Paris ::: Day 1 ::: Seine and the Notre-Dame

My first day in Paris, I arrived at the Gare D'Austerlitz train station, after a sleepless night listening to Bitty rock the train with her snores. With no tourist booth in sight, I headed across the Seine to the Gare De Lyon train station, where maybe I could pick up a map and directions to the Hotel Baudelaire-Bastille.

Nothing helpful there. However, on my walk over, I discovered that there were maps posted on many corners, and there were street signs. Clearly visible street signs, and at a reasonable eye-level that follow a convention like normal street signs do. After Spain, this seemed like a novelty. Like someone had just invented electricity, or the cotton gin.

I located my hotel's street on a map, right around the Bastille monument. It wasn't far, so I decided to get there on foot. I made it without too much trouble. I maybe took a needless circle around the Bastille, where 8+ streets come together in a roundabout, before I found the correct one. But that was nothing compared to wandering around the Gothic District in Barcelona and accidentally turning down a street with prostitutes chillin in the doorways.

With a couple of hours to kill, I selected the Le Bastille cafe for breakfast. Had the best omelette I've ever eaten, and a couple of espressos to combat the sleepless night on the train.

After checking in to the Baudelaire-Bastille, and being too excited to nap for long, I went out to get a lay of the land. I headed to the Seine, and in doing so found a more efficient way to get back to the Bastille. Excellent. Love these scouting adventures.

In the near distance I could see Notre-Dame, and so I headed there and took a look inside.

The church itself was incredible. Unfortunately, the tourists make it ridiculous, like it's a sideshow or carnival ride.

The Notre-Dame is afterall still a church, and I guess they attempt to use it as one. Mass was being held, but it just didn't seem to provide any kind of church experience that would make one meditate on God, with all the flash photography, chatting in the wings and constant flow of people. The priests of the Notre-Dame must really feel like the Hollywood elite in the church circle.

Being in the Notre-Dame did make me wish I had religion and faith in my life. Under normal circumstances, I could see how the hugeness of the church could make one feel small in the hands of God. Whatever that means... But since the Notre-Dame doesn't conduct Mass under normal circumstances, it all just felt like a meaningless charade.

I could see people lighting candles for saints who probably had no idea why they would light a candle for that particular saint. I'm sure it looked really great for the people back home on their video cameras though. Tourists are really tacky.

What do I expect though. I am a tourist myself. So just look at the church, and all those creepy pupil-less eyes staring down at you.