We try a new pastry shop each morning. I’ll take one of everything 🙂
After eating, Eli and I walked around the neighborhood while Dami and Addie went to a perfume shop.
I’ve been wanting to visit Notre Dame but they give out reservations 2 hours in advance. So I’ve been refreshing my phone off and on the last few days with no luck. Suddenly this morning it worked and I grabbed 4 tickets! Notre Dame was a quick walk over a bridge to the island it sits on.
The “no ticket” line snaked around a long way in the hot sun, but thankfully our line was really quick. Outside were many elaborate sculptures decorating the front of the cathedral. The guy third from the left, below, is St Denis who brought Christianity to Paris (and was beheaded for it):
Once inside I think the most impressive part was the ceilings. The lighting, stained glass, and majestic arches throughout. No wonder it took 200 years to build.
Addie took a break inside to rest and ponder.
There were no signs of any fire damage at all inside. But once back outside, we walked around and you could spot the charred stone amidst all the scaffolding. Cranes were busy at work continuing the repairs from the fire 6 years ago.
We found lunch nearby. Crepes are always calling my name.
Then we walked home to relax until evening.
This evening we headed to the Arc de Triomphe.
Impressive sculptures decorate the outside. Napoléon looks regal receiving a crown from the goddess of victory.
Finally we walked from the Arc down the Champs-Élysées, all the way to the Place de la Concorde, where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded. There were no traffic signals surrounding the square and it was complete chaos in the street all the way around. We saw a guy in a bike get hit by a car, denting the car, then throw a punch at the driver through an open window. Seconds later another near miss. Is this how it always is here? I wanted to dodge traffic and get to the middle, but Dami did not enjoy the show so we quickly left hehe.
A late dinner capped off the day. Hitting some museums tomorrow.