Today was a bizarre day. It is the one day of the week that I don’t have classes. I took the metro to Cité and went off by myself to explore. 

I found myself in line at the Notre Dame. Notre Dame is celebrating its 850 birthday this year. I ended up attending a French mass, sitting front and center in the amazing cathedral. 

After, it was about time for lunch. I walked to the closest brasserie and was blessed with the gift of a window seat. I ordered a salad and coffee and sat for a few hours looking out the window-people watching overlooking Point Neuf. 

It was then time to meet up with my study abroad program for admission to Saint Chapelle and the Conciergerie. Saint Chapelle was built to hold the Crown of Thorns, which are now in the Notre Dame and displayed on certain holidays. Saint Chapelle is like a life sized jewelry box with its jaw dropping stain glass windows. Interesting fact, the only way stained glass can be cut is with diamonds.

Saint Chapelle

Fleurs de Lise wallpaper

Gothic ceilings    

First painting on a wall (fresco) in France 

Creepy staircase to get to the top to see stain glass 

Floor to ceiling stained glass

Little details: door lock

Beautiful flooring

Then I visited the Conciergerie. Palace turned prison, this gothic building was where Marie Antoinette lived her last days. There was also a special art exhibit of castles used in fairy tales. 

Marie Antoinette’s cell before she went to the guillotine 

Unfortunately, my day ended not so pleasantly. My metro station for school was skipped, as I looked out the window and witnessed a body on the ground with a dozen officers surrounding it. Quite chilling to see.