Somewhere Along the Road: Notre Dame (May 7)

Today was a red letter day - the first day without my puffy coat! I got out at the Cite metro stop

the only one on the Ile de la Cite, where the Notre Dame cathedral is. Everyone in Paris seemed to have the same idea, as the queue to get in was huge

but it moved very fast. I took photos inside, but I don't know why - they couldn't at all do justice to the stained glass or the immensity of the place. Allow me a quick whinge? When there are signs everywhere, everywhere!, urging people to silence, and when a mass is being said, why do some people still yak on? I'm not religious at all, but it irks me and shows such a lack of respect. Anywho, back outside, I made my way to the line waiting to climb up one of the towers. It was not only long, it was not moving, and the people waiting looked like they'd be there a while. So I thought - maybe another time. I crossed the bridge to the Ile Saint Louis and suddenly there were 2-3 jazz groups either playing or waiting to play. The island has a central thoroughfare lined with lovely little shops and some nice-looking restaurants. Funny.

In case you want to be reminded of your holiday while grating carrots for dinner.

Given the increase in temperatures, I was on the lookout for Berthillon icecream. I had salty caramel butter and amaretto praline

The salty caramel was so different and yummy. The islands are not big, and I'd seen what I wanted so I headed to the Champs Elysee, via the Seine, and passed one of the bridges with the love locks.

There are a lot of keys at the bottom of the Seine!!
Well, what a sight with all the wonderful blue white and red along both sides. Yep - I'm standing in the middle of the road. Anything for a good view.