The Paris Girls Trip: Getting moving and Notre Dame!

We woke up early and met in the girl’s apartment to start our day.

We walked down Beauborg towards Notre Dame. We crossed the Seine and took our first official group photo.

As we walked toward Notre Dame the crowds got a bit thicker and then we found ourselves in front of Hotel de Ville (Paris’ City Hall). It was quite picturesque.
 
We continued our walk to Île de la Cité (the Island in the Seine that Notre Dame is located), stopped at the most fabulous patisserie for breakfast and finally approached Notre Dame. I was certainly awestruck at the amazing church.

When we arrived at Notre Dame, we figured out where to get in line to tour the bell tower. There were only a few people in line when we sat down. I walked into the back of the church (there was no line at all to get in) for a moment and knew I needed much more time to admire this church than I had at that present moment.

Courtney, Gay and I went to the “garden” at the rear of the church and I had my first look at it’s flying buttresses. I was beyond words at seeing this historic and religious landmark.

Gay stayed in the garden to people watch and read her book while Courtney and I headed back to sit in line. We got in line almost an hour before the Bell Towers opened. There were only 15 or so people in front of us.

I was SO excited! I was about to check off something on my bucket list (climb Notre Dame’s Bell tower)!! By the time the tower opened the line was hundreds and hundreds of people long…

See Courts in the green dress:

We were in the second or third group of people they allowed into the tower. First you walked up 8 flights to the “office” where we purchased 4 day Museum Passes (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) and then we headed up 3 flights to the “Nave”. The nave was completely caged in and this was the moment I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time.

Once we had taken enough gargoyle photos (is that possible?) we walked around a corner and found the bell tower in front of us.

First you enter this small room that feels very rustic. It is all wooden beams with little windows to allow light . I felt medieval and authentic.  As I walked in, Courtney took a photo of me. This is pure excitement, being overwhelmed and awe…

I walked in and announced that I did not want to forget this moment.

Then we climbed up this little, narrow, steep set of stairs to see the
BELLS OF NOTRE DAME!

Clearly, I was beside myself with joy. We walked back down to the Nave and I took a moment or two to appreciate what I had just done.
 

It was quite a moment…as you can tell from this (silly) video:

Silly Lizzie

We took some time to take some fun photos to remember this little excursion.


I love this next picture for two reasons: 1. I love the shadow outline of Notre Dame. 2. Look at the line to get into the ground level church! Go early in the day if you are going.

Then we started our long decent to the ground level of Paris and had some fun on the way:

Once outside, my rejoicing continued… behind Notre Dame…
on the side of Notre Dame…

and in front of Notre Dame…

I was seriously a kid in a candy shop and I had not even taken the full tour of the inside. I LOVED Notre Dame. I could not get enough of the famous, old church. Anytime we had the opportunity to pass back by the church, I begged the group to do so. They sweetly honored my wishes many times.

 

I honestly did not want to leave the Notre Dame Square, but alas, there was more of Paris to see. Our next stop was at the flower markets. If Notre Dame was my nicest experience in Paris, then the flower market was the meanest. Funny how it happens that way. :) I will tell you about that tomorrow.

Love and Hugs, Lizzie