Paris
Okay, this morning I was super lazy and slept really well, but slept until 10:15. Breakfast ends at 10:30. So I considered skipping it, but I don't know if I can get it tomorrow, and it is a nice way to start the day (and less expensive than a meal out somewhere later!). So I got up, dressed, and arrived at 10:30. I asked if I was too late and they said no, and waved me in. Today is much warmer and I wore capris and sandals! Yay!!
After a leisurely breakfast, I brushed my teeth, packed up my bag, and headed out! Last night I heard another person in my room coughing in the night, so at least I'm not the only one that could be disturbing my roommates' sleep! I worry about that because some people are much lighter sleepers than others. I mean, it's not like I can help it--it's not a choice. And other than the tissues, cough drops, and water that I take in my bed space with me and use all night, there's not much more I can do.
Anyway, I took the metro halfway to Notre Dame and walked the rest of the way. Much better for my back. And the line was not terribly long and just kept moving. I was in the no reservations line. The reservations line had people and groups waiting to be let in as well. So a short time in line and I was in! To be honest, it doesn't look much different inside. Cleaner probably, but that is it. I know that they cleaned the stained glass windows that remained intact--they were covered with smoky residue. I read that Germany shared three stained glass craftspeople with the French and paid all of their expenses, and I'm guessing that the government hired others as well to rebuild the windows that were damaged and destroyed. I read that because it is owned by the French government, the church and most of its contents cannot be insured. But within days over 800 million euros had been raised and more since then to repair the cathedral. I remember feeling heartsick when it happened, like a personal loss. So, it was nice to see it looking well. Some of the artwork had obviously been replaced with more modern art and some of the windows had been redone in a different art style than the originals. I read that there is much more work to be done, including re-doing the grounds in front of the cathedral and that they feel that they have enough money to get it done. Macron had promised 5 years to repair Notre Dame, but it was reopened in three (though, as I said, there is more work do be done that is less visible). (My photos uploaded in a strange order and don't want to be moved around. Sorry about that!)
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| The facade, much cleaner tha before! |
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| From the line--every window in that building, even in the attic, has a (tiny) balcony! |
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| The nave |
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| Looking at windows |
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| One of the rose windows |
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| So bright and clean |
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| Vibrant colors! |
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| A different rose window with the sun coming in! |
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The ceiling and the pipes
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As you walk in.
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One of the side chapels
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| These windows do not look original |
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| The chapel of Mary Magdelene--I find it interesting that the statue in here is of a man--not the saint herself. |
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| Even the stone pillars are repainted |
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| Modern art replacing destroyed originals |
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| More modern art |
Then I went across the square to the crypt, specifically, the Crypte archéologique with a Dans la Seine special exhibition. In the mid-60s, they attempted to build a car park under the square in front of Notre Dame. Well, they found Roman ruins down there! They found ruins back to the 4th Century, CE. They also found evidence much further back including a wooly mammoth tusk as well as flora and fauna evidence back to the neanderthals. One benefit of solo travel is that I can totally nerd out and read all of the placards, watch the videos, and examine everything they have found. My family and most travel buddies would not put up with that unless we split up and then met up later somewhere.So I spent a bunch of time and learned a lot--it was fascinating. I will show you a bunch of pictures here and you'll have to look it up or go visit if you want more. Interesting things about more islands, a much wider Seine, a very humid forest and more. (Again, some uploading issues with the photos!)
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| The square in front of Notre Dame (the ruins were found under this) |
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Some of the Roman ruins--these are part of the rampart walls built around the Ile de la Cite to keep out the "barbarians"
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| Part of the Hotêl-Dieu (a hospital) |
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Part of the baths
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| Part of the baths |
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More of the hospital
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This is a doorway down by the docks (yes, still under the courtyard)
Well, it was around 3:30 by now and I was munchy. None of the lunch/early dinner options sounded good, so I figured that I would find a patisserie and get something until a later meal. Now I have passed many patisseries prior to now, but I could not find one--about a thousand crèpe stands and a boulangerie, but no patisseries (pastry shops). Then I saw a cafe with a sandwich that looked good--all of the cafes serve "sandwichs". So I had another chicken sandwich and it was served with fries. I ate out in front and the waiter asked if I knew french when I greeted him in french. I said a little and we conducted almost all of the business in French, so that was nice. My French is finally coming back, though I keep saying "Si" instead of "Oui", so shopkeepers ask if I speak Spanish. I'm just a multi-national treat, I guess! |
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| The Hôtel de Ville (city offices) |
Well, because it was so warm, I hadn't brought my hoodie with me. I walked around by the Seine a bit more, but was getting quite chilly at 5:30, I decided to go get my hoodie at the hotel. Once I got here, my plan was to go to a park and do a little Duo Lingo, then wander some more. I thought about a boat cruise, but I didn't have any leads and it was getting later. I found a bench, but couldn't get a reliable connection and my app wigged out a bit and wouldn't work. So, I tried the park across the street from my hotel, using their wifi. Nope, doesn't reach that far. I even tried the sidewalk in front of the building. Nope. So I settled for the lobby. Well, by the time all of that happened and I did a few lessons to get out of the demotion zone, it was 7:45 and dark, And I knew that I needed to repack my bags. So, like a loser on my last night in Paris, I went up and started writing this. Sad, I know. Then to top it off, I can't get my computer to charge. I tried both the main cord and the extension, plugged into the adaptor plug and tried several outlets. Nada. Since I only have 25% battery left, hopefully I can finish this blog tonight and then have better luck in Sweden.
So I will upload my photos, put the best on here and hope to have enough juice to upload it. Then I need to repack my bags. Yuck. But Sweden awaits me tomorrow! 🤣
*Okay, the rest of the photos loaded at the bottom here, so we'll have to live with it!
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| Street performers (I didn't get a picture of the solo oboe player a block back--he was awesome!) |
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| Hôtel de Ville |
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| details |
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| details |
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| Very "old Paris" building |
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| A garden remembrance for those who died in the attacks on November 13, 2015 |
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| The river |
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| You can see the new spire of Notre Dame if you look carefully |
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| A closer view |
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| Another view |
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| A back view |
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| Back view |
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| another type of bike lane |
