From Church to Church (to Church)

I couldn't decide whether to break these church photos up or throw them at you all at once. Seemed better to do the latter because either you'll choose to see them or you won't but now you only have to choose once rather than over and over (and over...). Notre Dame, Basilica of the Sacré Cœur, and Sainte Chapelle, respectfully, begin now.

End of Notre Dame, beginning of Sacre Coeur  

End of Sacre Coeur, beginning of Sainte Chapelle

The only drawback to our time in the last chapel was that they are restoring several of the windows right now. You can see the renovations covered up in the first photo of Sainte Chapelle. To see it in all it's stained glass-glory! Maybe someday. Chris and I had never been into any of them, assuming they all charged the visitor. Turns out only Sainte Chapelle does and even then, I'd pay it again. It was still definitely worth the trip. Each window tells a story of the bible, it's fascinating. 

The sheer amount of thought, time and skill (and wealth) that went into each of these beautiful cathedrals. I guess it's a little silly to call them churches...

Out and about in Paris: Hanlon edition

I know I already brought nighttime escapades at the Eiffel tower to you yesterday but I'm rewinding a bit and showing you our two day excursion as a whole so we can get to the details little more afterwards. Here we go!

I can't believe that I made it to the top of these steps of the Arc de Triomphe without a melt down. I'm still mentally patting myself on the back. And literally physically giving myself a high-five ala Liz Lemon. 

End of Day One. Also, my Dad pointed this out, but doesn't this little restaurant look like Gusteau's in Ratatouille?  

This last photo was the last real glimpse we had of the city of Paris. From here we headed on to the Palace at Versailles which is just beyond stunning. I can't wait to show you!

The mark of a Parisian tourist

It may only be a tourist thing to love the Eiffel Tower. I do. And at night, it's my favorite. We went there with my parents after eating dinner close by (with it in view even!) to watch the show.

Our dinner seats

It started to sprinkle just as we walked to the metro and on to our apartment. It looks a little bit like fairy dust falling on my parents here. Wow, I am definitely spell-bound by Paris. Someone needs to help me get a grip. More of it's beauty and wonder to come tomorrow and afterwards!

Getting back to it

View of one of my favorite spots while walking into down for dinner last night

I might be in the minority when I say this but often, when I'm running, I'm thinking about food. Today was a particularly bad day because I procrastinated getting out of bed and out the door. In the time it took to convince myself that I should run before it rains, I started to get hungry. And when I get hungry I need to eat usually within a few seconds or Hangry Kelly the Horrible comes out. Chris would concur. It's not pretty. If we ever have children and I have to wait to eat, Chris will have one extra child on his hands until I'm fed. I'm slightly embarrassed telling you all this but it's pure fact so I won't hold back. We're all friends, right? Mom?

Today I went for a rather long run, actually, it was the longest since I got injured waaaayyy back in September. I think I'm going to like this marathon-training thing though. Because after this terribly long (not really) run I ate an enormous bowl of oatmeal and am now working my way through a bag of pretzels that I should probably not eat all by myselfffff....too late. Bag empty.

Pay no attention to the last few seconds where I don't know how to turn the camera off...

Next week I'll finish up with Paris and such. We have a boring weekend this weekend, no real plans which could be nice. Then next weekend we have Anna and Rich! Plans are to go to Bastogne to visit the WWII sites there!