A Date With Quasimodo

So today was the day to finally see Notre Dame. The glimpse i had of it the day before was enough to get me excited but what I saw today up close was enough to take my breath away. This beautiful stone structure nis so detailed, so tall, and just incredible. And that was just the outside. As soon as we got inside I almost teared up it was so magnificent. Pictures cannot do it justice. It was so dark inside but that only enhanced its grandeur and mystery. It may be slightly smaller than other cathedrals I have seen here and in England but it is by far my favorite church I have seen. I would totally go to church again every Sunday just to see it! Anywho our next place to visit was the Conciergie, something I had no idea what it was before but thought the pictures were cool. Turned out to be something that started out as a residence for French Kings but turned into an official building and then a prison during the French Revolution. So I got to see where poor Marie Antoinette was held prisoner. Apparently prisoners could pay to have nicer cells with beds and desks....kind of amusing.
We headed back to the square where Notre Dame is and sat at a cafe for lunch overlooking the cathedral. I had been eyeing these sandwiches called croques where the cheese is melted on top and finally got to order one for lunch. Sooo good! We were shocked to get ice in our water but I guess thats what happens in touristy restaurants. There is nothing like sitting near this grand church and hearing the bells going off, its Quasimodo at work i guess! We sat in the square for a bit, waiting for our next place to see to open up. OF COURSE there once again had to be a creepy clown following us around...this time whistling the Tequila song. He may not have come up to me but he kept wandering near us and freaking me out. Other characters in the square consisted of beggar women sitting near the line into the cathedral and then running away when police cars drove by. I think its illegal to beg in Paris because there really haven't been too many around.
Next was Sainte Chapelle, a beauifully decorated church,  all painted with gold and tons of stained glass.  Once again,  like everything it seems, it was being renovated. We wandered around a bit more, saw this super cool tower that was only a tower and not connected to anything and this grand building that looked like it should be a palace but had no idea what it was. Some maps and guides we've got...
We headed back to the hostel,  took a quick nap (man have I been exhausted) and headed back out for dinner. We roamed close by and found an Italian cafe and had some of the best pasta ever. I had gnocchi wnd Michelle had risotto.  Paired with a bottle of wine and creme brulee for dessert,  it was a delicious dinner. There is honestly nothing like dining at an outdoor cafe, and since there seems to be more space than cafés in New York,  its a whole different experience.
I keep falling more and more in love with this place every day. Tomorrow is the château Versailles,  soooo excited!!

Reims: Drinking Champagne in Champagne!

Day 2 started with breakfast in bed (sort of). Delicious croissants and baguettes,  along with fig yogurt which I could have sworn I would have hated but ended up loving filled us up and we were ready to start our day. We headed over to Reims Cathedral were in awe of the exterior until we saw the front..horrendous scaffolding obstructed the entire middle of the facade. Our disappointment dissapted quickly as soon as we entered. The soaring ceiling just left me in utter amazement with the stone vaults and beautiful stained glasd windows. We roamed around for a while, snapping away photos and just staring at the beauty of the church. Next we attempted to visit the art museum but like almost everything else in the town, it was closed til 2. We strolled fown to the basilica down a ways and were disappointed with how poorly kept the ourside was...until we went inside. It was just as beautiful,  if not more,  than the last. Though I think then lighting played a big role. We stopped for lunch on the way back, getting  myself a quiche,  and headed back to the square where the first church was. Nothing like a yummy meal with a beautiful view.
Since Reims is in the Champagne country of France, we naturally had to do a tour and tasting at one of the champagne houses. The first, Mumms which apparently is a big company in the champagne world was booked up so we hoped that the other house was available.  Lucky for us it was. While not as fancy,  this place seemed much less pretentious than the other. We did a tour and learned how they make champagne. Obviously the best part was after when we got to try some. We were even more pleased when we were given full glasses of the samples and not just a small taste. Of course you had the old snotty people who took a couple sips and wasted the deliciousness.
After purchasing some bottles for ourselves we went back to the cathedral square to get dinner. Since this is Europe we were too early for dinner and were "forced" to have a beer beforehand. Nothing like a delicious beer while staring at the beautiful scenery (which consisted of not only the church but the French men,  hehehe). Finally we were able to order food and had probably some of the best burgers and chicken sandwiches ever. Our waiter was so happy to hear that we spoke english...probably so he could practice his very good english.
Tomorrow we head back to Paris...so ready to experience the Parisian life!