Paris
After visiting the palace of Versailles, Claire, dropped us off at her daughter, Arianna's flat.
Arianna lives on the first floor during the school year but was currently in Tahiti working as an intern.
The community was new and very modern. Young students were everywhere because a university was the next stop away on the train.
Larry and I boarded the local train the next morning heading into Paris to visit the Catacombs.
This happy family were excitedly heading to the Paris Disneyworld on our train.
The train filled up fast as it stopped in neighboring communities.
We changed to a subway and enjoyed this gentleman's talents,
Larry and I spent a couple of hours at the Paris Catacombs. The Paris Catacombs are the largest underground necropolis in the world. There are around 6 million skeletons; however, they cover no more that 1/800 of the area of the underground quarries of Paris.
Lutetian Limestone was quarried beginning with the Roman Colonization during the 1st century.
Extraction of stone went underground during the 13th century to build Notre Dame and other Gothic monuments. It became known as Paris Stone.
Underground quarrying continued to spread under the southern suburbs of Paris throughout the 19th and early 20th century.
The underground tunnels were forgotten about until, in the mid 18th century, some of them caved in disastrously causing a state of panic among Parisians. King Louis XIV in 1777 created a group of inspectors whose duty was to prevent underground cave in risks by monitoring and shoring up the tunnel spaces beneath the city....ensuring the safety of the citizens of Paris.
Some tunnels were filled while others were reinforced. The engineers carved their initials and the date in the strengthened areas.
Since the Middle Ages, burial had taken place on the grounds of the parochial churches. By the French Revolution, overcrowding in the city was a severe problem amongst the dead and the living alike.
Bones were placed in the Catacombs several different times. The first cemetery to be emptied was the Cemetery of the Holy Innocents which had been closed for sanitary reasons. Courtyards of homes had been previously mass graves of Trinite Hospital (which dated back to 1201) . The hospital had been demolished a few years before the bones were transferred due to Urban renewal projects in 1786.
The abandoned underground quarries were turned into an ossuary. The quarries were rapidly strengthened and the Catacombs were consecrated in 1786. Other bones from deconsecrated Paris cemeteries were transferred until 1788 and then again between 1843 and 1860.
All bones were grouped and presented as they remain to this day.
Commemorative Plaques can be found in the ossuary circuit.
The ossuary was abandoned at the time of the French Revolution, but in 1809 it was reorganized to receive visitors. The bones were carefully stacked in monumental funerary decor, with Doric columns. altars, fountains and engraved plaques.
The tours included an explanation of the type of rock that was excavated under Paris. It is interesting to note that emperors and kings from foreign countries took this tour when visiting Paris.
We walked through long tunnels.
Some tunnels that left our path were closed off by gates.
Skulls placed in a heart shape as well as....
a cross.
It is shocking to see so many bones stacked up.
Bones behind gates.
Reinforced columns were is place to prevent cave ins.
Some 200 miles of labyrinthine tunnels are believed to exist under Paris.
Only the small section that we walked through is open to the public.
Unusual circular column of bones
Climbing the stairs back to up to the outside world
A Bone Diagram in the Gift Shop
We crossed the street to visit this Hispanic shop.
This shop has been owned by the same family since the 1900's.
We found wonderful fruits and vegetables as well as...
this great map of French specialties there.
We enjoyed walking through a park that was separated two roadways going in opposite directions.
Permanent activities were spotted along the way.
We caught the metro over to Notre Dame for lunch and found a great place to picnic right on the Seine River.
We enjoyed watching the boats go by.
We enjoyed this cute little bunny that was painted peeking over the wall.
Inlaid tiles rested in the stone pavement.
The cathedral of Paris for more than eight centuries, Notre Dame attracts pilgrims and heritage lovers from all over the world.
Although the cathedral was closed due to the 2019 fire renovations, large pictures were on display of the damages and the work that was being done to try to get the cathedral open in 2024.
Scaffolding on the inside of Notre Dame
The exact location where the spire used to be. This is a massive hole that ripped into the heart of the cathedral. Debris on the top encircles where the altar had been below.
It was miraculous that all the statues from the base of the spire were removed for restoration a few days before the fire struck the cathedral.
