Grand Views

Greetings from France.
Things are going well here. We finally got paid, I started teaching again, and the weekend was good. In other news, the French are being particularly French this month. There's a whole series of strikes planned for the next two weeks. Also in true French fashion there's no way of telling exactly how far they will reach, how long they will last, or if they will be complete or still have some trains running. So depending on just how French they are you might be seeing a few rants on here.
But in better times I climbed the cathedral's tower. It's free on the first Sunday of the month from November to May. The climb itself wasn't too bad. I don't even think it was 300 stairs, though we lost count. The problem is that the staircase gets narrower and narrower and narrower until there's just enough space to climb without turning sideways. Oh, and did I mention that there's only one staircase? Apparently there's not really a system of going up or down, you just shove your way past people and if they fall to their deaths down the ancient staircase... well poo on them. It was quite an experience. But definitely worth the views. I went with Deborah and Bonnie, both assistants, and Bonnie's boyfriend Mark.

It was a little windy up top.The gals all enjoying the view. L to R : Bonnie, Deborah, me

Me and the city I live in.

Deborah looking chic, as always.

Not sure how Bonnie got this photo, but either I just scared Mark half to death or he's posessed.

Gargoyle up close and personal.

I was even able to see my own apartment from the tower.The staircase we climbed up. I noticed a sign on the way back out that said "Caution: Steps wet when the weather is humid or raining." Doesn't that just make your heart all warm?

Chartres in all it's autumn glory.

We were really high up. I'm fairly certain I didn't take this picture, I think Deborah did. I was trying darn hard not to really look straight down like that.

Until the next post... have a great week!