We started out Paris visit by exploring the sights on the island in the middle of the Seine called Cite. Our apartment is just a block south of the river so it was a quick walk. Our first stop was Sainte Chapelle. This church was built in the 1200's by King Louis IX to store important religious relics. It a small church as it was primarily used by the king.
Another reason our visit started here was to purchase our Paris museum pass at a location that wasn't so busy. This pass allows us to go straight into most of the museums in Paris including Versailles. The cost was $76 for 6 days. I think we will get or moneys worth out of the pass but just the convenience of the pass is worth it. Kids under 18 are free so we only needed two passes.
After Sainte Chapelle we went next door to visit the Concergerie. This was the original home of the king in the 1200s. In later times it was the prison and tribunal location for the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette was here and they include a tour of her cell though the decor is not original.
Our next stop was Notre Dame. By the time we arrived all the tour buses and unloaded their passengers and the line to get in was circling around the Plaza in front of the cathedral. The wait had to be over 2 hours. Instead we walked past and saw another line which was to climb to the bell towers of Notre Dame. That line also extended all the way down the street so we ended up walking around the island, saw the memorial to the Paris Holocaust victims and North of the river to the Jewish Quarter for a good deli. We did not find a deli open but there were lots of fancy boutiques. Either the neighborhood has changed since we last visited or I was on the wrong streets.
We ended up back at our apartment for a late lunch. We took advantage of the cheap eats on our touristy street and had a gyro and fries for 5eur. Kids are hooked, they dig the ability to buy fries just outside the door to apartment.
After a few hours break we went back to Notre Dame. The line was slightly shorter but still at least an hour to visit the cathedral. The line to climb the bell tower wasn't any shorter but we decided to wait as we had never climbed to tower before. Waiting the 55 minutes wasn't bad except for the smoking of the others in line. Smoking is banned inside buildings but still OK outside in lines and cafes so we took turns leaving the line to get fresh air.
The wait to climb the bell towers was worth it. Using the original stone circular stairs you climb to the roof level of the cathedral and admire the views around Paris. That was a tough climb as the stairs are narrow so it's hot and smelly with all the sweaty bodies inside. There are also no rest areas so be prepared to keep climbing as stopping will hold up the folks behind you.
In addition to enjoying the view at the roof level you also have access to one set of bells of Notre Dame. The other set of bells are rung every 15 minutes so it would not be wise to be in the enclosed bell tower when they are ringing. They were already loud enough from our position on the roof. These bells are famous as they are the basis for the story Hunchback of Notre Dame.
But wait there more! As we approached the stairs which looked like the way down, there was an up arrow sign on the stairs to allow you to climb up to the roof of the bell tower. So more climbing on the narrow circular stairs till we reached the top with even better views of Paris. The area at the top is limited to a narrow path around for the perimeter of the bell tower so when we completed our loop it was time to go down. We waited for the all clear radio call and our group started the long journey back down to the ground.
By the time we reached the bottom, the line for the cathedral was gone so we went inside. Impressive inside but it wasn't as memorable as our climb to the top of Notre Dame!
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