Glorious Windows at Notre Dame
Bonjour mes amis,
Bernie was still very under the weather yesterday. Despite my insistence on a few simple things like a hat, he persists that he’s doing okay. So, I left out on my own yesterday to see what the situation was over at Notre Dame. The web site always says that the tickets are sold out no matter what time of day or night you try.
What I found was pretty amazing and pretty frustrating. There were two lines to get in: one very short line with people who had tickets and one very long line for people without tickets. I stood back and watched for a few minutes and saw that the line for no tickets was moving incredibly fast. I entered the queue and despite its length, I was inside in 15 minutes! I stood alongside a delightful mother and her son from England. What a nice visit we had. He was 11 and reminded me of my Carson.
It was a typical gray day but there was enough light to capture the windows. Hope you enjoy!
This beautiful purple leather exit door was stunning. And I was able to do a little shopping at the boutique set up as you depart. All in all, a very successful outing. Honestly, I’m not sure what the purpose of the ticket sales is about, other than to keep them from being mobbed.
On the way back to the apartment, I crossed the Louis-Phillipe bridge and turned onto Francois Miron where the Israel deli is located. It was open and busy. Such a delightful place owned by en elderly couple who are still working there. It’s not much from the exterior so mostly frequented by the French locals. Accordingly to our friend Richard Nahem, the great fear is that one day soon it will close. That has been the fate of so many of the unique shops of the Marais. The children of the patrons are not interested in assuming the responsibility of managing the shops. So much has already been lost over the last twenty years. And thus we have the likes of Five Guys, Subway, and Krispy Kreme! It makes me sad.
Just down the street is a wonderful patisserie making fancy, fancy Bûche de Noëls. The one that I have ordered won’t be quite so nice.
Bernie has finally agreed this morning to let me take him to the Urgence or Emergency Room. So keep those good thoughts and prayers coming this way.
A bientôt
L & B
December 18, 2024 @ 9:05 am
Aahh I should have mentioned Urgence yesterday! Clive and I once had twin colds & cough and got help by walking into the American Hospital at Neuilly. So glad Bernie will see someone today. The ND photos are awesoms 💟
December 18, 2024 @ 10:24 am
Yes, I just heard from friends in Paris that they also could not get tickets, so they went to stand in line, and had a short wait 20 minute wait.. and got in! The windows are magnificent so I heard and your pictures proved it. Amazing to see them clean!!
And Im glad you went to the Israel Deli.. I assume you picked up that great curative, chicken soup!!! I trust it will work for Bernie, but going to Urgent Care is a great backup! I had a bad cold when I was living in the most fabulous chambre de bonne at Quai de la Tournelle. What a view over Paris, and the five flights up the staircase kept me in shape! Ah youth!. unfortunately the no heat or barely heat finally had it due and I ended up in the American Hospital at Neuilly for a few days. I moved soon after. Keep stressing wearing hat gloves coat and a scarf around your neck!!. You really cant be too careful in cold weather! While Paris is not as cold as NYC where I live, , it is chilly and at this time of year, usually wet so it is a different kind of cold. Goes right to the bone. Men think they are invincible !
hope the chicken soup works
Stay well
December 18, 2024 @ 10:44 am
I just wrote a long response and didnt get a notice, so I dont think I am posting right. And I dont see the comment where I told you to go get the ole New York City cure for Bernie, chicken soup.! Best thing for a cold! BTW, Johns Hopkins Med School ran a long study on the curative powers of chicken soup. they published the study, it works! But I see by this post that you. went to the Israel Deli. I assume you picked up chicken soup and by now Bernie is feeling better, And Urgent Care is a good idea. I moved into a chambre de bonne one August deciding to live alone. What a room it was, on Quai de la Tournelle over looking Paris. Just beautiful, the best. So what if it were five flights up, I was young and healthy! What I didnt factor in was that it didnt have heat,, or at least bare heat, And by January I was really sick. I went to the American Hospital at Neuilly and was checked in for a few days. I moved soon after. This American girl needed heat. ( and the bathroom, shared, down the hall lost its charm! ) The view no longer was everything!
