Vivaldi Concert at La Sainte Chapelle Church in Paris

Enfin!! Finally! 

I'm here...I'm back...

from Paris

and the holidays! 

I do hope you had a joyous holiday season. 

Our first set of photos from this most recent visit to Paris

is to the royal medieval Gothic chapel of

La Sainte Chapelle.

For the 23rd anniversary of our first date

on the 23rd of December,

I decided rather than spending a huge amount on a fancy restaurant,

the Chef and I should see a concert in a cathedral

and then have a nice dinner nearby. 

I've always wanted to see one of these cathedral concerts

so this was the perfect day...and excuse. 

But it was COLD! 

A friend had warned me:

Bundle up! 

It will be cold. 

But a magnificent backdrop

for such exquisite music. 

Vivaldi's Four Seasons.  

These beautiful angels hovered just next to me as I listened.

And religious figures stood nearby. 

Even the floors are colorful and exquisite.

Adam and Eve grace the exterior doors on the way out. 

And the ancient church spire

hovers under a darkened sky. 

The church, located on the Ile de la Cite,

was commissioned by Louis IXth 

to hold his Passion Relics

one of which was to be the Crown of Thorns. 

The church itself was opened in 1248. 

Sainte Chapelle is most known, among other things,

for being the largest collection of 13th century stained glass windows anywhere.

(See first photos above for a small sampling.)

It was my 3rd visit to this special church

and I never tire of it. 

Next time, I hope to see a concert there in the summer! 

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From the church, we made our way to the restaurant L'Absinthe,

quoted as a 'neo-retro bistro'.

A little Paris, a little New York,

the restaurant is run by Caroline Rostang,

daughter of the famous Michel Rostang.

I wish I'd gotten some shots of the interior

but you can see photos by clicking the link below. 

We sipped bubbly 

(in memory of our very first bubbly together on that first date)

and had a fabulous meal just near the clock. 

I highly recommend it. 

Thanks for coming along 

for the first of many photos of our recent time in Paris!

(All photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

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La Sainte Chapelle

8, rue Blvd. du Palais,

75001, Paris, France

33.1.53.40.60.80

L'Absinthe (Paris)

24, Place du Marche Saint Honore

75001 Paris France

01.49.26.90.04