The cathedral was full of people of all colours, speaking many languages. I felt a part of something so big. Catholic is Greek, meaning “universal.” That was borne out by the different cultures present. I especially loved the Sign of Peace. You could hear so many languages saying the word “peace” as we shook hands and wished each other well.
After Mass I walked around the cathedral again, then walked across the street to a café, Le Tours de Notre Dame. I sat and had a croissant and coffee and watched a queue across the street of people waiting to climb to the top of the towers of the cathedral. I would have loved that, but didn’t notice it until I was eating.
In the café many people were standing at the bar, eating, drinking and talking. I think it’s cheaper if you don’t sit. The coffee was wonderful, and the bathrooms were clean. But you had to pay 40 cents. What I didn’t realize was that you had to put the 40 cents in a machine and get out a white coin which you used to get in the toilet. I lost 80 cents by putting it in the door itself. What a dork!
Just a note—I love that Parisian men are so flirtatious.
I walked all the way from Notre Dame to the Arch de Triomphe and my hotel. My feet hurt unbelievably, so do all my leg muscles and my knees. Basically everything from my hips on down. But it was totally worth it.
I took a picture of the Louvre—I thought. But it was just a very small piece of the museum. Can’t believe how HUGE it is. Paid €8.50 and went in. Not crowded on this wet and cold Sunday. Immediately I saw Winged Victory at Samathrace, and was proud of myself for recognizing it and knowing the whole name. Mona Lisa was lovely but the only place where there was a big crowd, so I didn’t get too close. But Venus de Milo wasn’t crowded at all so I got to view it at my leisure. Fascinating, and wonderful to be able to see these works of art in person. But my favourite exhibits were all about antiquities—Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Etruscan.
And how surprised was I that you can take pictures everywhere in the museum. We had to go through scanners to enter the place, but they were searching for weapons, not cameras. I thought for sure there would be signs against taking pictures, but nope. So I took many of them.
Then I walked from the Louvre through the Tuilleries , such beautiful gardens, through the Place de la Concorde and down the Champs Elysees. The gardens are breathtaking and I wished the weather was better, but at least it wasn’t raining much, just light mists.
The Champs Elysees reminds me of Fifth Avenue in NYC, lots of fancy shops and stores. Plus the Virgin Megastore, Gap and Planet Hollywood. (Yes, I know those aren’t fancy, that’s why I said Plus.)
Finally I stopped for lunch at 3:30 at a brasserie along the CE. I had a cheese omelet, salad, bread and coffee. And then a beer. How funny—the guy said the only beer they had was Amstel. But later I saw another guy drinking a Heineken.
A handsome man kept smiling at me and giving me flirtatious glances. Wonder how much he’d cost? My friend, Charlie, said I needed to buy something memorable for myself. (I’m laughing out loud.)
After this late lunch I went back to my hotel, put my feet up and felt like I was in heaven. Watched CNN International (the only English-speaking channel) and read.
Around 8:30 I decided I was hungry so I went to a café next door and had the best soup—Chinese tofu. My mouth is watering as I type this. Wish I had the recipe.
Went to bed around 10:30, planning on another full day tomorrow.
posted by Jerilyn Dufresne, author @ 16:51
3 Comments:
I'm trying Blogger's comments rather than HaloScan. Have been having problems with HaloScan, so we'll see if this works okay. Jer
"A handsome man kept smiling at me and giving me flirtatious glances." It wasn't just a glance, why did you not advance? :)
Anonymous, huh? Jer
Post a Comment
<< Home