Paris trip in May 2001
Monday, May 21st
Monday, we were up and visiting the 700-year old Notre Dame cathedral. It sits on a small island in the middle of
downtown Paris. Notre Dame translates to Our Lady and represents the grace and compassion of Mary. The people
that built the cathedral started in 1163, knowing they would not see it completed in their lifetime.
Monday, we were up and visiting the 700-year old Notre Dame cathedral. It sits on a small island in the middle of
downtown Paris. Notre Dame translates to Our Lady and represents the grace and compassion of Mary. The people
that built the cathedral started in 1163, knowing they would not see it completed in their lifetime.
In fact, it took 2
centuries to
complete. Can
you imagine? It
took longer to
build than our
country is old!!!
centuries to
complete. Can
you imagine? It
took longer to
build than our
country is old!!!
Right outside the building was Point Zero. It is the point from where all
distances are measured in Paris. It is all seriously gothic. Reminded us of
the Batman movies.
distances are measured in Paris. It is all seriously gothic. Reminded us of
the Batman movies.
The inside of the cathedral is impressive. The church is designed in
the shape of a cross and the alter is where the crossbeams
intersect. It can hold up to 10,000 people now.
There is even one original stained glass “rose” window.They still
hold mass, light candles and have confession. But the confessions
are more counseling sessions behind closed, glass cubicles now.
the shape of a cross and the alter is where the crossbeams
intersect. It can hold up to 10,000 people now.
There is even one original stained glass “rose” window.They still
hold mass, light candles and have confession. But the confessions
are more counseling sessions behind closed, glass cubicles now.
Then we climbed to the top. 600 feet
upstairs…”marches” as they said in
France.
upstairs…”marches” as they said in
France.
We learned about the pointed arches and flying
buttresses. We got to see the gargoyles up close…which
they say used to be live creatures that would swoop down
and carry away small animals and sometimes children…but
are now extinct.
buttresses. We got to see the gargoyles up close…which
they say used to be live creatures that would swoop down
and carry away small animals and sometimes children…but
are now extinct.
And we also got to look at the immense bell tower…which still houses the bell.
The view from the top was spectacular and you
could see for miles.
could see for miles.
And then 600 marches back down the stairs. Round and round and round the spiral staircase. Really brought
Quasimodo to life for us.
Next we briefly visited the Deportation Memorial. This was a memorial dedicated to the 200,000 French victims of the
Nazi camps. Two empty cells are on either side of the memorial that was built into the side of the Seine River bank.
Each person has a lighted crystal embedded in a long slab of granite-looking material so the effect in this dark,
tomb-like memorial was reflective and sobering.
Quasimodo to life for us.
Next we briefly visited the Deportation Memorial. This was a memorial dedicated to the 200,000 French victims of the
Nazi camps. Two empty cells are on either side of the memorial that was built into the side of the Seine River bank.
Each person has a lighted crystal embedded in a long slab of granite-looking material so the effect in this dark,
tomb-like memorial was reflective and sobering.
It was probably as long as our livingroom, but only two windows wide, and 4 stories high. All the buildings were tall,
with narrow streets, usually only big enough to get one tiny car down the road. Before plumbing, flushing the water-
closet meant throwing it out the window. Maids would holler out the windows “Look out for the water” and heave out
the dirty water into the street. It would all wash down these narrow streets into the Seine River. Its not much different
today, because they still have some sanitation problems. Homeless people and ALL the dogs do their business in
the streets. Every morning, the city trucks come by and hose-spray off all the sidewalks into the streets. Then they
have these water spouts they turn on and water comes up from a higher point in the street and floods the curbs and
streets and washes everything down into the sewers. There are no flies, no bugs, no mosquitos because everything
gets washed down daily.
There is little grass and few trees compared to what we're used to in Portland. Very tall buildings, sidewalks and
pavement everywhere.
with narrow streets, usually only big enough to get one tiny car down the road. Before plumbing, flushing the water-
closet meant throwing it out the window. Maids would holler out the windows “Look out for the water” and heave out
the dirty water into the street. It would all wash down these narrow streets into the Seine River. Its not much different
today, because they still have some sanitation problems. Homeless people and ALL the dogs do their business in
the streets. Every morning, the city trucks come by and hose-spray off all the sidewalks into the streets. Then they
have these water spouts they turn on and water comes up from a higher point in the street and floods the curbs and
streets and washes everything down into the sewers. There are no flies, no bugs, no mosquitos because everything
gets washed down daily.
There is little grass and few trees compared to what we're used to in Portland. Very tall buildings, sidewalks and
pavement everywhere.
We also visited the
Latin Quarter...mostly
shops, bookstores,
painters, authors, jazz
clubs, dancers, etc.
We saw the skinniest
house in Paris…#22
rue St. Severin.
Latin Quarter...mostly
shops, bookstores,
painters, authors, jazz
clubs, dancers, etc.
We saw the skinniest
house in Paris…#22
rue St. Severin.
Next we visited
Sainte-Chapelle. It
was built in 1248
and only took 5
years! This
church was all
about marble
floors and stained
glass.
Sainte-Chapelle. It
was built in 1248
and only took 5
years! This
church was all
about marble
floors and stained
glass.
Everywhere you looked there was
more stained glass. And of course
it all meant something. Christians
believed that light shining through
stained glass was a symbol of
God’s grace shining down to
earth. There were 15 different
stained glass panels. But these
panels were huge. Each panel
had more than 1100 different
scenes.
more stained glass. And of course
it all meant something. Christians
believed that light shining through
stained glass was a symbol of
God’s grace shining down to
earth. There were 15 different
stained glass panels. But these
panels were huge. Each panel
had more than 1100 different
scenes.
One side of the church started the Old Testament and it went around the room ending
with Revelations in the last scene of the last panel. They used them to teach the Bible
stories to others. Some people were considered stained glass “speed readers”.
with Revelations in the last scene of the last panel. They used them to teach the Bible
stories to others. Some people were considered stained glass “speed readers”.
We also visited
the police
station and a
few of the local
"malls"...one
called
Samaritaine.
We picked up
some
souveniers for
Nicole here.
the police
station and a
few of the local
"malls"...one
called
Samaritaine.
We picked up
some
souveniers for
Nicole here.