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300 something steps up to the top of Notre Dame.

cool stair picture. Yes, i think the way to do a big city is with a tour. you really saw a lot. A lot that I've yet to see or do.

I was fascinated by the idea of Gargouyles on a chucrh overlooking the people below.

These ones look quite tame.  Sometimes the Gargoyles are really gruesome.

One of the bells of Notre Dame a few of which rang while we were there.

Reminds me of this joke (taken from http://www.cpaspan.com/deathof.htm) which I originally heard (many times) told by Peter Child:

The Death of Quasimodo

After Quasimodo's death, the bishop of the cathedral of Notre Dame

sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bellringer was

needed. The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews

personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening

process. After observing several applicants demonstrate their

skills, he decided to call it a day when a lone, armless man

approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the

bellringers job.

The bishop was incredulous. "You have no arms!"

"No matter," said the man, "observe!" He then began striking the

bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon.

The bishop listened in astonishment, convinced that he had finally

found a suitable replacement for Quasimodo. Suddenly, rushing

forward to strike a bell, the armless man tripped, and plunged

headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below.

The stunned bishop rushed to his side.

When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen

figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments

before. As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of

them asked, "Bishop, who was this man?"

"I don't know his name," the bishop sadly replied, "but his face

rings a bell."

Part II

The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his

heart due to the unfortunate death of the armless campanologist (now

there's a trivia question for you), the bishop continued his

interviews for the bellringer of Notre Dame.

The first man to approach him said, "Your excellency, I am the

brother of the poor, armless wretch that fell to his death from this

very belfry yesterday. I pray that you honor his life by allowing

me to replace him in this duty." The bishop agreed to give the man

an audition, and as the armless man's brother stooped to pick up a

mallet to strike the first bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest

and died on the spot.

Two monks, hearing the bishop's cries of grief at this second

tragedy, rushed up the stairs to his side. "What has happened?" the

first monk breathlessly asked, "Who is this man?"

"I don't know his name," sighed the distraught bishop, "but he's a

dead ringer for his brother.

Angels are also seen on Notre Dame.

Yep

This is inside the Concergerie.  A great example of crossed arc architecture which allowed much more open and lighted buildings with fewer pillars.  This was originally a palace for the king, then aprison and site of the judgement tribunal for the revolutionary days of terror.  Prisoners, including Robspierre (turned on by his own revolution) and Marie Antonnette were judged and kept here until guillotined in the nearby place de la Concorde.  This all gives you much to think about when you are in there.

wow. cool information. This is the kind of stuff I wish I knew when touring places.

This is really amazing.  It's also great at night when lit up and for a brief time has sparkling lights lit.  But those photos didn't turn out.

actually, it looks really cool.

THis is a great picture

The spiral stairs inside the arc de triump.

now this is something i have done, with my mom!

We went to the Louve and saw some of the world's greatest creative works- people!

Inside the ornate Paris Opera- setting for the fictional Phantom of the Poera.

Finally- a relaxing cruise on the Seine.

Lauren's Little Pig Bill picture story book featured Little Pig Bill looking for his tail in the bushes near the Eiffel Tower, probably these.

Are those baquettes on your lap?

Yep, they are.  On our way early in the morning to the Gaure de Norde train station headed back to London on the Eurostar and then to fly home, exhausted but happy.

Great picture!  I imagine you tired yourselves out.

I did enjoy the French and English countrysides, but eventually conked out, too.  The Eurostar was very fast, and relaxing.

One thing I love about the French countryside is the wide open farm land, spotted with cathedral spires at the center of small towns.

Yep, Iagree- we noticed that also.