Cathedrals and Gift Shops

Mary's visit continues; here the cousins are in Luxembourg Gardens where we enjoyed a leisurely picnic, shared with an assortment of birds and bees.
This was a cathedral weekend... magnificent worship at Notre Dame on Saturday evening, and then a an hour's train trip to the medieval village of Chartres on Sunday.
The cathedral there (pictured) dominates the town and the surrounding area-- it can be seen from 25 miles away! Older than Notre Dame Paris, it was dedicated in 1160. (There has been a cathedral on the site since the 400s.) In both places the mighty organs were thundering... what a thrill. Built into the ancient Chartres floor stones is a huge labyrinth, a symbolic pathway to deeper spirituality. (I thought briefly of clearing away the chairs and people so I could use it.
Excuse me for this next item... I can't resist. I have long noted how gift shops are always positioned where you cannot avoid them... at the completion of a museum tour or exit from a theme park ride. We have made our way through hundreds this summer, but this one takes the cake... in a public toilet no less! Thankfully, the items for sale were not themed to the surroundings.
Since I mkentioned the public toilets: Unlike in the US, they are clean and safe here. There are two reasons: 1) You pay 1/2 euro to use them, and 2) there is an attendant on duty at all times. The attendants are on the public payroll, and are pleased to have a job with great security, 4-to-6 weeks' vacation, and a living wage.
Much of Paris is on the public payroll. The tax rate is high... it can be as much as 75%. With that comes free health care for everyone (so much in debate in the US now) and an admirable array of public services; for example, every street in Paris is cleaned every night.
Onward.