May 2019 – Luckily I visited Paris last year, May and June 2019.  We had a few days of rain, but mostly perfect weather.  Walked, used Metro, and explored the unwinding spiral of arrondissements which organize Paris into twenty administrative districts.

Notre-Dame de Paris, Our Lady of Paris, Cathedral after the fire.   I took this photo of the South facade and the nave from across the street.  This top-of-the-list tourist destination was barricaded and closed to visitors.

Although this 800-year old building was scorched, battered and much of the roof destroyed and the central spire burned and gone, the rose windows were not damaged.

Notre-Dame is one of the treasures of French Gothic architecture.  Some distinguishing characteristics of this style include: rib vaults, flying buttresses, rose windows, and sculptural decoration.  See also: Paris: Notre-Dame

Photo: LR 2019

Some details…Notre-Dame is a medieval Catholic Cathedral.  It is located in the center of Paris on an island in the Seine River, the Ile de la Cite, in the 4th Arrondissement.  I remember learning about the flying buttresses, structural supports, in school when I was in 8th grade.   An example of Gothic architecture.

Notre-Dame de Paris, cathedral before the fire.  See the tall spire in the center.

April 15, 2019. This iconic structure from the 12th century was on fire.  I was glued to the news and heavy-hearted.

Below is Notre-Dame after the fire with all the scaffolding and no giant spire and a large portion of the roof gone.   I took this after-photo in May 2019.

Before-After, a defining event.

Great view of the flying buttresses!  These Gothic features allowed for thinner, higher walls with large stain-glass windows.  Above the scaffolding to the far left of the shorter spire, you can see a gargoyle protruding out.

Pandemic 2020: Another defining event.
Life/culture/travel/relationships/work/traditions/education: Before/After

I hope you are all safe. LR

I usually don’t put family photos on my blog…but since I have a new grandchild, a baby boy, grandchild number 7, I thought I’d post this picture of me as a baby.  I’m the one with the full head of dark brown hair.  Soooooo cute!!!  Right?  My sister is adorable with those huge eyes, and my mom follows in the glamour tradition of her era.

Pandemic 2020 – Hope you are all safe, keeping fear in its proper place, trusting that you will survive…we are on a journey into the unknown.

I looked for photos that reflect other journeys into the vast, sometimes tangled, sometimes wondrous, sometimes uncertain, unknown.

I wish I had profound words to inspire, strengthen, help.  The world we have known, won’t be the same.  But when I look back over my life, that has been true over and over, again and again, with every major challenge in my life, I have emerged changed.

I think what is different with this pandemic, is the cultural changes that are taking place.  That’s the unknown we will all be living with for a long time.

Quote: Don’t let fear defeat you – stay strong, stay safe.  LR