Statues in the courtyard of Notre Dame
Notre Dame Rose Garden
We passed by several of the 900 green book boxes known as the Bouquinistes of Paris that have been on the Seine River for some 500 years. In 1992 the Bouquinistes of Paris were declared a
UNESCO World Heritage site.
After boarding another subway we passed through the park that surrounds the Eiffel Tower.
Folks were dancing to street music around the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower was massive looking up underneath the structure.
Folks from all over the world were here to go up in this iconic Paris treasure.
We entered the east side of the Eiffel Tower. Although we had purchased tickets to enter at a specific time, we still had a bit of a wait.
This gentleman took us to the first elevator stop.
The ride up was steady and smooth.
The views were expansive.
This is the wheel that turned to pull the elevator upwards.
We walked up flights of stairs to get into another elevator that took us to the very top.
It was fun to spot the places we had been to and those that we hadn't.
North of the tower we spotted the Trocadero Square flanked by the Palace Chaillot and its Museums.
Bois de Boulogne, the largest park in Paris
The Grand Palace....unfortunately was closed for renovation.
Cathedral de la Sainte Trinite
Arc de Triomphe
Les Invalides, the final resting place of Napoleon
Pont Alexandre Bridge
Montparnasse Tower, an office skyscraper, is one of the twenty-five tallest buildings in Europe. The Eifel Tower is the tallest in Paris.
Notre Dame
The Seine River
Mi amor took me to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Historic photos
One final bird's eye view before heading back to the ground.
One of the footers under the tower.
We enjoyed walking through the Eiffel Tower Park on the way back to the subway.
It felt good to be going home after touring all day in Paris.
There was some great looking fruit and vegetable stands when we left the subway station to get on the train.
The next day Claire picked us up to head to Mont Saint Michele. The old stone homes were so unique to spot along the way.
We spotted a Dutch looking windmill along the way.
We stopped for lunch in this quaint establishment.
We enjoyed having Claire's mom, Roberta, with us on this little road trip. She had just arrived back from visiting her family in Guadeloupe.
Larry and I had another yummy crepe.
This little restaurant had numerous pictures of Mont St. Michel.
This fluffy pink plant was blooming all over the place.
The trees were full of mistletoe.
Sheep were grazing in many fields.
Then we suddenly spotted Mont St. Michel in the distant horizon.
Mont St Michel is a tidal island in Normandy, France which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. In 966, a community of Benedictines established itself and built the first church on the island.
At the same time a village began to develop below the Mont to welcome the first pilgrims. Today over 60 buildings within the commune are protected as historic monuments. 29 people live on the island today.
Upon arrival, the tide was totally out and folks were walking out on the sandy land that was left behind. The island is approximately one kilometer from land.
Pinch me....I have always want to come here.
Annette Poulard devoted her life to preparing meals for visitors to Mont St Michel. In 1888 Annette and her husband Victor opened their famous inn there.
She created many famous dishes, among them... the famous omelet.... cooked over the fire in the grand fireplace. Her know how branched into a franchise of restaurants to promote French food abroad.
I really felt like I was going back in time when passing through this gate.
We turned left and....
immediately headed up the stairs to avoid the crowds in the village.
This is the view looking back from where we walked from our shuttle ride. Tourist are no longer allowed to drive into this area.
More stairs
Farm land beyond the tidal water.
Plants sprung up in the stone cracks.
When it started to rain we ducked into a little shop.
This old stained glass was exquisite.
The old walls were incredible.....just thinking how long they have been here gives me goose bumps.
Like a lot of older buildings that we have seen, renovations were going on here as well.
The mideval doors were whimsical.
Cool private courtyards
A newer area for overnight guests
A small hole for the guards to use to protect the fort, back in the day.
Guardhouse
White calla lilies seemed to thrive here.
The afternoon was full of up and down staircases
Nice little shops were along the village street
Recuperating from a steep stair climb
Cool gargoyles
We entered the small cathedral
Magnificent Stained Glass
We headed back down the hill...
and were greeted by the military strolling the grounds.
We loaded up on the shuttlebus to arrive back at our car right before the rain started.
While heading to a French hotel, Larry and I felt sorry for the large biker group who were riding in the rain.
