au revoir paris hello amsterdam

Please note, This blog was supposed to be posted yesterday morning, but with a few technical difficulties you get it today :). Next blog is about Amsterdam, but I'm using Amsterdam as down time in the midpoint of my journey, so not doing too much here.  

..And the Standing in line continues :(. 

NOTRE DAME

I went to see the actual towers of Notre Dame today, as the prior day, I was only able to see the facade of the church and the base inside, as the towers had closed already.  I arrived about 10 minutes before they opened and after a 1.5 hour queue I was ready for my march up 400 stairs.  The good thing about all this traveling is that I haven\'t worried once about whether or not I\'m getting enough exercise!!!  The good thing about climbing up to the top of the Notre Dame is that you get up close with the gargoyles and other structures on the building.  It\'s tight quarters, as you walk through mostly narrow passages to get from one side of the building to the other, to continue the climb up.  As you reach the top you\'re rewarded with more views of the city, and some overlooking views of the building itself.  The latter is a bit more special, as you can get better views of the city from the Eiffel tower or from the arc de triomphe.  

The line

Gargoyles and the Eiffel tower

Stairs to the bell tower

narrow passages

downward looking view from southern tower

SAINTE CHAPELLE

After blogging that Notre Dame was a little less inspiring than imagined I received feedback that this chapel was worth a serious look due to their large stain glass windows.  Agreed, it was worth a look.  The overall structure is a decent size but ot increibly lare as it was built inside the old royal palace from years gone by.  Whats good about this place is that the stain glasses are about 60% of the height from floor to ceiling as you get into the inside the upper chapel.  

The chapel

The wall of stained glass windows

closer up

closer closer up

LOUVRE

And yes I mean all of it.  I don\'t speak much French, if I know more than 20 words including numbers I'd be very surprised by myself.  What this means is that when you get a map of the Louvre, get one in French, as all of the signs telling you where you are happen to ONLY be in French.  And instead of calling this place the louvre they should call it the labyrinth for what it really is.  As you traverse a single area you find yourself up and down multiple stairs, zig-zagging through various disjointed rooms and finally wondering up at dead ends so you see some of it all again.  And yes, the majority of the folks here had the same positive demeanor as the subway folks.  :) 

The pride and joy of the louvre, the Mona Lisa, is a cool thing to say you've seen but at the same time is anti-climatic due to its size.  There are so many large, intricate paintings placed on walls with others that when you get to this pint sized wonder, which is positioned all by its lonesome, you\'re left wanting a bit more.  

The crowds and Mona 

Another "top pick" from the louvre

The other thing that I've learned from my trip to the louvre and the British museum is that Egypt and Greece are definitely on my plans in the future.  I'd just rather see it in real life than in a museum :). 

As I'm at the half way point of my trip, I've had to do a gut check on how I get myself back to the Iberian peninsula for my final travels before going home.  My final journeys, look like they'll be Amsterdam, Prague, Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon(and vicinity).  Details to come as they begin to unfold.