And yes, I have friends in Paris right now who said the same as you. they couldnt get tickets, so waited on line, figuring if it were a horrible wait they would just leave, After 20 minutes, they got in. Your pictures showed what they said, the windows are magnificent. All the caked on dirt of centuries off! I cant wait to go back
take care. Make Bernie wear a hat, gloves, scarf and coat.! men think they are invincible!.
stay well and enjoy
Ellyn
December 18, 2024 @ 12:58 pm
Thanks for your perseverance in getting us all into see the beautiful stained glass windows as well as all the other beautiful parts of the interior of Notre Dame. Best to Bernie. He is in our prayers.
December 18, 2024 @ 1:00 pm
Please give Bernie my love and my best wishes for a very speedy recovery. So glad you were able to get into Notre Dame. I love the deli too.
December 18, 2024 @ 1:11 pm
Hope the emergency room was able to do Bernie a lot of good!
Pics are GREAT! The windows are mesmerizing. Deli food looks great, too!
December 18, 2024 @ 1:16 pm
I hope that Bernie will be on the mend soon! The photos of the windows of Notre Dame are a treat. Thank you!
December 18, 2024 @ 1:40 pm
Magnificent photos! Wishing Bernie a quick and full recovery. Thank you both for sharing your Paris adventures.
December 18, 2024 @ 2:44 pm
Again, great pictures of both Notre Dame and the shops. Do you think the windows are brighter or more colorful than before the fire? Now that you know that there are walk-up tickets on sale, maybe Bernie will get better soon and be able to visit and see the windows.
Good luck
Thank you
December 18, 2024 @ 3:06 pm
First things first, I’m happy Bernie is going to the ER. Good call. Secondly, what beautiful photos today! Thank you for forging out to enjoy Notre Dame and the Marais neighborhood and sharing your journey with us. Cindi
December 18, 2024 @ 3:46 pm
What glorious light! So glad you got to go in. That should encourage Bernie to get well quickly so he can see it too. I am glad you convinced him to go to the urgence! Let us know the prognosis. Hugs to you both. Stay warm and sunny.
December 18, 2024 @ 3:52 pm
The Stained glass windows are beautiful and magical and reverant.
Love all the pictures.
Hope Bernie is better!
Greg is home and all is well!
Love & Merry Christmas,
Jill
December 18, 2024 @ 7:33 pm
Thrilled to hear that Greg is home!!!
December 18, 2024 @ 3:53 pm
Prayers for Bernie. The windows are breathtaking. Guess Bernie regrets not listening to you. Still time for him to see them.
December 18, 2024 @ 4:47 pm
Glad Bernie is going for some medical attention. I hope he is much, much better soon. We are thinking of him.
Love your photos of the windows. I look forward to your posts and I’m glad you finally got in to photograph the beautiful windows.
December 18, 2024 @ 4:55 pm
Bonjour Linda-
I’m going to nominate you for the French Legion of Honor award —you don’t let anything stop you! Bravo forgetting yourself into Notre Dame and taking those fabulous photos. We all thank you for that.
Best of luck with Bernie’s care -it’s not fun to be away when you’re sick. Especially in Paris at Christmas time. Love, Dorcas
December 18, 2024 @ 5:09 pm
Prayers for Bernie!
December 18, 2024 @ 5:16 pm
Thank you so much, Linda, for sending these pictures of the magnificent windows at Notre Dame. One of my favorite organ pieces is Carillon de Westminster, composed by Louis Vierne, who was the organist at Notre Dame from 1900 until 1937. It has been so great to listen to that piece while looking at the pictures you sent!
December 18, 2024 @ 9:36 pm
Glad you got to see the windows! Thanks for sharing pics so we can vicariously enjoy
December 18, 2024 @ 11:24 pm
Your pictures are amazing.
My mom and dad are coming to Charlotte to visit for Xmas. We’re so excited.
Ann Mahoney Linde