Notre Dame & Shakespeare And Company

So people are aware that Notre Dame caught on fire a while back. It happened back in 2019 and I remember watching the videos with a heavy heart. I mean, Notre Dame has been around for over 800 years. It was actual history going up in flames.

What caused it? Well, either a cigarette or a short circuit. No one is for certain. 

What is for certain is Notre Dame has reopened. It's still being worked on, but we were lucky enough to be able to visit when we were in Paris.

Anyone can visit. There are tickets but there is also a line if you do not have one. This is what we did. The line moved quickly and yes, it was beautiful inside. The only issue is the store is hard to navigate. There are souvenirs set up on the side but it's not an actual store so it was difficult to figure out lines and such. So we didn't bother. 

We are not religious, but we can appreciate the beauty and the history. 

Around Notre Dame is called the Latin Quarter. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods and there are so many wonderful places to dine.

We ended up popping into a nearby sandwich shop, and holy crap, it was amazing. 

Fresh bread. Fresh cheese. Fresh meat. The US needs to get help from Paris. 

There's also a fabulous bookstore nearby called Shakespeare And Company. It was founded by an American named George Whitman in 1951. The building was around since the 17th century. I believe it was a monastery. 

If you love the smell of books, or books in general, visit the bookstore. There is usually a line to get in but it moves quickly. There are no pictures of videos allowed inside. You'll find classic books, as well as current ones. I picked up Madeline, a book I enjoyed as a little girl.

Be sure to get books purchased stamped. The employees will usually ask if you want it.

Oh, it says Kilometer Zero Paris because it is located at the point where all French roads begin.

I also picked up this bag:

History lovers will be a fan of the area for sure. We certainly did!