One of the best things about living in Paris is that no matter where you live (other than the suburbs)…there is somewhere gorgeous you can walk to. In my case, Trocadero.

We are in June and the weather is nice, finally. The tourist invasion has commenced, and Trocadero is one of the hot spots.

Palais du Trocadéro was built on the hill of Chaillot in 1867 on the occasion of the World’s fare. The initial building was later demolished and replaced with the current Palais in 1937, for the International Exhibition. Like the Eiffel Tower it overlooks, it was built to impress, but, for me, at least, it fails to do so: I prefer my buildings to look more classical, I suppose. While the Palais houses a number of museums (Naval Museum, Museum of Architecture), most tourists come here for the vista : the Eiffel Tour in it’s glorious splendour. The locals, on the other hand, prefer the Jardins du Trocadero, the green stretch of grass in front, towards the Seine.

Today is hot and the uninhibited locals are using the Jardins to relax, work on a tan or take a dip in the fountains. No beach, no problem.