Though I had no idea in 2019 that I would move to France in 2023, when I heard (in Berkeley) that Notre Dame was on fire and partly collapsed, I felt stabbed in the heart -- maybe my heart knew that someday I would live within a 15-20 minutes' walk to it? The photos and informative captions on the fences around the cathedral and work area are fantastic, and the government keeps adding new ones to track the progress.
I haven't checked out the film but would like to do so -- thanks for mentioning it, and for writing the post. It was great to hear your story and learn more about the fire.
I'm not sure... the age, beauty, and symbolic value, I suppose... literally "Our Lady" as the embodiment of the sacred, the beautiful, the lasting, and the special culture of France. And, if the Eiffel Tower is the big secular metal commercialized phallic symbol of France's power (France's mystique, probably its greatest power), then Notre-Dame is the heart, dressed in stained glass and carved stone and holding centuries' worth of artwork, prayers, masses in Latin, flickering candles....
On that night Steve & I were at a meeting and had ridden home on our bikes and were settling in for the evening. Around 7.30pm (?), he heard about the fire & wanted to go see it. I knew there would be tons of people so I wasn’t too happy to bike all the way back again. But we went and it was probably the most memorable ‘live event’ of our lifetime! Notre Dame has been an architectural wonder for me since childhood. To see it burning was so incredible. The reactions of the crowds were silence, crying and singing hymns. Each time a fire truck went by - applause and cheers. We stayed till 12.30am.
Nicely done, I remember the fire like it was yesterday.
Though I had no idea in 2019 that I would move to France in 2023, when I heard (in Berkeley) that Notre Dame was on fire and partly collapsed, I felt stabbed in the heart -- maybe my heart knew that someday I would live within a 15-20 minutes' walk to it? The photos and informative captions on the fences around the cathedral and work area are fantastic, and the government keeps adding new ones to track the progress.
I haven't checked out the film but would like to do so -- thanks for mentioning it, and for writing the post. It was great to hear your story and learn more about the fire.
Do you remember why you felt stabbed in the heart? What would you say was the universality?
I'm not sure... the age, beauty, and symbolic value, I suppose... literally "Our Lady" as the embodiment of the sacred, the beautiful, the lasting, and the special culture of France. And, if the Eiffel Tower is the big secular metal commercialized phallic symbol of France's power (France's mystique, probably its greatest power), then Notre-Dame is the heart, dressed in stained glass and carved stone and holding centuries' worth of artwork, prayers, masses in Latin, flickering candles....
The film was FANTASTIC!!
On that night Steve & I were at a meeting and had ridden home on our bikes and were settling in for the evening. Around 7.30pm (?), he heard about the fire & wanted to go see it. I knew there would be tons of people so I wasn’t too happy to bike all the way back again. But we went and it was probably the most memorable ‘live event’ of our lifetime! Notre Dame has been an architectural wonder for me since childhood. To see it burning was so incredible. The reactions of the crowds were silence, crying and singing hymns. Each time a fire truck went by - applause and cheers. We stayed till 12.30am.
What a night that was!!