First day in Paris – Notre Dame, Marché Bastille

Finding our feet on our first day in Paris. Can just about manage to ask for some croissants in a boulangerie.

Marché Bastille

The Marché Bastille (Bastille Market) is a huge food market we visited to stock up. What a range – millions of cheeses, fresh fish, eels, rabbits, pigeons, fresh veggies galore. Shouts, smells, bustle, crowds. Great.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame Cathedral is breathtaking, and absolutely enormous. I know everyone says that but seeing it was amazing – even Acacia was impressed (a bit). There’s a constant stream of people going in – I think it gets something like 10 million visitors a year. A service was on when we went in and the mammoth organ (oo-er) sounded great, bone-shakingly deep.

Notre Dame also has a fascinating collection of religious relics, including bits of bone mounted in elaborate cases, wood and nails allegedly from the cross. The collection also includes what is claimed to be the actual crown of thorns  that’s displayed once a week.

paris