I mentioned in the Abstract Landscapes review that I visited Paris this summer. The second time in my life so far, and a short trip, spent with a housemate who had gone home for the holiday.
I have two memories from eleven-year-old me in Paris. One involves being terrified of falling between the stairs whilst walking up the Eiffel tower. And the other was of going to Notre Dame. This memory is incredibly fuzzy. Yet, it was the architecture that captured me, with that strange feeling of awe perhaps.
So this summer, visiting Notre Dame again was very much on the agenda. My first day in Paris was a tourist day. The day when I wandered the streets and the Seine alone and covered all the tourist activities I could. Notre Dame was ticked off my list in the afternoon. I opted not to go inside as, much like last time, the queue too big.
Outside Notre Dame, I ate an ice cream. I texted my mum to tell her I was eating an ice cream. Then I sat for a while and listened to all the languages that passed by. Being outside the cathedral was enough. I walked again. I marvelled at the intricacy and raised an eyebrow at the gargoyles. Most of all, I took pictures. I guess gothic art & architecture is something that I’ve liked for a while.
Goggling at gargoyles. An outside view of Notre Dame in Paris in August 2015.