Sainte-Chapelle

My cousin Diane who lives in NZ suggested I to visit the Sainte-Chapelle.

Totally without research I arrive and line up for the mandatory bag and body scan. In I go purchase a ticket and open the large ancient doors. I am in a small chapel with items for sale on the left and audio guides on the right. The chapel is beautiful at the end is a statue and a beautiful stained glass window it is indeed lovely. I walk a loop of the area and notice people going through a small door on the right. Better check that out, this leads to a tight spiral stairway the treads worn with age. There a multi turns it is person to person so there is no going back. Finally we step out into the actual chapel. I can’t even begin to describe how I felt. The size, the beyond spectacular stain glass windows. The stillness all hit me like plunging into an iced cold pool on a hot day. This is a truly magnificent piece of architecture and history, I stand with absolutely Orr. I feel I am in the presence of something I cannot describe. There are large A3 cards to read a description of each window. This is a memory I will treasure forever.

The Americans

After the chapel experience and in need of a sit down I head to the closest cafe. Just seated when a couple come in and sit next to me we smile with reciprocal ‘don’t I know you‘ the gentleman says ‘we are moving in the same circles’ turns out we sat next to each other at breakfast on Monday, an hour and a half later we have had the most amazing conversation. Wayne and Terry are from Florida, her first trip to Europe and first time in a plane in 32 years. Her sister is currently in Australia about to board a cruise to Hawaii. ‘She’s in a place called the Blue Mountains do you know it?’

It is a small world after all!

My Mum

My next mission is to get to the Eiffel Tower. I decide to walk, I have just over an hour till my pre booked tour. Google tells me it’s an hour and one minute from where I am. I am nervous about this adventure, heights as I have become older are not my thing. My knees gave way at the top of the Skytower in Auckland and I would definitely not be attempting the Bridge Climb in Sydney anytime soon. But this is Paris and I am going to go to the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower.

My Mum came to Paris in about 1965, she actually went to many places Rome, England the US. She traveled on her own she was in her early 20s. I know she ascended to the 2nd floor so I really want to do this.

As I walk my anxiety starts to increase my hands a sweating and my mind is absolutely racing. There are sirens and more sirens and I start to worry there is something going on I should know about. As I get closer to the tower, in sight now my anxiety is on overload. There are bag checks, body scans police everywhere and lots of people but it’s actually all pretty easy. I check where I am supposed to be for the 5 pm tour and wait. From here we are herded towards the lifts and another lot of full body and bag scans. It dawns on me this is not the tour. This is just the lift to go to the 2nd floor. It’s too late now I just have to keep moving forward with the crowd. We step into the lift it’s tight and we are squeezed in like sardines. I hold the centre pole and close my eyes tight. My hand is touching the man next to me, he has one hand on the pole and one around his girlfriend. I leave my hand where it is, the feeling kept me vertical until the doors opened and we could step outside. My knees held up but my hands are shaking so hard I have to hold them tightly together to stop the movement. I know this is adrenaline and it will pass. There are shops and bars and people everywhere first I walk around inside then venture outside but realise I can’t make myself go to outer wire cage so my views are from the walls looking out. I do two laps take a couple of pictures and queue for the lift down. I check multiple times I am in the right queue as from this level you can actually go all the way to the top. The descent is easier. I exit into the fresh air the tears streaming down my face. Ten armed French special forces walk past me. I find the exit to the street and take a very deep breath.

A boat trip

From the tower I head towards the river cruise meeting point it’s not far and I have plenty of time. I fall into a cafe and order an extra strong Mojito Royal and Les 6 Escargots. I start to feel normal and relax into my excitement of having gone up the tower and to be eating snails for the first time.

The river cruise is delightful I thought it might be really touristy but I am completely surrounded by French families and couples. It’s a relaxing way to enjoy dinner and see the evening sights. As we return to the dock the Eiffel Tower sparkles with its first light show of the evening.

It’s been a very big day. I toast my Mum, Sandra and her amazing adventure so long ago. Incredible to think of travel without internet or Google or Booking.com. How she did what she did astounds me.

Distance Walked 15km

Pilgrims Spotted-None.

Some Observations

The Sainte-Chapelle was constructed from 1238,

The Eiffel Tower was constructed from 1887,

It takes about two minutes in the lift to the 2nd floor

There are replicas of the lift drivers who used to sit on the outside of the lift to drive it. This is unbelievable when you see them.

Tomorrow a cemetery and a bookshop…