The whole world is watching Paris: Notre-Dame opens more than five years after the fatal fire. It fascinates tourists and Parisians.
At six in the morning, Noëlle from Vancouver, Washington was already standing on the Quai Saint-Michel. “I wanted to see the city come to life. I miss my wedding day and my husband’s birthday to be here,” says the American.
Best view of opening
When Notre Dame finally opens in the evening, she wants to have the best view of the spectacle. She has been captivated by the French capital for eight years and regularly visits Paris, often for weeks at a time.
It was terrible to see the heart of the city, and indeed all of France, burning, she remembers. “Notre Dame has always managed to come back.”
“Macron has made celebration a top priority”
This Saturday is a special day for the French. Notre Dame is a testimony to history, to greatness, to faith and to power. There, where Napoleon was crowned emperor in 1804, President Emmanuel Macron has now received about forty contemporary leaders.
In politically stormy times, this has been carefully considered: “Macron has made the celebration a top priority. From now on, the reconstruction is – rightly or wrongly – linked to his name,” says Julian Blunk, art historian at the University of Graz.
What do the French say? In the hustle and bustle of the Latin Quarter south of the Seine, morning runners pause, lean against the barriers, breathe and admire their cathedral. ‘In the center of the world’, is the headline in the newspaper ‘Le Parisien’, and that is exactly what it feels like.
40,000 spectators were expected
François, a retiree from Paris, goes for a walk with his granddaughter and his wife. “Emmanuel Macron is in trouble and the reopening is good for him,” he says.
The family does not want to be there that evening: due to a predicted storm, the festivities were moved to Notre Dame. 40,000 spectators were still expected.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
