Paris: Tues. 5/13- Historic Paris Walk, Crypt, Pantheon, Luxembourg Garden

(Hot- high 80 degrees): Slept in, 1st day of M. Pass. Historic Paris Walk (got to Notre Dame about 11am). There were tents and semi-trucks everywhere on the plaza in front of the church. It was an ugly noisy mess and we never did figure out what they were setting up for. Tower Climb- the line wasn’t moving and after ½ hour we finally asked and found out that there was a funeral and they wouldn’t let anyone up with the bells ringing. They stopped and the line moved, and just as we got to the front of the line, they started again and they stopped us. Also there was a sign right at the attendant that said the top of the tower was closed today, but when we got up there, it was open. By now it was time for lunch, so we walked to Ile St. Louis and had a long lunch at a café and of course ice cream at Berthillons (not to be missed!). Then Deportation, Book sellers stalls for a few trinkets and then back to Notre Dame for the inside. Then the Archeological Crypt (just OK) and the rest of the H.P.Walk (St Julien->Pont Neuf). Everyone loved St. Chapelle (my two oldest work for a stained glass artist in the summers), and no one liked the Concierge. After that we took the Metro to the Pantheon just before they closed (skipped the Area de Lutece). We liked the Pantheon better than we thought we would. Walked to the Luxembourg Garden and relaxed with a (warm) beer at a café there as the kids wandered to the pond right there. Walked past St. Sulpice and St. Germain des Pres. My daughter wanted to go back to Café Flore (went there a few months prior), but they only could seat us inside- went in, but it had no atmosphere and it was very hot, so we left and went to Les Deux Magots next-door. Had a great table outside and a wonderful meal. Stopped at Hagen-Das on the square…three words- it’s not Berthillon. Metro home. END DAY