The Day of Stairs

It seems that stairs abound in Paris. Today, they led us down flights and flights to the lowest subway, and up flights and flights to the very top of Sacre-Coeur. And there were many more in between.

So after seeing some of the main sights yesterday, we started off today by going to Mass at Notre Dame de Paris...

It's an incredible building. It was odd to take part in such a familiar ceremony in such an overwhelming place-- in addition to the architecture, the tourists who were shepherded around the main aisle during Mass created a constant murmur discernible under the voices of the French priests who were celebrating. However, it was still a hushed, awed atmosphere, and a interesting experience.
The Jardin des Tuileries


We then went through the courtyard of the Louvre (sadly, no time to visit the museum today) and had lunch in the Jardin des Tuileries, the royal palace. Afterwards, we headed north to see Sacre-Coeur (another beautiful church!) and wandered through Montmartre for the rest of the afternoon. Montmartre is interesting too- you still see street musicians and artists roaming, but now they're there to sell things to the tourists. The area is really cool to see... you can just imagine it a hundred years ago when it was little better than a slum and cabarets were in every little cramped theatre hidden in its alleyways. It has just as much character now, albeit with more Coke signs.

Sacre-Coeur and the view from halfway up


Can anything top Paris? We're going to give London a try :) ... we leave EARLY tomorrow (like, at 8) by Eurostar. We'll be eating bangers and mash in no time (rather than Fanta and a baguette! Although there's nothing wrong with that...)





<3