I stumbled upon this door. Literally. Because who can walk in wedge heels on uneven cobblestones?

Surprisingly, the heel still gets caught and stuck. How? This question continues to perplex me, yet I have the battle scars to prove it.

But, hey, let’s be real: we Bulls might be practical, however, fashion does come first.

Who wants to travel around a foreign country looking all shlepy and unkempt? It makes a much stronger and permanent impression for us Americans to be looking our best abroad.

It might also be a teeny tiny influence on me that Maman always looks impeccable. Put her anywhere, and girl is going to have her makeup, a dress and heels on. And some super cute handbag.

Having a Maman like that makes you step up your game and bring it.

It was an incredibly warm day as I was walking, make that stumbling my way around Cathedrale de Notre Dame de Puy.

The outside of the cathedral, that is. No stumbling happened once indoors.

I’ve always found the outer structures and architecture of cathedrals to be just as fascinating as on the inside. I try to imagine how they went about building, their methodical construction and general genius.

I also like to believe that there’s some hidden doorway or secret passageway. You know there totally has to be those … it only makes sense. Plus it’s a well known fact these have been found in many sites and were used as a means of protection — from personal hiding to securing valuables.

When I discovered this door, my heart leapt a little. Okay, make that a lot.

I glanced around. No one.

How were there not other people around? How could one miss finding this?

Or maybe, it finally dawned on me, most people aren’t as crazy as I am to trapse around looking for multiple entrances, that might be off limits anyway.

Really, who wouldn’t want to do that?!

Maman never would have approved. It was a good thing she decided to repose with some vino at an outdoor cafe.

The first detail that struck me about this door was the Middle Eastern meets Medieval feel.

I was mesmerized.

So much I wanted to know … who were the people above the door? Were they meant for safe guarding? A representation of a passage way to something greater?

I can’t tell you how long I stood there. Running my hand over and over both doors. Taking in the electrifying energy of the past nine centuries.

Wondering about all the millions of hands who had touched these same crevices, run their hands over the swirling metal.

That door beckoned to me.

To come in. Stay a while. To wait.

I would have stayed indefinitely.

When I eventually decided to walk through, it felt as though a threshold was being crossed. That I was being welcomed home after a long time away.

Enveloped by a strong sense of warmth and peace.