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Author Topic: Notre Dame ? (Read 389 times)
Gwendal
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Notre Dame ?
« Thread Started on Apr 11, 2010, 7:02pm »
I am very surprised that this forum contains so few references to Notre Dame.
Or I am not good enough at using the search here - it only yielded 6 hits!

Fair enough it is a HUGE building in a central location - so getting there should not pose a major problem. And about its history one can read in countless books and on the internet.

But there MUST be numerous bits and pieces of useful info on this attraction. E.g. best position for a photo depending on time of day, little known facts about pieces of art inside (as in: do most visitors to New York know that there is a tryptichon by Keith Haring in the cathedral there ?), etc.

In any case, I intend to devote considerable time to this cathedral and would appreciate any such infos.

While I am at it, how difficult is it for a Christian or non-believer to go on a touristic visit to the mosque of Paris?

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Darcy
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #1 on Apr 11, 2010, 9:19pm »
Anyone can take a tour of the mosque. When I was there I wandered around without taking the tour and was allowed in everywhere except where the men were saying prayers. I could look in but not enter and that's because I am a woman not because of my religion.

Also at that time the entire courtyard was under renovation including tiling, fountains and landscaping. I'm sure it's beautiful now, maybe I'll go again in Oct.
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“All that can be found anywhere can be found in Paris.”—Victor Hugo, 1881
Gwendal
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #2 on Apr 13, 2010, 2:32pm »
Thanks, Darcy!

As to N.D. I have now been to their homepage:
http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/-English-
and have seen that they have guided visits every day at 14:00, sometimes even in anglais. These one-hour tours seem to be free of charge.
Question: Does one not need to register beforehand and collect some sort of a free ticket? Or is there no need for them to control the numbers of participants since demand is not that high?

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AnnetteC
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #3 on Apr 13, 2010, 2:59pm »
The website surely would tell you if reservations are necessary. All it says is to meet under the organ (center back of the cathedral, to the left as you enter). The English tours are Wed & Thurs at 2 pm and 2:30 on Saturday.
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Gwendal
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #4 on Apr 13, 2010, 4:45pm »

Apr 13, 2010, 2:59pm, AnnetteC wrote:
The website surely would tell you if reservations are necessary.

I dare to differ !

Granted, I am not very familiar with french websites. But you wouldn't believe how many times I have consulted a SPANISH website on a museum or monument before my visit, only to then find out that a vital piece of information had been left out.

But I will go with your optimism!

« Last Edit: Apr 13, 2010, 4:49pm by Gwendal » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged
AnnetteC
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #5 on Apr 14, 2010, 10:55am »
Gwendal, when are you going? I'll check it out for you next month if I'm there before you.
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Gwendal
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #6 on Apr 14, 2010, 2:02pm »
Thank you very much, Annette!

But as the singing goes:

I'll take the high road .... and I'll be in Paris afore you !

I'll let you all know how it went.

« Last Edit: Apr 14, 2010, 3:48pm by Gwendal » Link to Post - Back to Top   Logged
gertie
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #7 on Apr 17, 2010, 3:35am »
Very much looking forward to your report, Gwendal.
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Gwendal
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #8 on Apr 18, 2010, 4:22pm »

Apr 14, 2010, 2:02pm, Gwendal wrote:
I'll let you all know how it went.

Well, it didn't !

I guess you do not want to hear the long version, about the airport queues and the three new bookings and all.

A distant volcano and an invisible local "cloud" = free soft drinks at the airport in lieu of a flight !

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AnnetteC
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #9 on Apr 18, 2010, 6:02pm »
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that! Where were you trying to fly out of? It your trip canceled all together, or postponed for a bit? I'm up for the long version of the story if you feel like sharing...
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Gwendal
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #10 on Apr 19, 2010, 7:13pm »
Oh, no, the longer version cost me the better of two days and would only bore you all to death.
Standing in a queue for hours without the number of people in front of you ever decreasing, waiting for hours (no, I am NOT exaggerating; 2 hours and 50 minutes until a human voice replaced the tape message) at a useless telephone "hotline", and getting booked on some later flight, only to have that flight cancelled as well when its time finally came, etc.

Back to start, and the same procedure all over again.

Will now try again end of April, unfortunately alone now.
This time I have a full price rail ticket (meaning I can cancel it up to the day before) from the north of Germany all the way through said country and into Gare d'est to back up my latest flight booking. Thus if Denmark and Northern Germany pack in again I shall embark on a loooong train journey, even though probably still shorter than John Cleese's trip!

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denise
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Re: Notre Dame ?
« Reply #11 on Apr 19, 2010, 8:20pm »

Apr 19, 2010, 7:13pm, Gwendal wrote:

Will now try again end of April, unfortunately alone now.
This time I have a full price rail ticket (meaning I can cancel it up to the day before) from the north of Germany all the way through said country and into Gare d'est to back up my latest flight booking. Thus if Denmark and Northern Germany pack in again I shall embark on a loooong train journey, even though probably still shorter than John Cleese's trip!

So sorry you missed your trip Gwendal, but I like you tenacity in keeping on trying and booking an overland route as a back up for the end of April. You WIll go to the ball, no matter what....and no doubt if you are on YOUR train I will be on Eurostar instead of plane.

Denise
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Life is what happens while you make plans

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