|
Post by doctork on Apr 16, 2019 21:38:47 GMT -5
I am horrified by this catastrophe. What a huge loss.
As most of you know, Paris is a big part of my life, and Notre Dame is the heart, the very center of Paris. The firefighters seem to have done a remarkable job of putting out the flames, and saving many of the relics. I don't think they have even begun to assess all the damage.
Both my daughters have written me about this, as they too are broken hearted. I took them to Paris for two weeks on Spring Break in 1995 when they were ages 10 an 12, kind of bratty tweens then; we rented an apartment and lived in the neighborhood right behind Musee d'Orsay on the Left Bank. I chose the time because they were old enough to understand, remember and appreciate the trip, but not old enough to be too embarrassed to be seen with their mother. Plus they didn't know anybody in Paris anyway to make fun of them.
There was a bit of bratty behavior but mostly they had a great trip, with plenty of memories as Notre Dame as it used to be.
And as it will be again, after a while, There have been concerns expressed about a lacked of properly trained woodworkers available to replicate all the antique wooden finishings. I am wondering BoatBabe - have you and Thom sent out any offers of his skills in such a project?
|
|
|
Post by BoatBabe on Apr 17, 2019 8:58:54 GMT -5
Amazing stories of human chains snaking into the burning building, saving irreplaceable artifacts.
I read your question to Thom, Doc. He had a good laugh over that. Five and one-half laminectomies later (not even mentioning his blown-out knees, hips, and shoulders,) his physical skills are now confined to his brain, which is where a teacher would want those skills, but he has no interest in teaching. Or as he says, "Sitting and pointing."
It's an interesting time of life: Trying to detach your personal worth from your physical capacity.
|
|
|
Post by joew on Apr 19, 2019 11:48:07 GMT -5
Seeing the early videos, I thought it might burn to the ground. What I hadn't realized was that the lower part was solid stone — no wood frame to burn below the roof.
I attended Mass there in 2012. It was wonderful to be in such a beautiful and historic place participating in the activity.
I hope the structure is s sound enough for the building to be used while the restoration is being done.
|
|
|
Post by doctork on Apr 20, 2019 1:07:41 GMT -5
Yeah, solid stone up pretty high, and did you notice those flying buttresses? All intact and very solid. And tonight's news said that no loss of any major art work, and they also found all their honeybees. Somehow they were in some safe location where they were not affected by smoke. Truly miraculous!
Ste. Genevieve is still on guard and keeping the city safe.
That is a good question regarding how operational the cathedral will be during the years of restoration. Since it is huge, I am sure they will figure some ways to maintain the basic services. I mean, I like the Eiffel Tower and all, but Notre Dame IS Paris, in the oldest part of city, dating back to when Paris was an outpost of the Roman Empire - the city of Lutece (or Lutetia).
|
|