President Macron has already committed to rebuilding the cathedral, even if his five-year estimate seems a bit ambitious. Money has been pouring in for the efforts, not without criticism, and preliminary looks at the damage reveal a lot of work to do, but the cathedral is far from devastated.

It will return not to its former glory, but to a better version of itself, for tourists and locals alike.

The stunning facade of Notre Dame before the fire. Photo: Bryan Pirolli

A lot of media has been focusing on the wooden roof that was lost, and yes, it was old. But Notre Dame is, and always has been, so much more than its roof. I never walked in and thought, “Gee, the wooden support system overhead that I can’t see must be really groovy!”

My heart sank when I thought of the rose windows shattering or the bell towers crumbling, but they’re safe for the moment. Instead of focusing on what’s lost, let’s focus on what we have and how it will benefit. A silver lining is that the cathedral will likely get a holistic revamping, instead of periodic smaller renovations that seem to only patch up holes that keep appearing. Notre Dame will be better than ever, healthier than any of us ever imagined.

A cathedral in motion

Those who mourn its loss too reverently need to study up on the thought experiment about the Ship of Theseus:

The experiment proposes that an ancient Greek ship is stored in a museum, but pieces of rotting wood are replaced over time by metal pieces. Eventually, the entire ship is made of metal. Philosophers ask, “is it still the same ship? Or is it something else?”

Soaking in Notre Dame along the Seine. Photo: Bryan Pirolli

Notre Dame poses the same question. The church has seen renovations and changes over the years — though perhaps less drastic than an entirely brand new roof — but she has always been in motion.

Don’t forget that the church you visited was upgraded in the 19th century, and the spire that fell was new, relatively speaking. What makes the church is not just the arrangement of wood and stone that builds it, but the space that it occupies, what it symbolizes, and what people take away from it.

Let’s get excited about what lies ahead because, let’s face it, our tears and emotions can’t fix anything. Imagine what architects will discover in the rubble, or what they’ll learn about Gothic architectural building methods. Imagine what new techniques will develop to reconstruct the roof, and what sorts of new features we might have to look forward to in the future.

In the meantime, she still sits on Ile de la Cite, like a beached whale that we need to keep wet with buckets of water until we figure out what to do next. She’s helpless. Pitiful, even. But she’s still there, she’s not going anywhere, and hopefully, within a few years, Notre Dame’s bells will ring again, the doors open wide, waiting for millions of tourists to pay her the respect that she has commanded for 856 years already.

A typical scene before the fire: People visiting Notre Dame. Photo: Byran Pirolli

As media attention turns to the rebuilding and the money involved, it’s easy to focus on criticism and lose sight of the bigger picture. Channeling my years of Catholic school, I am tempted to wonder if this wasn’t all some biblical lesson, a Tower of Babel or a Great Flood of sorts, a wake-up call to bigger issues. This shared human experience galvanized so many so quickly, with a billion dollars pouring in within days. Look what we’re capable of when we care, when we’re on the same page, and when we can see the hurt and share the pain.

Maybe we, as a society, can approach all aspects of life this way, whether it’s the environment, migrant families, or human rights issues. Maybe one day we can galvanize as quickly to fix these problems that, if left unaddressed, will leave us with much bigger problems than a collapsed roof.

Your thoughts about Notre Dame

Share your thoughts, concerns, or favorite memories about Notre Dame with us in the comments section below.

The post Notre Dame fire: Finding hope amid the damage appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Louvre

Visit late on Wednesdays or Fridays

If you must, go on Wednesday or Friday night, preferably from 6-9:45 PM. We sound like a broken record saying it, but it’s the truth. And on Friday nights, anyone under 26—anyone—can get in for free. It’s the best time to meander the halls, free from school children, families and tour groups that clog the galleries during the day. Afterwards, there’s still time for a drink or dinner just north around rue Montorgueil. Don’t try to beat the crowds and get there early. Resign yourself to the nocturne. (closed Tuesday)

The Eiffel Tower

Go up the elevators around dinner time

Oh, you wanted to go up this thing? OK, let’s do it, but prepare for crowds no matter what. As long as the elevators are working, the wait shouldn’t be horrible, but why waste even one hour waiting in a line with so few precious days in Paris? Aim for dinner time, again, or even later in the summer when the sun stays out until 9, 10, even 11 PM. From June to September, the last lift to the top is at 11 PM (10:30 the rest of the year), so plan accordingly. Again, groups of children and feuding families will probably be at dinner around 8 or 9, so this is your time to strike. The advantage is that in the summer, heading up around 8 or 9 PM means you’ll get to see Paris as the sun sets, and by the time you reach the top, night should fall and the lights will be twinkling. (open daily)

Montmartre & Sacre Coeur

Aim to get there before midday

This lively area can feel a little overwhelming on the weekends when tourists and locals alike walk the streets that zigzag the old artists’ district. To visit the neighborhood and basilica, just try and get there before noon in order to sneak into the church before a huge line forms, especially during the peak tourist seasons. Once the afternoon hits, especially on the weekends, families and groups find their way up the hill, and by evening, the church is closed for visits. Though hardly ever will you find a line to walk up the 300 steps to the basilica’s dome—maybe climbing up the hill is enough for most people. (open until 8 PM May-September, 5:30 PM October-April)

Notre Dame Church & Bell Tower

Be in line by 10 AM during the high season

There are two components to Notre Dame—the church (free) and the bell towers (€8.50). If you want to go up the towers, you’ll have to get up early (be there around 8:30 for a 10 AM opening in the high season). If you’re traveling with someone, one person can hold the line while the other walks to nearby Huré (1 rue d’Arcrole) for some pastry to eat in line.

If you want to visit the church (free) getting there before 10 AM is usually your best bet, as groups don’t typically enter until a bit later. The church sponsors visits at 2 PM in several languages, which means stay away if possible! But the line to get in, even if it wraps around the square in front of the church, usually advances quickly, since there are no tickets to purchase. (open daily)

The Catacombs

Don’t go too late because final entry time is 4 PM

Same advice as for the towers of Notre Dame—early is key. Although the several million Parisians housed in the old mine shafts don’t really care what time you arrive. The later you get there, the more you risk not making the final cut when the last visitors are allowed in at 4 PM. Get there at 8:30 AM if you can, and you’ll hopefully be among the first group of 200 to descend. (€8, closed Mondays)

The post Paris: A guide to beating the crowds at the top tourist attractions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.