Notre Dame shimmers at Christmas

As promised, here are a few photos of Notre Dame just after Christmas

near New Years Day. 

After weeks of walking by crazy long lines,

people waiting in the freezing cold,

we finally found an opening with no line

and managed to walk right in during a New Year's service. 

For those too far away, 

there are even video screens to see the priest

whose voice rumbles throughout the ancient cathedral. 

Everywhere there is light pouring in...

... and candles flickering. 

But the sweetest part of Notre Dame during the holidays...

was the shimmering star hanging over the altar.

It twinkled with sparkly lights

as a reminder of that night. 

And all throughout are reminders and depictions of His life.

The beauty of this extraordinary place is awe-inspiring on a regular day

but breathtaking during the holidays. 

It seems funny to be posting Christmas in Paris in April

but then I realized that maybe the week between 

Palm Sunday and Easter is the perfect time. 

(All photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

From Notre Dame to Eglise Saint Louis en l'Ile

To return to our small Paris tour from last time,
we walked from the lovely Notre Dame de Paris,
seen here in the setting sun,

 
across the bridge

past the brasseries

to the Eglise Saint Louis en l'Ile.

Built between 1664 and 1726,

and according to the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau,

built according to plans by Le Vau, the royal architect of Versaille. 

While I'm not a Catholic

I DO love those Catholic churches

for their graceful beauty, their architecture,

moving paintings

and stained glass windows

filled with stunning color and detailed story.

for their quiet places

their history

colors

and reverence

their painted arches

and hiding shadows

their amazing shots

and because I always learn something.

What about you? 

Anything you especially love about churches?

Next time we'll do a little more walking 

along the island. 

********

19 bis rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Ile

75004 Paris

33.0.1.46.34.11.60

(All Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

L'anniversaire en Paris

I've posted some about my time recently in Paris for my sister's big 50th birthday

 but not really about what I did a week later on mine.

I started my day with the Brassai exhibit, 

For the Love of Paris

at...

the Hotel de Ville.

FYI: the exhibits there are always free!

Then a light lunch at my favorite little 

resto cave-a-vins

also known as La Reserve de Quasimodo

(or The Oldest Bar in Paris.)

And had my favorite entrees there:

the Rillette de Sardine

and a chevre chaud salad. 

From there, it's only a couple of short blocks to Notre Dame...

so I took a walk through to find some of my favorite angels...

(how gold his wings look)

and famous French martyrs...

I always love the shot of the burning candles

beneath one of the rose windows...

and the play of shadows on the ancient floor. 

Someone else also celebrated a birthday

recently...

Took a walk along the Seine ...

And in the evening had Birthday Tiramisu

(one of my favorite desserts)

after Ethiopian food with friends and family. 

It was a fabulous birthday 

in that most fabulous city. 

Don't remember the last time 

I spent a birthday alone

and enjoyed it so much. 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Nouveaux Cloches for Notre Dame's 850th Anniversary

New bells will be ringing this Easter in Paris! 

Nine new bells, on display at Notre Dame,

will begin pealing in time for Palm Sunday.

While there is some controversy about what will happen to the old bells,

the one remaining Great Bell, Emmanuel, will stay. 

The others, replacing the old 'out of tune' bells,

are going in to celebrate the founding of the cathedral in 1163.

And according to the Seattle Times, each will have names: 

Jean-Marie, Maurice, Benoit-Joseph, Steven, Marcel, Dennis,

Anne-Genevieve, Gabriel and Mary will join Emmanuel,

the only original bell not taken down and broken in the French Revolution. 

And written on each bell, a Latin inscription:

Via viatores quaerit.

"I am the path looking for travelers." 

If you are in Paris on March 23rd,

listen for the sound of the medieval church bells of old

and follow the travelers path to the city's beloved

Our Lady of Paris.  

(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)