We started out at Pere-Lachaise, which is a large cemetery on the east side of the city. It's much like cemeteries in New Orleans, though I don't know if that is because of water table issues or just tradition. It was so peaceful, still cool but sunny, and we explored, searching for tombs of famous people or tombs that were just picturesque.
More than a few were broken like this, which we found a little unsettling. If it had been dark, I think Dane would have been done.
This is Jim Morrison's grave. It is well tended by fans and covered with flowers, pictures, and notes of remembrance.
LOOK AT THE CREEPY STATUE!!!
A lot of them have cut outs in the front and stained glass in the back.
Dane wanted to find the biggest one to take a picture of for his Romeo and Juliet unit.
Just a shot of what it looked like walking through this place. Sigh.
Some of the tombs had doors that were open and you can see the family records inside.
We noticed we were super nerds and had matching pretentious college t-shirts.
This is Oscar Wilde's grave. Quick literary history lesson. Wilde was born in Dublin (just down the street from where I'm sitting, actually) and wrote most of the novels and plays that we now know him for before he was 30. His plays were quite beloved and running successfully in London. Then he tried to sue someone for libel; they had announced to a club that he was gay, and when the lawsuit failed he was actually tried and convicted for sodomy and sentenced to two years hard labor. His plays were immediately shut down and his work was sort of shunned. When he was released from prison, he was basically broken, fled to Paris and died 2 years later generally unrecognized. Since then, his work has obviously experienced a revival and much has been done to recognize him. This gravestone is a restoration (which I'm sure is much larger than the original) and has had to be protected from the adoring fans who visit it each year. You can see the writing and lipstick marks on the glass and the tomb itself.
This is on the island in the center of the city where Notre Dame and the Concergerie are. I liked this light pole.
The Sainte-Chapelle is a chapel that is connected to the old palace. It has beautiful stained glass windows, more than usual cathedrals.
It's also very common to have Biblical stories carved into wood or stone as decoration (and instruction for those who could not read).
Sainte-Chapelle from the outside.
If you've seen Midnight in Paris, this is the book market that Owen Wilson visits. It stretches down for about a kilometer on both sides of the Seine.
Time for the Louvre!
We had two options for getting in: stand in a ridiculously long line to enter through the pyramid, or not wait at all and go through the side entrance. We hate lines, and you still get to see it (and leave through it).
You are allowed to take pictures in the Louvre, which surprised us. We weren't planning on trying to visit the Mona Lisa, but it didn't seem that crowded and we thought we should at least try. Only when we got to the gallery right next to it did it get ridiculous.
This was it! And even though there were lots of people, it was not nearly as bad as we'd been warned it might be.
There it is! The most famous painting ever! Dane and I were discussing whether it's the kind of thing that is famous because it's famous.
Ooh, I like this one.
I know nothing about art. But I think the lace in the shoulders of her dress is pretty cool.
The crowds here weren't too bad, either. This is the Venus de Milo. And Dane.
These signs were everywhere. It made me sad.
This was Danes favorite spot in the whole museum. See how his pants are ballooned out? That's because he's standing on an icy cold air conditioning vent.
Cupid and Aphrodite.
This is called the Slaves by Michelangelo.
Dane wanted to take a picture like them, but then saw a 50 year old guy doing it first. Then he was sad that he is like a 50 year old.
Like I said, you get to leave through the pyramid. It's pretty cool.
This is not the real Arc de Triumphe. But it's kind of a fake one.
After the Louvre, we walked through the the Jardin des Tuileries. It's a big park between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, which I think is where Anne Hathaway throws her cell phone into the fountain at the end of The Devil Wears Prada. At the end of the garden is the Musee de l'Orangerie. Again from Midnight in Paris, do you remember the art museum with the giant mural of Monet's water lilies in a big, white, oval-shaped room? It's a small gallery. 8 such murals by Monet are the primary exhibit, but there are other impressionist works as well. And, by the way, if you've never seen Midnight in Paris and don't know what I'm talking about, you should watch it; it's fun. The murals are beautiful, and I'm sure that when I go back I will see all new things about them them I didn't notice the first time.
We were planning on a late night back out on the river, so we had to go back to the hotel to nap so we stayed friends. On the way, I made a quick stop at a bakery. Megan, remember when we would go down to the patisserie and get a meringue in Albertville? I wish you were here to share this one with me!
Refreshed, we went to the grocery store (which WAS open this time) to get a picnic dinner and headed to the Eiffel tower. By the time we got there, it was almost 9, which we had not realized because it was still so bright!
We found a spot in the shadow of the tower and spread out the feast: a fresh baguette, goat cheese, cumin Gouda, baby pickles (super tiny, see the picture), paper thin salami, and a bottle of wine. We were surrounded by families, couples, and groups of friends sharing meals and enjoying the atmosphere. It was amazing.
As the sun set, it just became more beautiful.
Most of the people in the park were drinking their wine like this. We did have a glass (which we 'borrowed' from the hotel room) but we had to embrace the culture.
See? TINY!
After dinner, it was time to head down for our cruise down the Seine. We decided to go at night so that we could see Paris a little differently. It was surreal. Everything sparkled or glowed, there was music everywhere, and people lined the river with bottles of wine and baskets of food.
Right before we got on the boat, the tower lit up and sparkled for 5 minutes as it does every hour on the hour after nightfall.
I was so happy; this was why we were back out at night.
We had a prime spot on the boat.
And spectacular views throughout.
This is one of my favorites.
At the end of the cruise, we walked back along the river to the metro. I can't wait to come back to this city.
2 comments:
Can't wait to hear all the other stories and see all the pictures. Really enjoying being on the trip with you through the blog.
Such a romantic day! a date in a cemetery...hmm....
But then the pics of your picnic and river cruise almost made me forget about that first part.
Thanks for enjoying the meringue for me. hopefully you had a croissant at some point, too.
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