Blue skies over Place de la République, where people came together after the attacks on January 7.

I was lucky enough to visit Paris near the end of last year. It was only my fourth time in the City of Light, but somehow I always feel at home there. My French is horrible, but that doesn’t stop me from roaming the streets, getting  a little lost and seeing what I stumble across. This trip included tasty crepes at Marché des Enfants Rouges, an evening with new friends at La Belle Hortense (a cozy wine bar/bookshop) and a catching a film at the old-school cinema Le Desperado. A few times I even shut off my iPhone and left my map at the hotel to see where I would end up. Exploring with no plan at all, I managed to wander through a Julie Delpy film shoot near Place de la République and a Karl Lagerfeld-Gisele photo session in the Latin Quarter…on the same day!

Just like in New York, walking through the city streets of Paris gives you a feeling of being truly alive. The urban energy, the architecture, the food and wine, it’s all perfect. I’ve been meaning to put up my photos since I came back, and with the horrible events of last week, it seems like the right time to share my love of Paris.

Parisians biking and walking along Rue de Archives. Photo: Craig Nelson

My room with a view from Hotel Tiquetonne. Photo: Craig Nelson

Strolling around the Canal Saint-Martin neighborhood. Photo: Craig Nelson

Rue Tiquetonne.

Porte Saint Denis

The chimneys of Paris. Photo: Craig Nelson

Best public transport signage in the world. Photo: Craig Nelson

Looking up at Sacre Couer. Photo: Craig Nelson

The beautiful Gare Du Nord. Photo: Craig Nelson

Navigating the steep Sacre Couer steps.

Clouds over Paris.

Hanging out along the Seine at night. Photo: Craig Nelson

Rue de Lancry. Photo: Craig Nelson

The city sprawling out from Sacre Coeur. Photo: Craig Nelson

Paris Graffiti.

Classic Paris streetscape.

True “love” in Paris. Photo: Craig Nelson

Looking at Canal Saint-Martin from a pedestrian bridge. Photo: Craig Nelson

Notre Dame at night. Photo: Craig Nelson

Sun breaking through over the Eiffel Tower. Photo: Craig Nelson