Day 1 Paris

I'm exhausted. It's almost 10.00 pm and we've been walking since 8.30 am.

A delightful french breakfast of eggs, cheese, yogurt and very strong coffee began the day.

We walked from our  hotel to Notre Dame Cathedral. On the way we passed an array of the most wonderful designer dress boutiques… punctuated by some scantily dress ladies of the night (morning)…. wooow so blatant.

So Early…!!!!

So many….!!!!

Notre Dame Cathedral  was reasonably quiet, the line to go in was quite short and we joined the throng.

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The beautiful decoration on the entrance door to the Cathedral

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Look up, look up, wonderful  colors and designs.

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Emotional, Inspirational and a sense of awe. I lit a candle for our children Liseby, Darrin and Sam, who have passed away

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This is an image near the Western door of the Cathedral

I go to the Cathedral every time I visit Paris… how could you bypass it? There is an sincerity and awe that you feel as you walk through the portals… forget the 1000's of others who are there for the same reason…Just soak up the joy.

Across the bridge and it began to rain.

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Sometimes you see things that make you sigh, sad and incompetent. This shouldn't happen in a civilized society.

On to the quilt shop Le Rouvray..

No it's not the same… there are quilts but not the shop…. the other gals left us and not satisfied I went back into the shop and asked where the owner was….

Oh, around the corner and they will be there at 2.00.!!!!

We needed to continue on, so on to something I've waited years to see….

The Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries.

The Lady and the Unicorn (French: La Dame à la licorne) is the modern title given to a series of six tapestries woven in Flanders of wool and silk, from designs ("cartoons") drawn in Paris in the late fifteenth century.

The suite, on display in the Musée du Moyen-Âge, is often considered one of the greatest works of art of the Middle Ages in Europe.
Five of the tapestries are commonly interpreted as depicting the five senses – taste, hearing, sight, smell, and touch.

The sixth displays the words "À mon seul désir". The tapestry's meaning is obscure, but has been interpreted as representing love or understanding.

Each of the six tapestries depicts a noble lady with the unicorn on her left and a lion on her right; some include a monkey in the scene.

The pennants, as well as the armor of the Unicorn and Lion in the tapestry bear the arms of the sponsor, Jean Le Viste, a powerful nobleman in the court of King Charles VII.

The tapestries are created in the style of mille-fleurs (meaning: "thousand flowers").

The tapestries were rediscovered in 1841 by Prosper Mérimée in Boussac castle (owned at the time by the subprefect of the Creuse) where they had been suffering damage from their storage conditions.

Novelist George Sand brought public attention to the tapestries in her works at the time. The cycle is currently held in the Musée de Cluny (Musée du Moyen-Âge), where it has resided since 1882.

I was struck by the beauty…. but I had seen these designs before, not in these tapestries… but in the work of William Morris, a designer in the Victorian era some 561 years later!!!!

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More to the story tomorrow…. I'm sooo tired.

 

 

3 Comments Add yours

  1. adamsme says:

    Pam, you have a great eye. William Morris had an affinity for medieval art and architecture. The pillars, gargoyles, scrollwork, and illuminated manuscripts were all influences on his style. I am working on an applique quilt “in the style of” Morris. Consequently I have been reading up on him. I was familiar with his art, but had never made the connection between his artwork and that of the Middle Ages until I read about it. I envy you your time in Paris.
    Mary Ellen

  2. Janet says:

    I love your pictures and your words. I look for inspiration in my same old same old environment, but find few. Maybe I need a lesson in how to look and your pictures are truly teaching me some.
    as to:
    “Sometimes you see things that make you sigh, sad and incompetent. This shouldn’t happen in a civilized society.” We only think we are a civilized society, but are far from true civilization.

  3. Pam says:

    Yes, it’s interesting isn’t it. I was a little surprised… but then again… why should I be!!!!

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