Inside Notre Dame

French Journal Day 146 (Travel Diary Day 226)

The rickety scaffolding rattled and shook as we scaled it. It would be the first of two sets of stairs that I would feel uncomfortable on that day. We carefully reached the first leg of our journey – the lower roof of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris.

A plank of wood was our only connection between the modern, metal structure that we’d just climbed and the 800 year-old building. One by one we balanced our way along the plank and onto a solid surface. Layers of ancient arches which add to the cathedral’s unique, Gothic exterior curved above our heads. I could almost imagine Quasimodo leaning against one as he gazed across the city. There was a single door, smaller than the average man’s height, to our left which would take us into the cathedral.

We’d been invited to explore Notre Dame by a Parisian friend, Charles, who we met about 6 months ago. We were sitting at a small restaurant at lunch time on the tiny Indonesian island of Nusa Lembongan when he called over to us with an offering of fish. I wasn’t sure what he was talking about until I looked at his plate and saw an almighty fish, barely eaten. He couldn’t finish it and didn’t have the heart to throw it away. Being a man of greed I was tempted. Rachel and I agreed to the challenge and eventually won. Charles joined us and we chatted. We met up again later that evening for more fine food and drinks.

It was a delight, then, when he said he’d be in town for the weekend. He’s now an Amsterdam dweller so it would be a while before we’d have the chance to meet up again. When he mentioned the chance of exploring the lesser-explored areas of Notre Dame with a friend who worked there, I was all ears. We agreed to meet the next day, camera equipment ready, with the promise of a unique day.

As we walked along the cathedral roof we admired the view of Paris. It would get better the higher we went, we were told. Going through the solitary door, we entered a small room with huge ceilings. An enormous painting lay on the wall opposite, while an ancient organ and cello sat unused underneath.

“Which way do we go?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” replied Charles’ friend.

“Don’t you work here?”

“No, that’s our other friend. We don’t know where he is at the moment.”

“Then how did you let us in the side door to the grounds?”

“I just walked in front of the queue of tourists and said I was looking for my friend who works here. I couldn’t find him so I went outside. Since I was next to the gate I just let you in.”

We were, it seemed, just wandering around the ancient grounds and building of Notre Dame without a guide, or permission. Not wanting to lose the opportunity by being thrown out early, I suggested we try one of the four doors leading away from the little room. The first one we tried would burn into my mind a memory I hope never to forget.

As we opened the door a cacophony of sounds, lead by beautiful choir voices, swirled around us, reverberating with an echo suggestive of a room far larger than our daily lives experience. Standing on the main balcony, we gazed out over the immense main hall of the cathedral –  a procession was in full swing. As tourists packed the halls, priests and other people led the event. We stood over it all, watching, and wondering when we’d be caught for trespassing.

Just then an official looking person came through the door and started speaking to our friends. I hastily made my way to the centre of the balcony and set up my camera on the railing. I couldn’t centre it perfectly because a video camera recording the procession was hogging the composition. The man headed towards me. I was frantically trying to manually focus the image and adjust the settings. He was about 5 foot steps away when I managed to press the button on my remote and fire off the brackets. One minute was all I would need for the camera to do its work.

And one minute is exactly what I got…

Today’s image is the scene in front of us from the balcony. I’ll publish a couple more shots of Notre Dame this week, and finish the rest of the story.