Notre Dame, Le Conciergerie, et St. Chapelle-AKA Paris walk 1

Another day come and gone and I just want to say...I GOT TO SEE NOTRE DAME!!!!!!!! I've only been dreaming of this since forever. Dreams come true guys. :) Ok, now I can start from the beginning. Usual morning routine and off to class at the institute. Class was good, but it was so hard for me to stay focused and awake. I feel bad about that. Not earning student brownie points here. After class we all decided to do Paris walk 1(We have to do 17 walks for our class). We started at le Hotel de Ville and walked across the Seine to Notre Dame! We waited in line for what seemed like forever to be able to go to the top of Notre Dame. Nearly froze to death, but it was worth it. The view was amazing. You can see all of Paris and get a closer look at the architecture/ up close and personal to the gargoyles!!!! Best moment of my life!!!The inside of the cathedral is just as amazing. Very beautiful. I really like Gothic architecture. After we were done looking around, we decided to take a break in the square and enjoy the sunshine, Thank goodness it was there today or I think I might have died. It was then that i convinced everyone to explore this garden nearby that I had seen from the tower. Its was pretty and next to a Church that was build around the same time as Notre Dame. I love old things. We walked to the Conciergerie next. Spent a lot of time looking around the prison. It was cool to see where Marie Antoinette was held captive before she was beheaded. She's one of my favorite french people in history in case you didn't know. St. Chapelle is in the courtyard connecting the Conciergerie and le Pallais du Justice. I've written some facts with the pictures, so if you're interested, keep reading or skip to the pictures. The chapel is the breath taking and the design is so detailed!! The glass windows show images from the bible. This church is now owned by the government and is no longer used as a church, but as a monument of sorts. Restoration is being done. By the time we were done with the chapel,we were all tired, hungery and cold, so we decided to go home. The walk had taken us about five hours to complete. It was good to be home and be able to shower and do our homework before having dinner with our family. Dinner tonight was some sort of cooked veggies thing with bread. It was good. Of course we had our second course with cheese and a baguette before having dessert which tonight was yogurt and fruit. Strawberry yogurt is the bomb you guys. Not something i normally think of as dessert, but healthy and good, so win win. Still love the family. They're still sweet and ask about our day. During dinner they asked us what we had learned about the chapel and the Conciergerie. All of the sudden it was like I couldn't remember a thing. I swear I payed attention and knew the answers before hand, but oh well. They were sweet and filled us in on the answers. It's similar to when I wanted to ask the simple question: will you please pass the bread, and couldn't remember a word of french anymore. Gotta love these moments. Anyway, it's late and I need some shut eye. Love you!

 L'Hotel de Ville is an example of classic/awesome architecture in Paris and is the governmental seat of Paris. The original was destroyed, so this is a restoration/imitation of what it used to look like. It's huge!!!!! These statues on L'hotel de Ville are of real people from different times. Thought it was cool.

Our beautiful Dina by the Seine on our way to Notre Dame.

Shout out to my friend Alex! These locks can be found everywhere around the Seine and at Notre Dame. Lovers take the lock and connect it to the gate, then throw the key into the Seine to ensure that their love will last forever. The original bridge was destroyed because it got too heavy apparently.

On our way to Notre Dame we passed places where important people like past presidents of France have lived. Thought it was worth noting.

Le Square de Notre Dame!!!!

There was a swing in the square. YAY!

The view from the square to Notre Dame.

Mickey mouse is secretly part of Notre Dame. His symbol can be found everywhere! Can you spot it?

Side view of Notre Dame

Look at this awesome gargoyle!!! I've been wanting to see this for forever!!! They really are kind of creepy.

Waiting in line o go to the top of Notre Dame. I love this picture, especially Carson's face. We were huddling like penguins to stay warm because we were there for so long. Carson wouldn't join us. Must be hard being the only guy in the group. Had some more awesome hot chocolate. Paris has good chocolate, I've decided.

More awesome gargoyles!

 And another gargoyle. I now understand how they were Quasimodo's friends. They grow on you. 

 The view from the top of Notre Dame is amazing!!! You can see all of Paris and more!!!!

We visited this garden afterwards because i saw it from up here. Very pretty.

 Lots to see from up there!!!! You bored yet? I wasn't. :)

Front view of Notre Dame!!! I've decided that I love Gothic architecture!!!

Inside Notre Dame

Jeanne d'arc again. Told you she was important. The people write prayers in these notebooks to the saints in the church and leave them there.

Gorgeous!!!!

Where they hold mass.

Notre Dame was started in 1160 and continually built, added on to, and restored  until today. Cool eh?

The prayer section. The cathedral is still in use. This section is a no camera Zone, though I didn't see anyone really follow that rule. Too bad. Show some respect people! It's still a church.

Snapped this beauty while they weren't looking. McKenna and Jessica.

Cool statue of Charlemagne in front of the cathedral.

More love locks! These were in front of Notre Dame.

McKenna imitating the soldier next to the King. She's definitely soldier material don't you think?

There were soooo many pigeons in front of the cathedral!!!! They landed on people and they could hold them because they were soo tame.

Taking a break and enjoying the sunshine in front of Notre Dame. We're all very enthusiastic in this moment, but don't be fooled. We loved it.

Notre Dame from across the Seine

Here's that garden I told you about. Pretty isn't it?

The garden connected to this church which was originally built in 1170 at the same time as Notre Dame.

Walking to the Conciergerie and passed these  vendors. These paintings were all done by art students from the college up the street. Super good.

Le Pallais de Justice

Cool Clock. :)

Le Conciergerie was a prison and is very old. Marie Antoinette stayed here for 70 something days before she was executed at le Place de Condcorde.

Prison cells. Considered to be "nice"

A chapel connecting to the cells

 A remake of Marie A's cell. The original was destroyed partially and redone differently, so this is the best they could do. Complete with dummies and everything.

Short break at the Conciergerie

St Chapelle outside view

This chapel is gorgeous and one of the oldest in Paris. It was built by Saint Louis in the mid-thirteenth century. It house the relics of Passion until they were moved to Notre Dame where they are now. That's a big deal in case you were wondering.

Group picture, unbeknownst to them. ;)

Carson looks a bit shifty in this picture, but don't worry, he didn't steal anything. :)

 Didn't I tell you it was gorgeous!!! So elaborate in its design too!

Le pallais du Justice where many kings lived before King Phillip eventually fled to where the Louvre is now and the palace was converted into a court house of sorts connecting to the Conciergerie and next to the chapel.