the RER train from Charles De Gaulle Airport to the Gare de Lyon in the Paris 12th arrondissement. Our hotel for the night was right across the street from the station.

The Guide also provides tips on what to see and do as well as dining options, all in the vicinity of your hotel.

Getting to the Hotel Citizen M from the Gare de Lyon.

a short walk to the hotel indeed

The hotel itself was truly a unique experience, for us at any rate. The lobby was on the 1st floor (2nd for North Americans) and consisted of a series of check-in-yourself kiosks. There were several staff to help you choose your room, set up your room key and just be there for all-around assistance. 

Like our overnight experience in Hamburg back in 2022, you needed to use your room card to access the floor stop on the elevator. Once in the room, which was quite small but efficiently laid out -- we thought rather like on a ship or a sleeper train -- we got acquainted with using the room's iPad for the climate control, lights, even the blinds and curtains were all done electronically. The bathroom was well laid out and the shower fixtures like ours at home! The bed was large and proved to be quite comfortable. It was on a platform which consisted of a couple of drawers, one with the room safe and another one with extra pillows. All quite minimalist but functional and handy. 

We set an alarm and napped for about 30 minutes before heading out for a stroll in the beautiful Parisian sunshine. 

the clock tower of Gare de Lyon and our hotel front right

Crossing the river to the Gare Austerlitz we walked along the Seine to the Jardin des Plantes, a place we have visited many times before. A calming and naturally beautiful space that helps put aside any cares of the day, relax and breathe deeply. 

Packed with tourists, families and friends on a sunny afternoon, we strolled, sat and took in the warmth, the colors and enjoyed people watching.

Leaving the gardens we walked the two or three blocks over to our old neighborhood on rue Poliveau where we lived in 2006-2007. It was nice to see most of the shops we relied on for our daily needs were still around.

From Poliveau we walked up to boulevard Saint-Marcel passing a couple of favorite restaurants on our way back to Gare Austerlitz and back across the Seine to our hotel.

Since we had a couple of free drink vouchers for the hotel bar burning holes in our pockets we settled in at the bar and had a glass of wine before ordering food. The sun was sliding downward and so were the two of us. After a delicious meal (Susie had the cauliflower soup and I had baked fish with tomatoes) we planned to turn in. But we had to pop up to the top floor bar to see the view of the city before heading off to bed.

you can just see the Seine through the window, far right

The next morning we had an incredible breakfast at the hotel: perfect coffee, mini jars of Bonne Maman, wonderful pain au chocolat and lots of bread, fresh fruit, meats and cheeses. The scrambled eggs were creamy, fluffy and delicious.

and yes all the hot foods on the left are in big Le Creuset pots!

sliced meats and cheeses

Returning to the room we finished packing up and headed downstairs to check out. Out the door, we walked the 3 minutes to the Gare de Lyon!

Next: Off to Spain!