This brought tears to my eyes. I love Paris and have been three times. Was hoping to take the kids there in a few years. Going up the towers of ND is probably my favorite thing to do in Paris. So sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is tragic, but the French will restore it. That's one thing they do well, invest in the arts/culture and its preservation. It will take a long time, but it will happen. We don't do that and let our monuments go to pot: i.e. the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. It's sinking.

Actually it’s Americans who have been funding the restoration of Norte Dame. You have misinformation. It is not in French culture to do fundraisers, etc to restore stuff like they do in the US. And the French government isn’t willing to pay for even half. I am French married to an American, I’m not just making this up.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/paris-crumbling-notre-dame-cathedral-hopes-wealthy-americans-will-help-save-it/

I'm talking about the budget allocations to the arts in France vs how much we allocate to the arts per year. France has unrest now and people don't want to pay such high taxes, but traditionally this has been the way it was. Whereas in the U.S. we have never given priority to the arts, culture, or historic preservation. "Just raze it" has been our philosophy.

French emergency services are now focused on trying to save artworks and relics inside the Cathedral.

I am saddened. I am fortunate to have seen Notre Dame several times.

This is a sad day.

Parisian here.

I beg you, Americans, not to be so quick to judge or criticize. This is a fragile and ancient building - there is no good solution.

And to the French-American, Europe in general depends on a lot on American funds, because Europe is poorer than the USA.

Ugh. My kids have been on a photo album kick and we were just looking at photos of my last trip to Paris. Between that and the Hunchback movie my daughter is obsessed with Notre Dame. She’s going to be devastated.

I'm shocked there weren't sprinklers or anything.

This is horrendous. We just climbed the Notre Dame towers with our kids at Christmas.

I’m here right now, having picnic at the louve

Anonymous wrote:This is tragic, but the French will restore it. That's one thing they do well, invest in the arts/culture and its preservation. It will take a long time, but it will happen. We don't do that and let our monuments go to pot: i.e. the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial. It's sinking.

Actually it’s Americans who have been funding the restoration of Norte Dame. You have misinformation. It is not in French culture to do fundraisers, etc to restore stuff like they do in the US. And the French government isn’t willing to pay for even half. I am French married to an American, I’m not just making this up.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/paris-crumbling-notre-dame-cathedral-hopes-wealthy-americans-will-help-save-it/

Anonymous wrote:The FD will not get this out until the cathedral is a total loss.

Sadly, I think you’re correct. It’s so involved, you can tell there is no coming back from this. How truly sad. Ruins now.

Anonymous wrote:The spire has collapsed into the main nave. This is truly a horrific cultural loss.

Insane

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It look major from the pictures. How awful!

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/15/paris-notre-dame-cathedral-on-fire-reuters.html

Why taking so long to get fire trucks there?

They're already there, but given the stone is fragile, and the fire very high, there are access issues. Also, perhaps water is not the best considering the structure is ancient. There are perhaps chemicals helicopters can dispense.

Oh, my God. Heartbreaking.

So much history.