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Saving Notre Dame: An Epic Endeavour – Part 2
I continued my return visit to Notre Dame by crossing le Pont de l’Archevêché and making my way down to the riverbank. I wanted to recreate the scene I had discovered two years earlier while passing under le Pont de la Tournelle. And while the spot remained a place for youthful gatherings, the view from it had changed drastically. And I was to get a little closer look a few days later when I had the privilege of rowing ‘La Traversée de Paris‘. The Treasures of Notre Dame In the meantime though, my mind went to recalling my visit to the Treasury of Notre Dame three years earlier. And I…
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Saving Notre Dame: An Epic Endeavour – Part 1
We are currently living through a distressing period of history. And as April 15th approaches, I am reminded of another heart-wrenching episode that made the world stand still a year ago. I recall being glued to the TV that afternoon, unable to take my eyes off the flames engulfing the much loved cathedral of Paris. I remember too, the relief I felt when I awoke the next morning to see that the heroic efforts the firefighters had put into saving Notre Dame had paid off. Our Lady was still standing, although severely damaged. Revisiting Our Lady I was further relieved when I had the opportunity to revisit Notre Dame during…
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Christmas Eve in Paris: Notre Dame
After spending the first part of my Christmas Eve in Paris at Sainte-Chapelle, I made my way across the Seine to the Saint-Michel area of the city. I had some time before the start of Midnight Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral and I was in search of a tasty treat. I’ve always found this to be a neat little area. It’s a collection of tiny, ancient, pedestrian streets lined with touristy shops and restaurants and lots of atmosphere. Christmas Crêpes As I wound my way through this labyrinth, I came across the rustic Crêperie de Cluny on Rue de la Harpe. Perfect, I thought. And as I entered the restaurant, I…
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Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque: A Lavender Pilgrimage
My journey to Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque started several years ago and turned out to be a somewhat circuitous one. I first heard about this mecca of lavender through a bedtime story on the Calm app. And since then, I’ve often been lulled to sleep by the dulcet voice of Stephen Fry beguiling me with images of the lavender fields of Provence. Of all the delights mentioned in this story by Pheobe Smith, the charms of the Abbey captivated me most. And so, with COVID restrictions lifted this past summer, I made my way by plane, train and then automobile to les Monts de Vaucluse to finally experience the lavender…
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The Floating Kitchens of École Lenôtre
My latest foray into the world of French cooking occurred in one of the most unusual places: the floating kitchens of École Lenôtre. If you’ve been to Paris, you know that it is defined by the Seine. And that famous river is lined with an array of watercraft. I recently discovered that the prestigious École Lenôtre has converted one of these yachts into a wonderful cooking school. Situated in Quai Henri IV, it offers a less frequently seen view of Notre Dame de Paris. For some close-up views of Notre Dame as it recovers from the tragic fire, see my post Saving Notre Dame: An Epic Endeavor. Menu Esprit Bistrot…