An update from yesterday

I never got to post yesterday, being exhausted by the time I returned to the hostel, so here's a recap of my day, complete with a sampling of the 400 odd photos I managed to accumulate.

My day started bright and early, this time, as I arose to the cheerful sounds of chirping watch alarms. Geovanni and I hit up the hostel's free breakfast (a quite impressive array of croissants, rolls, and cereal, with juice and coffee) and headed off to the Louvre.


I know I won't be able to adequately capture the Louvre here, so I won't try too hard. After all, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then the Louvre's displays merit well over 6 million words, and that's not even taking into consideration the word exchange rate for statues and antiquities. I mean, just look at the place:


So yeah, the Louvre was, as expected, mind-boggling (if such an experience can, indeed, be anticipated). We saw all the classics:




And of course:


I also managed to spot a rarity not marked on the Louvre exhibit map.


The official term, I've been told, is "Da Vinci Code Freak."

All told, Geovanni and I spent 8 hours in the museum, only taking a break for a picnic lunch in the Jardin des Tuilleries. By 5:30, we had reached the extent of our museuming endurance, so headed over to Notre Dame. The fact that I usually spend eight months out of the year living amonst Gothic architecture did nothing to diminish my appreciation of the cathedral's soaring towers, vibrant stained glass, and intricate stone carvings.


Making the awe-inspiring architecture even more powerful was the Mass being conducted amid the throngs of tourists. It made me feel uncomfortably superficial, to be one of the gawking admirers in this religious sanctuary - a thought I dwelt on for about a minute before snapping a carefully framed shot of the priest in front of the historic stained glass.


Tired of touring, we then stopped in a cafe for about half an hour. We watched the passersby. The passersby watched us. It was all very Parisian.

Leaving the cafe, Geovanni and I continued on our tour of Paris' highlights. Next up was the Basilique Sacré-Cœur.


This gorgeous basilica overlooks the city from the hill of Montmartre to the north. It is unfortunate that photography was not allowed in the church, as the inside was, if possible, even more gorgeous than the exterior. Soaring arches rose to the ceiling high above and an enormous mosaic adorned the domed apse, somehow managing to maintain visual perspective from all angles, despite its rounded surface.

While in Montmartre, we visited a couple other tourist destinations. We walked by the cemetery housing Molière, Chopin, and Jim Morrison (among many other celebrities), but at 8:30 the gates were locked shut. We also made the requisite stop at another Montmartre landmark that, like the Basilique Sacré-Cœur, has a world-famous facade, but is visited more for the beauties that lie inside.


We then had dinner at a small restaurant in Montmartre. Our table was next to a Greek couple (their Παρίσι guidebook gave them away) and, having briefly studied Greek, I was tempted to try conversing with them, but could remember one phrase. I wasn't sure how they'd respond to the question, "What time is it, Mr. Fish?" so I refrained from busting out the Greek. This was my first time in Paris having a multi-course meal: salad, steak, and dessert with a glass of wine. The food was all excellent and I enjoyed the wine, though I can't offer much insight on this front, being perhaps the world's most wine-illiterate 21-year old. The meal was a great end to the day, though, and I returned to the hostel with a feeling of accomplishment topped only by that of exhaustion.