There are some events that occur in the world that collectively shake us up. Some are joy-filled, but more often they are tragic, unexpected or beyond comprehension. You remember where you were, what you were doing, and the feelings felt at the time instantly wash over you.

This past April’s fire at Paris’s Notre Dame Cathedral was one of those events. So many people expressed shock and disbelief that this historic landmark was almost wiped off the planet, as did I. As a history lover, I couldn’t imagine future travellers and generations not having the thrill to explore and marvel at this incredible church. To explore and marvel…

This thought has stayed with me in the months since. Immediately after the fire, I looked through all my travel photos of Paris, then my Rome photos, and many others. I kept thinking how fortunate I’ve been to see so many incredible things. Because there is no guarantee that these wonders will be there for us to see on our timeline, when we finally get around to booking our tickets.

Like anything or anyone that is gone before its time… while we can, as much as we can, shouldn’t we be exploring and marvelling?

#154 – Notre Dame on the Seine

From a photo my son took on his 2011 exploration of Paris, my 154th miniature celebrating the marvel that is Notre Dame Cathedral.