Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris ~ The Past and the Future

On April 15, 2019, a fire broke out, and the building many of us know as the sanctuary for the gypsy Esmeralda was ablaze!  The Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris was in flames. It was an unbelievable sight to see!  The world was rocked and shocked by the fire that destroyed this iconic structure.  The fact that the fire happened during the week before Easter Sunday made the event even more poignant for a lot of people.  However, within 24 hours after hearing the news reports, people and businesses from various parts of the globe offered to make monetary contributions for its restoration.  Let’s celebrate the past and the future of this historic monument.

#1 Thank the Lord for digital technology.

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Four years ago, an art historian used lasers to digitally map Notre Dame Cathedral. His work could help save it ... https://t.co/f7D2tf7e4g #architecture #gothic #iconic #technologynews #arthistory pic.twitter.com/pjDo1sBuUl

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) April 17, 2019

#2 The Cathedral de Notre Dame Took Almost a Century to Build

(Link to archived copy. The Virily site shut down.) 

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Notre dame by txatxy ~ Built between 1163 and 1245 on the Île de la Cité, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in the world. https://t.co/zPbDyvfUfy

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 15, 2020

#3 Kings of France Were Crowned in the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris

(Link to archived copy. The Virily site shut down.) 

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Most famous places to visit in Paris ~ Notre Dame Cathedral
The Gothic Cathedral was completed in the middle of the 14th century. It is an architectural monument, where kings of France were crowned. https://t.co/nTZIXp3Gf9 via @virilycom #iconic #architecture pic.twitter.com/OjuKplWwfd

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) April 17, 2019

#4 The Iconic Cathedral of Notre Dame Has a Sister.

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Notre-Dame de Paris (reopened Dec 2024) and Amiens Cathedral are masterpieces of French Gothic architecture. Notre-Dame de Paris is iconic for its central location, history, and restoration, while Amiens is the largest, with twice the interior volume. Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

• Construction: Notre-Dame de Paris began in 1163; Amiens began later in 1220.
• Love, Europe I. “The Cathedral of Notre-Dame d’Amiens (Our Lady of Amiens). France.” YouTube, 18 Jun. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHvOpbXhtfk&t=5s.

#5 The basilica in Montreal is comparable to the cathedral in Paris.

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The Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal is a stunning Gothic Revival masterpiece located in Old Montreal, Quebec, renowned for its dramatic, deeply colored interior, intricate wood carvings, and celestial blue ceiling with gold stars. Completed in 1829, it is a premier Canadian heritage site that hosts the famous AURA light show and welcomes millions of visitors annually.


#6 The Fire is History

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Major Fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris; Main Structure "Saved and Preserved" https://t.co/qO3x65nykc via @archdaily

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) April 18, 2019

#7 The Spire Went Down, but the Spire Will Go Up Again

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France Announces Competition to Redesign the Spire of Notre Dame https://t.co/yY4DHTtB4K via @archdaily

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) April 18, 2019

#8 The Cathedral de Notre Dame will be restored.

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The future of the Cathedral de Notre Dame looks anything but bleak.  It will be restored and will still be one of the most visited sites in Paris, France.  So if it was on your bucket list of Places to Visit, keep it on the list!

Donations Have Been Made to Help Rebuild Paris' Notre Dame

As if the fire wasn't bad enough.  In April 2020, the world was in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic.

A year after the blaze, Notre Dame's rebuild is on hold due to #coronavirus https://t.co/Jgj4RQcRIc via @flipboard #CathedralOfNotreDame #ParisFrance

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 15, 2020

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The cathedral reopened in December 2024. Visit the official website.

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BOOKS ADAPTED TO FILM: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (with Apologies)

Travel and Vacation: South Dakota is a Great Place for Vacation

It’s easy to find articles trying to entice people to relocate to North Dakota. Like this one published by Livability: 8 Reasons to Move to North Dakota. You get no argument from me PRO or CON. North Dakota might be the best state in the USA to live in. But I think that South Dakota is a great place to VACATION!! Specifically, Black Hills, South Dakota.

For personal reasons, I no longer travel. But if I did, this state would have a spot on my bucket list. Even though I have never been to either of the Dakotas, I believe I can provide some convincing arguments that might persuade someone who was planning a vacation to visit Black Hills.

Sacred Ground for the Native Americans

The Black Hills, called “Paha Sapa” by the Native Americans, is considered sacred ground to many tribes across the country. The Lakota Nation believes all life comes from “Paha Sapa”, and they fought fiercely to protect it during the Indian Wars of the 1800s. One of the most sacred places is Bear Butte in the northern Black Hills. This formation of magma never erupted and looks like a giant sleeping bear.  Now a state park, Bear Butte is still used as a place of worship for more than 60 Native American tribes.  More than 62,000 Native Americans currently live in South Dakota.

