Notre-Dame de Paris

So Monday we tried to struggle through jet lag but realized that we felt as old and inanimate as the artifacts we couldn't appreciate at the Louvre. So we headed back to the flat that we rented and slept for about six hours and then headed out for an evening stroll to the Eiffel tower. Thanks to the 4-day museum Paris museum pass that we purchased we can return and bypass the lines. If you travel to Paris, buy this pass if you plan to visit many different sites. It will save you loads of time if not money.

Tuesday, we got a headstart on the masses to the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which is located on Ile de la Cité, the historical heart of Paris surrounded by the Seine. I think we made it through the cathedral in record time as we were looking for the way to the bell tower. As we were standing in line, we were thankful for the iPad to make use of our time (to start our daily blog post) and for the free wifi to do some travel research. We can only imagine the lines in high season. For security reasons, the "cut the line" feature wasn't available for the bell tower so (sigh) we had to wait about an hour wait to get inside the Bell tower after a quick look around inside the cathedral. We wanted to go back inside the cathedral to take a closer look afterward, but a line that weaves around the square in front of the entrance put us off. Too bad because it really is beautiful but we were unwilling to wait in line a second time for something we have already seen, however brief. As I write this I'm only now wondering if our Paris Pass would have sped up our access.

A view from the atop of the Notre-Dame Cathedral was beautiful despite the fog. This bored gargoyle keeps an eye on the visitors down below:

This bell weighs 13,000 kg with an additional 474 for the iron clapper. The bells used to be operated by 16 men, later with improved technology 8 men, and finally today 0 men with the help of a motor. This particular bell chimes in at F sharp.