Sunshine

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What a lovely weekend, not only did I make some cash teaching and baby-sitting this weekend, but I also had a chance to go to Mass in Versaille, sketch in the champ-de Mars, read up a little on Notre Dame, visit Notre Dame, and shop in the Latin quarter. Awesome weekend!!!

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I woke up way later than I intended to on Saturday after having baby-sat pretty late the night before. but none-the-less, I made some freshly ground french-press coffee, ate some baguette and jam, got dressed grabbed my little sketch book and left to take the quick 7 minute metro trip to Notre Dame.
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I stepped of the train with a huge crowd of people from all over the world. French, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Canadian, American, I even brushed shoulders with a British artist who was lugging a little folding chair and a huge bag of art supplies(he had a little union jack sewed to his bag.)

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As the culturally-diverse crowd shuffled up the stairs and out of the Metro station, I started to squint. The sky was a brilliant blue and the sun was shining with all his might, I looked around me, and right there standing proud and tall and strong, like nothing could change her or move her, like her purpose had been set from all eternity, The Cathedral of Notre Dame.... wow! I felt so small and so humble in her presence. I decided not to follow the huge crowd inside today, but rather to enjoy the sunshine and study the many little (and huge) figures and carvings on the stone-work outside the Cathedral. It's so beautiful. (I will upload pics soon, but fyi I also have a lot on Facebook in my album: "Chartres Pilgrimage II")
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I made my way around to the garden behind the Cathedral and sat for a few minutes just taking it all in. "The flying buttresses are gorgeous!" I thought, "maybe i'll draw them." HA! Maybe NOT. The millions of details on the back of Notre Dame, with carved stone traveling in every direction would be a pretty huge undertaking for me and my pencil. So, i decided to start small (I'm no great artist yet) and I did a little sketch of the Statue of Mary and baby Jesus, which crowns the fountain in the middle of the square.
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After a good 30 minutes or so of drawing and staring at the beautiful cathedral, I could feel some grumbling in my tummy, so i figured i should find a quick "que'q chose à manger". I found a little café nearby and got myself a chocolate-banana crepe, and a coke. yummy.

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Not really sure where to go next, I guessed from memory where Ste Chapelle was in relation to the Cathedral, confirmed my hunch by consulting my map and headed in that direction. When i arrived, very excited to see the stained glass on such a sunny day, to my dismay, there was a huge line up outside, and people were grumbling something about it costing 20 euros to get in. "ugh!" I thought, "do i stay and wait, do i go somewhere else...?" I decided to continue on my way and find something else to do, Ste. Chapelle could wait for a less crowded day.
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I continued up to Latin Quarter which has a huge beautiful fountain with a larger than life stature of St-Michel l'Archange on it on the face of a building at the main intersection before entering the area, one of the oldest parts of Paris. The streets were tight and windy and there were a good 50 restaurants to choose from tucked into every possible little corner of all the old and crooked buildings, too bad i had already eaten near Notre Dame.

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I soon stumbled upon some stores, and started looking for shoes. I was in desperate need of some little black flats. I didn't bring any with me and knew my feet would not withstand being confined to 2" heels for another Sunday trek out to Versaille for Mass. I found something perfect for 15 euro, and i got a black purse too, another necessary buy, as i didn't bring a good sized black purse with me. I was tempted by many pairs of earrings, lots of scarves (oh! the scarves!!!) but I only got the shoes and the purse. well done Sandie! oh... and a Latté; I found a starbucks too, and gave into my northamerican craving.

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I went home and rushed off to teach my Saturday english lesson, which actually paid as much as the shoes i had previously bought that day had cost... does that mean i can go buy more shoes now? ;P
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After that, I sat in the park by the eiffel tower (not far from where i live) and worked a little on my eiffel tower drawing. I was also people watching, there are some crazy people in the champ-de-mars. and lots of lovers! and they have no shame, well some shame i suppose. they keep their clothes on at least. lol. I continued my drawing a little and headed home for some late dinner. It's actually becoming normal to me to eat at 8 or 9pm, it's really strange. but It's the French way. speaking of food i think i've gained a little weight. woot woot!

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Once i had stuffed myself with enough baguette, I finished up a drawing for the mom of my little family, It's her birthday today (Sunday).

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Man, that was just my Saturday. How did this post get so long... I need sleep. hopefully, i won't read this tomorrow morning and find myself incapable of making any sense of it. Hopefully I won't be too annoyed by how many times I changed tense.
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Anyways, Readers, please forgive me for my run on and awkward sentences and any other errors, let alone my spelling...

Good night and God bless!

In Corde Jesu,

-Sandie