I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit France in the spring of 2018. During my explorations of Paris, it was inevitable that i go see the famed cathedral of Notre Dame. My first impression when i saw it from up close was one of majesty. The sheer size and massiveness of individual parts of it are a mix of both intimidating and awe inspiring. Having only seen it in pictures before, i could hardly believe that i could touch the very walls that had stood for centuries; the pictures do it no justice. I was overwhelmed by the stark beauty of the cathedral, by the intricate detail and prowess that it demonstrated. In an ideal world, the only thing that would have made it better would have been being able to explore it and study it in its entirety without tourists and guides; being able to take my time and savor each and every element of this masterpiece.