“South Dakota Travel Guide – Wikitravel.” Free Worldwide Travel Guides – Wikitravel.Web. 04 Apr. 2011.

History of Black Hills

1874 Gold was found in the Black Hills (part of the “Great Sioux-Reservation” in South Dakota). The government planned a separation from the reservation and an immediate relocation of the inhabitants of this area.  This led to the Indian Wars.

1876 Little Big Horn: a battle between Indian armed forces (under Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull) and the 7th U.S. cavalry regiment (under Colonel Custer).  It was the last and most striking military success for the American Indians.

“American Indians Today/History of the American Indians from the 19th Century to the 21st – Wikibooks, Open Books for an Open World.” Wikibooks. Web. 04 Apr. 2011.

Famous Tourist Attraction: Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore is one of the United States’ most famous attractions for both U.S. citizens and foreigners.  This epic sculpture features the faces of four exalted American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.   South Dakota’s Black Hills provide the backdrop for Mount Rushmore, the world’s greatest mountain carving.  These 60-foot high faces, 500 feet up, look out over a setting of pine, spruce, birch, and aspen in the clear western air.

“Mount Rushmore – Shrine Of Democracy – South Dakota Tourism.” South Dakota Tourism – Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, Badlands NationalPark, Deadwood, Black Hills. Web. 04 Apr. 2011.

Great Family Vacation!

Get more info.

5 Black Hills Towns to Base your South Dakota Vacation

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Have you ever considered going on vacation to Black Hills, South Dakota?

Content previously published at RationalMind.club

Saint Peter Claver's Church in Cartagena, Columbia

If you plan to visit Cartagena, Columbia, there are many forts to see. There are statues of Christopher Columbus and uuhhh … “a fat lady”. (O.o)  But if you have limited time and must choose between the forts and the statues and visiting Saint Peter Claver's church, visit the church. 

The scriptures say “Give honor to who honor is due.” Peter Claver (1581 – 1654) was a Spanish priest. His physical remains still lie in the church. This man is to be remembered and honored for his efforts to abolish slavery. The Pope condemned it, but Peter Claver made a determined and consciious effort to do something about it. He worked tirelessly at this goal for 40 years. He was so relentless, he was given the title of “apostle of the Negroes.” Finally, 200 years later, in 1851 president José Hilario López signed the law that abolished slavery in Colombia.

Things to Do in Cartagena Colombia - Maximize One Day in Cartagena

Considering the Sweet Island Life? Think Bahamas!

Have you ever considered living in The Bahamas?

Did you know that you don’t have to expatriate or give up your citizenship to own property in The Bahamas and live there?

The government of this lovely country welcomes foreigners and opens the doors to allow them to invest in real estate and make their home there. You don’t have to wait until you are in your golden years to do this, although many people do.    The nation is no longer considered a British colony but rather a member of the British Commonwealth.

July 10, 1973, is the effective date that Bahamian leaders officially and peacefully negotiated their independence.

 Happy Independence Day!

Know much about the Commonwealth? Neither do I, but per factophile.com, 49 independent nations are represented. Some of the members still recognize Elizabeth, the Queen of England; while others do not. Nevertheless, it is a “free association”. I’m not a student of politics or history or government, but I’m thinking that this “commonwealth group” – perhaps there was probably a similar concept behind the post-Soviet states; only the Ukrainians aren’t really feelin’ it right now!

Getting back on point, we are discussing how to become neighbors with the local islanders and Warren Moon. Mr. Moon is an American, was a football player, NFL, also played for the Canadians, etc. He owns property in Rum Cay, one of the islands. Bahamians are wonderful people! I married one of them. We currently live in America, but he still has relatives back home, so that makes a great excuse to have to travel if we must or whenever we can afford to go there.

To educate folks about the typical Bahamian lifestyle, the country’s Ministry of Tourism developed a program they call People-to-People . If you want to know more you can eMail them: peopletopeople@bahamas.com.

But the main thing you need to know is that there two specific laws which govern foreign real estate investors: The International Persons Landholding Act and The Bahamas Vacation Plan and Timesharing Act; and that all RE transactions must be handled by a lawyer.

So!! Thinking about it?
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Content first published at Virily.com.

Similar or Related Links:

• The Bahamas – Beautiful Beaches, Conch Shells, and Mangos
• My Father's Country: The Bahamas
• Vacation Suggestions: South Florida and The Bahamas

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