I don’t typically plan my holiday’s around the “best” time to visit certain places. For example, I went to Morocco in August and Poland in February. But this last weekend in Paris I really lucked out and was there at the perfect time. Not only was there phenomenal spring weather (23 C and sunny), but I was able to wander into Easter services at Notre Dame.

The incense was spectacularly thick in the air, so it added more to the atmosphere than just the smell as the light was caught in the lingering smoke. I’ve never been to a large catholic mass, much less in the world’s most famous Gothic cathedral, and was enthralled with by the organ music and the prayers done in unison. The truly overwhelming moment came when during one of the prayers that everyone knew from memory, and while most people were saying it in French, I heard two people near me doing the same prayer at the same pace in German and English.

Of course there were crowds of tourists around Paris because it was Easter weekend, but the experience in Notre Dame alone was enough to convince me that I need to do much more traveling during culturally significant times.