Notre Dame
The Cathedral of Notre Dame, right after a quick autumn shower.
Arch detail
The inset of the center arch.
Look closer
A closer shot of the previous. Not a single one is identical.
The devil is in the details
The devil, quite literally, is in the details in this depiction of the Last Judgement.
The Bell Tower
A side view of the southern (“right”) bell tower.
Gargoyles
Because of the light rain on our way to Notre-dame, we actually got to see the gargoyles in action. It’s difficult to make it out, but there is water falling from their mouths. The droplets can be best seen in the left-hand part of the photo, against the masonry.
Stained
One of the many stained-glass windows in the alcoves along the sanctuary.
Joan of Arc
A life-sized statue of Joan of Arc. (She doesn’t look a thing like Milla Jovovich.)
Windows
Stained-glass windows in the clerestory.
Vaulted
One of the cool vaulted ceilings, thanks to the exterior flying buttresses.
Ooh la la
After we took the impromptu tour through the nave (the main sanctuary), Amy, Katy and I started to wait in line for the tour of the bell towers, when I saw this very French ad. Vive la republique!
Strike
Because of a strike by the city’s museum and monument workers, it would have been free to go up to the bell towers. But the line was long and I wanted to see the butresses up close before we headed to The Louvre. So we got out of line
Amy was saying that strikes were commonplace in Paris. Often times if a labor group wanted a few days off or whatever, they’d strike. The only downside for us was that The Cluny Museum was closed instead of being open to the public for free.
St. Nicolas
It would appear that Santa Claus is actually dead, and entombed below the courtyard in front of Notre-dame.
Wheee!
Along the side of Notre-dame was a small playground. The group of us couldn’t resist.
James’ then-girlfriend Christina (who became his fiancée on the trip, and wife in September ‘02) is the woman in the back.
Pigeons
Three pigeons roosting. The question is, can you find all three in the nooks and crannies?
Flying Buttresses
For whatever reason, I thought the flying butresses were really cool visually and architecturally.
Gargoyles in profile
Even cooler than the flying buttresses were all the gargoyles. Once again, every one is unique.
Beauty and the Beasts
Behind the cathedral is a rose garden and park. I liked the contrast of the ephemeral delicate roses and the centuries-old stony creatures.
Park Benches
One of my favorite shots in Paris, these benches in the park behind Notre-dame.
Park lines
As you’ll see in future photos, I loved the linearity of the trees, bushes and streets in Paris. It’s a city of great geometry.
Four gargoyles
Four more garogyles as we rounded the cathedral to the far (“left”) side.
Say Aaaah
Open up and say aaaah.
Growl
I particularly like the one in the lower left corner.