Ring the bells for Notre Dame

So I attempted to reduce my fears of pigeons by going to  Notre Dame today. Well, maybe not 'attempted', but I certainly was getting better at walking close to them before they try and fly into my face!! I was saving Notre Dame for a really sunny day, because it really is so beautiful, and I'd hoped to go to the top of L'Arc de Triomphe today, but I don't think I'd have been able to see the Eiffel Tower, let alone the rest of Paris under the thick layer of cloud!!

  

 

I went inside the cathedral (first time!) which was pretty magnificant, and then toured around d'Ile de Paris. I discreetly pulled out THE MAP to find Pont Neuf (the map which might as well announce upon opening 'I'M A TOURIST'), and walked back to the metro via the big bridge. I could just see the Eiffel Tower from the bridge, but the views would be much better had it not been such crap weather! I'd also have loved to go up to the North Bell Tower (Quasimodo's tower!), but once again, the clouds would have ruined the 'panoramic view of Paris'.

L'ile de Paris seems to be 'home' for Berthillon ice creams (France's equivalent to Ben & Jerry's), but unfortunately it wasn't particularly 'ice cream weather'! The island was really pretty though, with cafès and bistrots along the river banks, little boutiques and traditional shops (patisseries, boulangeries and chocolatiers), and 'perfect Parisian streets' with cobbled roads and cream walled houses, bikes tied to posts, and balconies with flowers and duck-egg blue window shutters. I even saw a fashion shoot happening! So exciting!! Notre Dame does look much better when photographed with a sunny blue-sky background, but it's not about to move anywhere so I'll definitely be returning!