--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finally, after a glance at Notre Dame and…" description: "\"“Finally, after a glance at Notre Dame and a brisk trot through the Louvre, we sat down at a cafe on the Place de l'Opera and watched the people. They ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/christopher-isherwood-2302_notre-dame_finally-after-a-glance-at-notre-dame-and_1289710.jpg" --- # Finally, after a glance at Notre Dame and a brisk trot… ![“Finally, after a glance at Notre Dame and a brisk trot through the Louvre, we sat down at a cafe on the Place de l'Opera and watched the people. They were amazing -- never had we seen such costumes, such make-up, such wigs; and, strangest of all, the wearers didn't seem in the least conscious of…” quote by Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/christopher-isherwood-2302_notre-dame_finally-after-a-glance-at-notre-dame-and_1289710.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/christopher-isherwood-2302_notre-dame_finally-after-a-glance-at-notre-dame-and_1289710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c64/christopher-isherwood-2302_notre-dame_finally-after-a-glance-at-notre-dame-and_1289710.jpg) > ““Finally, after a glance at Notre Dame and a brisk trot through the Louvre, we sat down at a cafe on the Place de l'Opera and watched the people. They were amazing -- never had we seen such costumes, such make-up, such wigs; and, strangest of all, the wearers didn't seem in the least conscious of how funny they looked. Many of them even stared at us and smiled, as though we had been the oddities, and not they. Mr. Holmes no doubt found it amusing to see the pageant of prostitution, poverty and fashion reflected in our callow faces and wide-open eyes.”” [Christopher Isherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-isherwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage observes how tourists are fascinated by the flamboyant street life of Paris, noting the contrast between the performers' obliviousness to their own absurdity and the observers' naive curiosity. **In simple terms:** Tourists marvel at flamboyant street life while performers are unaware of their own absurdity. Key Takeaway Recognize the blind spots in your own perspective. Themes culture observation identity tourism performance Mood curious reflective critical Type literary observational social commentary When to use this quote - travel - artistic observation - social critique - personal reflection Key Concepts social masks self-awareness urban spectacle Questions to Reflect On - How does your own cultural lens shape what you notice? - What assumptions do you make about the people you observe? A Different Perspective The view may romanticize poverty and exploitation, overlooking deeper systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Notre dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notre-dame/) [Travel writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel-writing/) ## Related quotes > [I have watched people around members of the royal family for a long time now, and something very strange happens to them. 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