by Paris: Notre Dame
Too tired for words, so it’s a good time to post more of our photos of Paris. Notre Dame de Paris is a magestic awe-inspiring beauty, both architecturally and sculpturally. Just across the Seine and short walk from our apartment, we visited it several times, though not indoors because of long lineups. More photos to come…
November 18, 2009 in Culture, Travel by Marja-Leena
I love the angle from which you shot these photos. You really captured the drive for the majestic in this architectural style. Look forward to seeing more!
When I was there a couple of years ago, we never went inside either. But it’s really such a magnificent cathedral. I did go inside the one other time I was there 25 years ago (it was quiet season) – have a photo of myself with a gargoyle on some high-up balcony overlooking the city!
Maria, yeah, craning one’s neck straight back to see up and up sure gives one a sense of awe (as well as a crick). How did the sculptors and builders ever work up there back in those days!? Such fantastic work…
Leslee, I couldn’t believe how busy it was there in mid-May! We’d been inside Salisbury in England earlier so we had at least one cathedral fix on this trip, and have seen many others in Italy and Germany years ago. But you’ve been to Paris many times, I recall. I hope we’ll get an opportunity to go back again – one week for a first time visit was not enough!
I loved the free organ concerts on Sunday afternoons when I lived there. It’s a fantastic space.
I once stood in the nave to watch a sunrise. It was an utterly amazing moment.
Pica, I imagine those concerts sounded magnificent! You lived in Paris – wow!
Susan, I can just imagine, what an experience!
The photo of the stones in your previous post and those here of Notre Dame somehow mingled in my dreams last night. Each little rock dancing and swirling until it took a shape and flew to the great Cathedral to take a place in the great sculpture you’ve captured.
What do you mean I had too many pints of ale?!
R, if too many pints give you these kind of dreams, and especially such wonderful dreams with my images, I say drink away! Skol! Too bad I can’t tolerate alcohol, maybe I’d have more visions and ‘scribblings’. Probably why some artists become alcoholics and drug users, even Blake experimented with hallucinogenics. (Not that I’m suggesting you do, or should do!)
A like thought came to mind when I awoke the following morning with that dream. I’d looked at your pictures to wind down a bit after the guild meeting and said to myself that I would comment on the morrow. So your images must have mingled with Greg Ellis’ percussion and the aromas of the bread and the fascinating talk of faraway yet familiar places. One thought I had was whether the alcohol and drugs (which some artists sadly fall into) are any help in the production of art with heart, so to speak. Regular use of these substances would destroy the heart to such an extent that making art would still be possible, but wouldn’t the result be soulless?
R, that’s a good question. It might be a case of how deeply addicted that person becomes, and whether he/she can still function and produce any work at all. And will the work have soul, as you ask? Perhaps there would be some kind of agony and ecstasy at some state, as some artist hope by experimenting, but will it mean going down some slippery slope into nothingness? That’s what I’d fear.