So yesterday we went to Notre Dame and the Left Bank. It was the first day of bad weather we've had. I bit of rain. Not to heavy, but enough to annoy. We walked through the cathedral and we were there when noon mass began. I haven't been to church in a long time--dare I say decades. It was captivating to watch the priest and the people go through the prayers. The place is huge so the priest was using a microphone. They even have flat screen tvs--I guess for when there is a bigger crowd. We even walked by someone in confession and it wasn't like what you see in the movies where both parties are in a wooden box divided by a patterned screen. That was there, but they priest and the person were just sitting on opposite sides of a desk. The alcove had frosted glass so you couldn't hear anything or really see to much. I wonder if people don't really confess like they used to when they have to actually look at the priest. What if you see him on the streets? As much as it irritates me to see people take flash photos in the museum, it was really irritating to watch people taking flash pictures in the church. Yes, it's a world famous monument and stuff, but it's still someone's local church.

After going through Notre Dame we walked on the Left Bank which is the student area. We walked on the Boulevard Saint Michel and the Boulevard St. Germain-des-Pres. It was packed with students and tourists. We walked all the way to the Jardin de Luxembourg. Some kid had a 10 minute crying fit. And as we left we saw mini-horses walking kids around the park.

A surprising discovery happened today. Shit is closed...I mean at least around us--restaurants, small markets, even the friggin' Starbucks down the street was closed. I mean, it's Saturday, a day when most people don't have to work and have free time to go to the market or have lunch at a restaurant or something. And I mean, Starbucks, come on!!! I guess they make up for being closed on the weekends by charging you 12 Euro for a hamburger and fries. All the expensive shit on the Champs-Elysees--still open, not the cheap shit for the little people.

Anyway, we did a lot of walking but it was a fairly uneventful day.

Some stats for yesterday...

Steps taken according to my pedometer 8267

Number of glasses of wine 5

Number of souvenirs purchased 4