Sunday, January 8, 2012

The equestrian statue is of Charlemagne "Charles the Great", King of the Franks. He was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor in 800, but after his death the kingdom was divided into what would become modern France and Germany.

This morning Darci, Samantha, Amy and I took a nice Sunday walk around the area where our apartment is. We found an amazing bakery that is ranked 3rd in all of Paris. I think they are all good, but after trying their bread and an almond/chocolate croissant...I guess I have to agree! In the afternoon Olivia, Samantha and I went back to the Notre Dame Cathedral so we could climb the stairs up to the base of the roof where the "gargoyles" and bell tower are. The gargoyles represent souls caught between heaven and earth. They also in some parts function as rainspouts. Gargoyle comes from the French root work as "gargle".

We also stopped to find "point zero" which is the center of France some 2,300 years ao and still is today