Those sad last hours in Paris

This will be the last post about Paris, and I feel like it's not enough. Paris really grew in me, so much that I am sure I'll repeat the visit soon. Maybe next year, who knows.

These are few of the last photos, before heading over the airport, back to Lisbon.

Au revoir, Paris.

The Heaven on Earth: Sainte-Chapelle

After the Notre Dame, I visited one of the most beautiful places I've seen - the chapel of Sainte-Chapelle. For you this might be a little boring, but I would stay there for hours, if I could.

The Sainte-Chapelle was built by St. Louis, king Louis IX, in the 13th century, in the heart of the palais de la Cité, the sovereign's residence and the seat of his administration.

The chapel is decorated by a unique ensemble of fifteen stained glass windows and a large rose window which form ttrue walls of light. In each window is depicted a Bible story, and also the St. Louis episode of carrying the relics into Paris.

In the middle of the 19th century, the Sainte-Chapelle was restored in a manner which both recreated the original flamboyant Gothic and created an ideal vision of sacred medieval architecture.

These are probably the worse photos I took in Paris, since the lightning wasn't much and there was so many details to get. I'm sorry for the bad quality, but it was the best I could do with my ol' Nikon D80. I'm glad we could photograph inside, though. They were also restoring some windows in the left side, so don't mind the plastic covers.

The city awakes to the bells of Notre Dame

On the last day in Paris we went to the Notre Dame, and yet, another dream fulfilled. I've been wanting to come to this cathedral and pray to the Holy Notre Dame of Paris since I was a child. I still remember saying that to my grandmother. It was really personal and beautiful, it was amazing.

The Cathedral is truly beyond words, and magical. The view from the towers is also amazing, since the Cathedral is located in the heart of Paris, in the Île de la Cité, one of the two remaining natural islands in the Seine river.

I felt blessed.

King Louis IX of France, later Saint Louis, carried the relics of the Passion of Jesus wearing only this white linen shirt, barefoot. Louis was a devoted catholic and kept the relics in his possession, building the Saint Chapelle (post is coming next about it) to keep the relics. The relics were later transfered to the Notre Dame, to the place now called the Treasury of Notre Dame.

Sharing Love at the Eiffel Tower

This is how my birthday in Paris ended. After an amazing day spent in Versailles (see here), me and my loved one made our way to the Eiffel Tower, to have a look on the city at night and end the day in a very special way.

Before the Eiffel, I managed to spend a little time with one of my history based Facebook page - Medieval and Renaissance Whispers - fans! She was a sweetheart, and she wanted to meet me, once she knew I was spending some days in Paris. I was so bummed that we didn't get much time together, though. And I totally forgot to take a picture with her. Anyway, it was lovely, and made me appreciate my page and its fans.

We went up to the second floor, it was freezing but the view was breathtaking, nevertheless. Even though it was at night, there was still a feeling of accomplishment, as if there was everything I wished for. 

After some photos (pardon my lack of ability to make a good long-exposure), I realized that there was some locks, from couples who decided to leave there their love lock. 

I was carrying one from me and my boyfriend, since I always wanted to leave it at the Pont des Arts, the bridge where loved ones leave their locks, as a symbol of their lasting love. I just didn't have the chance yet to leave it there, so I carried it with me on my birthday, just to make sure I had it if we passed by the bridge that day.

The view was so beautiful, I just had the best time at Versailles so I realized that it was the best spot to leave our lock. No words can describe what I felt. It was really special, and of course I cried, because I'm an emotional crybaby. 

The day couldn't end any better than this. Perfect.

Can you identify a face that just cried happy tears? =)

So we left our lock in there. It says "M+F", the date (24.11.2013) and "Strange World"(writen on each side of the lock) which I consider to be the song that is the perfect description of our relationship. Cheesy enough? I'm sorry. I'm not usually like this, but I feel I should share.

And yes, on my birhday I always manage to see my "floating lanterns".