Day Six (cont'd) : Sights around Paris City

Riding on the roof of the Hop On Hop Off bus is fun!

You get a close up view of the city sights, sounds and living.

For example, if you're on the fourth floor apartment and you need to move out in the most convenient and fastest way possible... the best way to move your possesions is through those large windows. The electronic ladder will bring your stuff down.

Parisians mostly live in apartments... but there's still lots of mini parks for adult recreation and the kids to play.

It may be cafes and shops downstairs... but it's private family quarters living above.

I like the way Paris portays itself as a laidback city... a place that you can sit down and relax at anyplace, any park, any lawn, anywhere.

Maybe it's the missing traffic lanes and tall sky scrapers. And busy working people.

Hello, Mr Churchill. Fancy seeing you here!

This is another museum... which name I forgot.

At first, I was wondering why there was a queue to enter it.

Then I saw the poster! The late Yves St Laurent's great couture and cosmetic works were on display. Imagine that! Fashion designs from Yves St Laurent, all his famous dresses!

Parisians and Parisian-wannabees (tourists) love flogging to cafes and drinking... cafe!

They must love the sun too... or just their cigarettes!

Yumm... a sweet shop!

Along the Seine River banks, lots of ol' time magazine covers, nostalgic posters and books, and postcards could be spotted.

This one is for the ladies... a Louis Vuitton mega store.

Yup... I *heart* Paris!

Oh look! It's the Champ de Eleysse again... this time in daylight!

And The Eiffel Tower! In daylight... it really is just a piece of iron structure.

And that ever persistent queue to go on the tower.

My bus tour ticket included a cruise down the Seine River.

Even the bridges have some details to their outlook. See the heads?

A toy store

Ahh... flowers in the spring time!

That's the Hop On Hop Off bus tour operator name - L'OpenTour.

At the Grand Opera building

Message from Diesel - Be Stupid.

Duhhh! Play with diesel.. get burn.

These are gypsy girls... they're not ashamed to consistently beg for money at tourist hotspots, and raid the dustbins for any leftover foods.

Here's another way to tour the city... on bikes!

This is The Palace of Justice, just behind Notre Dame Cathedral.

Apparently, there was a protest going on for equality.

Just the London's Underground network, Paris' Metro train system is very convernient. Underground stations are easily found on every corner. The trains travel at a fast speed and very frequent, one train at almost minute!

Residential Parks

The statue of Eros

Cool ride!

This is France's National Library... four buildings shapped like open books.

Political Party campaign

Day 6 : Cathedral de Notre Dame

Taking the Hop On Hop Off bus, I was excited to go see another famous landmark in Paris. A place, which without the conservation efforts of Victor Hugo... would have not survived the public eye at all.

There she is... situated on the petite island that lays in the Seine River
The Notre Dame Cathedral

And guess what? It was a beautiful WARM spring day...

so warm, I actually got a bit sunburned!

This cathedral was the heart of Paris city at one point in history.

There is a marker just nearby the main cathedral door, which says "Point Zero"

Check out the builing facade.

Extraordinary! Not to mention centuries old!

What most people don't realise is that Notre Dame Cathedral is not just another tourist attraction... it's also an on-going place of worship.

Mass is held daily at 12.00pm.

I was so happy to participate in Mass and receive Holy Communion in the great Notre Dame Cathedral. Never mind that mass was totally in French!

Within the many buttress of the Cathedral, there are many altars dedicated the various Saints and apparations of the Blessed Virgin.

And confession sessions are also held... in French, German and Italian.

I guess, with all the tourist walking around and the beautiful architecture surrounding the cathedral, it's a bit hard to remember that there's still people who come here to seek God and find inner peace.

Details around the main Altar - scenes in the life of Christ

One more aspect of the Notre Dame Cathedral architecture - beautifully stunning stained-glass windows!

One last memory of the inner sanctum of Notre Dame.

One important lesson my Dad taught me about visiting tourist spots... get there EARLY !!

Just look at that queue!