September 30: Notre Dame

[kinetic_elaboration]

Very hazy and weird and kind of muddy day today. It feels simultaneously like it was very long and very short. We didn’t get a lot of sleep last night and we still got up early to go to Notre Dame. I am glad we saw it so early though. I don’t know that I remembered enough details to really appreciate the renovation. But it was definitely a lot lighter inside. Also, just from being there at a different time of day, fewer people and more time/opportunity to wander around rather than just be shuffled through. We also did a little walk around the Ile de la Cite, and then we went back to the hotel (with a stop for the very important task of me buying shampoo and body wash to take home, the most important of souvenirs).

I was glad to take a nap, which I deeply needed. I had some sort of intense dreams about the Paris metro, among other things. It helped, but I don’t think I got up to full force for the rest of the day… it felt like anything I might do to help myself (take it easy, eat, whatever), was only allowing me to chug along a little longer, to get my battery up to maybe 60 or 70%. I don’t know, in retrospect I think I was somehow even worse off than I felt at the time.

We got some crepes from nearby, ate at the hotel, took a little walk around the neighborhood, and went to an art store nearby. Then we had some more lobby time, which for me was like… pretend to write/thing about writing and really just Endless Scroll. Neither of us could stand the idea of another Eating Out experience, not because they have been bad at all but just because they’re so long and there’s just… so many choices to make etc. etc. So we eventually decided to grab sandwiches from the grocery store and eat here, which was truly the best idea.

I think my body’s starting to feel a little worn down, and though I’m glad we’re not traveling home tomorrow, I don’t wish this trip were longer. I’m trying very hard to respect my limits even when they annoy me. And I will definitely need some crashing out, low activity, restful time upon return.