On Y Va à Notre Dame, Le Louvre et en Le Bateau Mouche

Sunday's in France mean that everyone stays home and businesses are closed: only tourists are out and about in the cities. Yesterday was Sunday, so my friends and I woke up nice and early and headed to the Notre Dame to see if we could make the International Mass at 11:30AM. Unfortunately, we ended up getting a little bit lost and not being able to attend the full mass, but we did walk around the Notre Dame. I was so happy we went because just being inside the mass I felt so humbled and happy. The Notre Dame is just so HUGE and beautiful. The windows are all beautifully decorated and the designs on the walls and ceilings are so precise. The ceiling inside the Notre is about three floors high, which just makes it feel significantly larger. I think it is safe to say that this is my most favorite place in Paris.

After the Notre Dame, with the whole group, we headed to the Louvre. Because it was the first Sunday of the month, the entrance to the Louvre was free. This meant that it was a lot fuller than usual, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The Louvre it absolutely HUGE. I explored one wing, out of multiple wings, and in two hours could only do a few rooms before I was tired of walking (since we walk everywhere here in Paris). I managed to see some big attractions like the Monna Lisa, the Sphinx and the Aphrodite. In the Louvre, the only paintings I took pictures of were the French paintings found on the top floor of the Sully wing of the Louvre.  

Finally, at about 7PM we went on the Bateau Mouche, which toured us up and down the Seine river that surrounds Paris. It was very interesting being able to see the structures I see on land, from the river. Seeing them from afar you notice different details. I also got to see a lot of structures that I probably would not have seen since it is so far away from us, and since we're only in Paris for the next few days. Yesterday an awesome day: if only everyday in Boston was the same for me, haha.

The beautiful Notre Dame.

The windows inside the Notre Dame are just so beautiful. The colors and designs are stunning.

You know the church is big from the outside, but once you go inside, you feel even smaller because the ceilings are so high up.

When we were walking around, there was mass going on.

I just can't get over how big and grand the Notre Dame is...

The confessionals used back in the day. The priest would sit on the other side of this. If you look closely enough you can see the opening on the left center of the structure.

So beautiful.

I absolutely love the Notre.

I have NEVER seen anything like this before in my life. This single-person car will guide you through Paris, isn't that so interesting?

I'm not sure what building this is, but I loved the architecture of it. 

The fountain matched the shape of the building. 

While waiting to get into the Louvre and I saw this, haha.

The Sphinx inside the Louvre museum. 

Aphrodite. 

The ceilings in the ancient Roman exhibition rooms in the Louvre.

There is so much detail in each individual mural.

Such a huge and beautiful sculpture.

The Monna Lisa. I wish I had gotten a better shot, but there were too many people all trying to take pictures. 

Italian Paintings.

The Louvre's Sully wing. I only had the energy and time to visit one wing of the Louvre. It takes DAYS to walk through the whole Louvre Museum.

This room was completely decorated in gold. It was the most beautiful room that I entered in the Louvre. It had various paintings of French royalty and the royal French jewels. 

A painting of Louis the 14th. 

I managed to find my birth month and star sign in the ceiling. 

 Venus Marine, by Theodore Chasseriau (1819). I found this so beautiful.

Portrait of a Black Woman, by Marie-Guillemine Benoist (1800). I found this interesting as it was the only portrait or sculpture of a black person in the entire museum.

Marat Assassine, by David Jacques Louis. This is a replica of the original, which is in the Royal Museum of Brussels. I'm actually going to a museum today where I will see the tub and weapon actually used in this painting.

The Three Graces, by Baron Jean-Baptiste (1794).

The Death of the Woman of Darius, by Louis Lagrenee (1805). 

Descente de Croix, by Baron Jean-Baptiste (1829). This painting depicts the scene of Jesus being removed from the cross.

The Louvre pyramids from below.

After the Louvre, we went on a boat ride, Bateau Mouche, and before getting on the Bateau Mouche, along the Seine river, there was this t-rex which was recently built. I thought it would be interesting to take a picture of it eating the Eiffel Tower, haha.

Very, very excited for this boat ride!

Along the Seine.

The Musee d'Orsay. So beautiful.

