Tower of Cynicism

Despite my cold, and the cold, Danielle and I decided to climb the cathedral's tower on Sunday. What can I say? When it's free, I'm there. I'm sure Danielle won't be happy with me for the first photo, but I think it's an excellent picture of her.
The climb up is odd. Rather dark and clastrophobic. The stairs get narrower towards the top and, since the stone stairs are several centuries old, they're worn down and smooth. It's also a very short area. I know people were smaller when the cathedral was built, but I almost have to duck!
The city looks a bit different in the winter. The fall was obviously more colorful, but I think the town just looks sad and lonely now. It is in a way though. The chartrains are wussy about weather. None of them would ever survive an Ada winter. But the wet cold seems to keep the vast majority of people at home.

Since my camera batteries didn't fail this time, I was able to get some better pictures of the gargoyles and chimaeras. The photo below is of a chimaera. That's an beast made up different animals meant as decoration to scare off evil spirits.
A gargoyle on the other hand is used a drainage system. The backs have a ditch for water and the water comes out the mouths. A rather decorative gutter if you will.

After coming in from the cold, after a long, tiring and diziing spiral down, I took some better shots of the windows in the cathedral. The blue color is the speciality of the cathedral.

In other news, my cold continues and the French have officially started to convert me. The cynicism that the French are rightfully known for is being to show itself in me. The cathedral bells are becoming annoying. When I first arrived it was incredible to hear them and think it was the same bell that people hundreds of years ago listened to. Now it's just another annoyance that interrupts my lessons with no warning and rudely wakes me up on Sunday mornings. Last week the woman in line behind us at the grocery store got irrationally upset at the wait because they had to do a price check on one of Danielle's items. She started the French sigh, so I gave her a French shrug back and Danielle said "Tant pis" (too bad). I know that I just have a cold. It can't be cured by antibiotics, but I am strangely compelled to go to the doctor and have them perscribe me something. Hopefully my American optimism is still somewhere, but I think it might be hibernating. It stands out too much here.