On our first Sunday in Paris, we took a walk around the Île de la Cité, one of two adjoining islands in the Seine river. The other is the Île Saint-Louis. The Île de la Cité is considered the geographical center of Paris, and it is the oldest part of the city. Both islands are home to many upscale shops, restaurants, and apartments.
The famed Cathedral of Notre Dame is located on the Île de la Cité. Since we were in the neighborhood, we decided to pop in for a visit. Unfortunately, it appeared that the massive task of maintaining such a structure was outstripping their ability to keep up. The interior had a decidedly dingy appearance, with walls blackened (presumably by air pollution and burning candles) and peeling paint. We had the same impression in Italy, where so many magnificent churches appear to be falling into disrepair.
We came across the Crypte Archéologique de l’île de la Cité, which is an underground museum showing the foundations of the ancient city fortifications built by the Romans about 2,000 years ago. Also on display were many gold coins and other Roman artifacts that were unearthed on the site. One coin in particular (shown below) bore an image with a remarkably modern appearance.
Paris 2019 