I was trying to capture a whole wing of the Louvre, but it is too large.

The Love Bridge <3.

The Palace of Justice. 

A shot of the Notre Dame from the Seine.

The Seine then divides into two branches surrounding land. For this reason it is called the "Island of Paris".

The sun setting makes everything more beautiful.

Paris is so beautiful. Especially at sunset.

Perfectly content at the boat ride.

The Assemblee Nationale.

This is a bridge built to honor the diplomatic alliance between France and Russia, Pont Alexandre III. It is absolutely stunning.

The center of the Pont Alexandre III.

It really isn't that big if I can hold it between my fingers, haha.

Basilica of the Sacre Coeur, Jardin du Luxembourg, The Pantheon and the Love Bridge

Today was a day filled with walking and exploring of different locations in Paris. We first began by visiting the Sacre-Coeur. The Sacre-Coeur is such a grand and beautiful building, but I was very surprised not only to see the street vendors outside of the Basilique, but also inside. Inside of the church, there were vendors selling candles, there was a souvenir shop, and various vending machines selling merchandise of the church. I was surprised in seeing this as the Basilique is also still used as a regular church. While we were walking around and admiring the structure, and other people purchasing their gifts, some people were seated and praying in the middle of the church. I do not agree with this at all: I think that the Basilique should either be a church, or a tourist attraction. I understand that they were selling merchandise for the church, but I still don't agree with it - either use it as a church or a tourist attraction.

On our way to the Sacre-Coeur.

The beautiful Sacre-Coeur!

Instead of climbing the stairs we rode an elevator-type car that took us to the top with no effort required, haha.

The Sacre-Coeur is just so beautiful and HUGE!

Because the Sacre-Coeur is on a hill, there is an amazing view of Paris from the top.

We found other Americans who were suggesting how we should pose to take the pictures, haha. 

Despite the beauty of this area, there were so many pick-pockets. One of the girls in the group got their whole wallets stolen by a little boy. While there, my hand was over my hand-bag the WHOLE time.

The second place we visited was the Jardin du Luxembourg. It is the second largest public park in Paris and it hosts the French Senate in a huge building at the end of the garden. The garden is beautiful decorated with various flowers of all different colors and statues. We spent about an hour in the park, 45 minutes of which we sitting on the grass and just enjoying the park and it's lovely environment. I don't think I've ever been to such a beautiful and large park. 

Next stop, Jardin du Luxembourg!

It is the second largest public park in Paris.

I should have worn a pink shirt to match the flowers more. 

The Luxembourg Palace, which houses the French Senate.

No one is allowed on the grass that faces the Luxembourg Palace, but the grass that is at the far end. I like this because it keeps it so beautiful.

This is an interesting statue in front of the Luxembourg Palace that I tried to replicate with a friend. The pictures are too embarrassing to put up here, haha.

The third place that we visited was the Pantheon. "The Panthéon is a building in the Latin Quarter in Paris. It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve and to house the reliquary châsse containing her relics but, after many changes, now functions as a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens." In the basement of the structure, there are tombs of famous French citizens such as Voltaire and Rousseau. It was very interesting, but a little bit weird to think about the number of bodies just laying beside us.

The Pantheon. 

The architecture and design, much like many of the other building, is breathtaking. I still don't understand how they managed to get all the way to the top to work on the ceiling.

Voltaire's tomb, the first one you cross by when entering the basement floor.

Either Roussea's tomb, or Jacques-Germain Soufflot. A little creepy for me...

There were parts of the underground that just looked like caves. I thought that was interesting.

Finally, our professor took us to the Notre Dame, but it was late and the line was too long, so a few friends and I went walking along the Seine. While walking, we found one of the bridges that have been covered in locks that people place with their own names and the names of their significant others to symbolize their love will be forever. It was really amazing being able to see one of those bridges in real life after seeing it in so many movies, TV shows and pictures. 

The Notre Dame along the Seine River.

SUCH a beautiful church.

The Love Bridge. Every year they remove locks so that more locks can be put on. 

There are so many locks that parts of the bridge are falling off. It is so beautiful though.

I think this is the Palace of Justice, but I am not sure. All the buildings are so grand and beautiful in Paris.