“There are times when I still feel like an outsider or a perpetual tourist—like I’ve only just scratched the surface of the city”

Since settling in Paris in 2013, Seb Emina has brushed off his French and adapted to the character of the City of Light. When he and his wife first arrived, they settled in the Fifth Arrondissement south of the Seine River, which is home to iconic Latin Quarter landmarks such as the Panthéon and the Sorbonne. “It’s beautiful and traditional to the point of there being actual accordion players on street corners,” Seb says. Now living in the Belleville district, which he loves for its creative vibe and multicultural atmosphere, he enjoys exploring the areas around the Belleville, Jourdain and Ménilmontant metro stations. “They’re old working-class neighborhoods with vibrant Jewish, Chinese and North African communities,” he says. “It’s living proof that Paris is not just a museum city.” After living most of his life in London, it took Seb some time to get accustomed to the relatively laid-back Parisian culture: With an emphasis placed on forging a healthy work/life balance, the French way of living was worlds away from Britain’s hectic pace.

“It’s de rigueur for fashionable restaurants to be closed on weekends, and much of the city grinds to a halt in August,” he explains. Seb has spent the past three years becoming acquainted with the city’s geography without dimming the sense of wonder he associated with the metropolis before he called it home. While the number of mysterious alleyways and uncharted routes have gradually dwindled, he still relishes the moments that remind him of why he fell in love with Paris in the first place—such as the view of the Eiffel Tower from the top of his street and the myriad bakeries yet to be discovered. “There are times when I still feel like an outsider or a perpetual tourist—like I’ve only just scratched the surface of the city,” Seb says. “But it also, somehow, feels like home.”

5 Books to Read About Travel
Granite Island — Dorothy Carrington
A book about Corsica from 1971 that’s so beautifully written and comprehensively researched that it was made into a black cover Penguin Classic.
Venice — Jan Morris
I can’t quite believe the city of Venice is real, and Jan Morris’ masterpiece is an evocative approximation of the place and its history.
Letters from Hawaii — Mark Twain
Interesting, funny dispatches from four months Twain spent in Hawaii in 1866. I found my copy in a bookshop in Maui, and it still holds memories of that trip.
The North Water — Ian McGuire
I couldn’t put it down. A dark, violent thriller set on a whaling mission to the Arctic.
The Rings of Saturn — W.G. Sebald
It’s impossible to describe this book without sounding like someone trying to do justice to a disjointed but meaningful dream.