Mont St Michel is quite a site lit up at night.
Our destination the next morning was north to Trouville sur Mer, a seaside area with lots of fun family activities. Claire used to bring her children here for a fun day at the beach when they were younger.
Being a popular place, we had to park on the west side of the river.
Although is was drizzly, it was so enjoyable to walk along the riverfront.
This reminded us of Swiss designed buildings.
Cool designed stone roads.
The Virgin Child Surrounded by Four Angels
Everyone loves the merry-go-round.
So many choices for lunch, we finally decided on La Sauvageonne.
Elizabeth Taylor ate here.
French Bordeaux
Mi Amor....so happy to escort three women to lunch.
We all ordered the special....a pot of fresh mussels.
They were absolutely the best!
Chocolate mousse....YUM!
The fresh seafood market
Love the French Cafes.
City Government Building
Such sweet family activities
French Sorbet.....Delicious!
Modern sidewalk design
The side streets are named after famous women....this one was Jane Goodall.
What fun!
Today at the beach, a Family Kite flying event was going on.
An Octopus Kite.....WOW!
Across the English Channel lies Great Britain.
Casino Barriere Deauville was close to the beach.
Such fun family activities.
We walked along the riverfront.....the tide was flowing out.
Twin Lighthouses
Boats were starting to rest on the bottom of the riverbed.
We drove back to Claire's home for dinner. Larry played Claire's guitar for his supper.
Claire shared her tomato mozzarella salad recipe...along with other delectable treats.Yum!
Claire, David, and Roberta, such a sweet family!
Our last day in France, we rode the train into Paris to visit the Louvre.
We purchased tickets to enter the Louvre Museum at 10:00am on Sunday. 7.8 million visitors toured it in 2022. The Louvre Palace was built in the late 12th and 13 century.
In 1546, it became a primary residence for French Kings. Louis XIV chose to live in the Palace of Versailles with his family and left the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collections.
The Louvre Museum was established 229 years ago, opening with 537 paintings with the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property.
We began our tour by entering the newest courtyard of the glass pyramid built in 1988.
A model of the Lourve
Someone played a joke on a Mona Lisa's sign.
The Three Graces marble statue is a Roman copy of the Greek Statue originally sculpted in 2 BC .
Old Centaur tormented by Eros (Cupid, god of love)
The ceiling paintings were magnificent.
The trim around the ceiling had numerous artist's names displayed....L Devinci, Michelangelo.
The Birth of Jesus with Mary, Joseph and Two Angels 1465-1470
There were walls and walls of paintings dating back from so long ago.
Ornate column toppers.
We finally made our way into the room with Mona Lisa....one of the main attractions in the Louvre.
Lisa Gherardini (1479-1542) who lived in Florence, Italy was the wife of a wealthy silk merchant, Francesco del Giocondo.
So many wanting to see the Mona Lisa up front. She is in the black square to the left. It was so small.
This huge painting was on the back wall of the same room.
Leonardo da Vinci never finished the Mona Lisa. The lower part of the landscape is incomplete; the forms are barely sketched. He began this partially experimental painting in about 1503 and never finished it.
He took it with him, everywhere he went, until his final trip to France in 1516 at the invitation of King Francois I. The King bought the painting, which then became apart of the French royal collection.
The Virgin Mother and Jesus
A crown case
The French Crown Jewels (1530-1789)
These beautiful sapphires belonged to Queen Maria Amalia, wife to Louis Philippe, king of France from 1830-1848.
Crown of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870.
Such extravagance
These intricate pieces were behind glass.
Angels
Love this antique....Women making bread.
I enjoyed admiring these colorful tiles on our way out of the Louvre.
We could have spent days and days roaming the Louvre, there was so much there to see, it was overwhelming.
It was very much like the Vatican Museum in Rome and The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia.....full to the brim with remarkable antiquities.
After the rain subsided, we found our way back to the subway and train, thinking how fast our nine days in Paris had gone by.
The next morning Claire graciously took us to the airport. at check in 11 cats were joining us.
We did not see them during the flight.
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Larry met a pilot who joined in a jam while waiting for the boarding time. So much fun to meet new musicians during our travels.
We arrived in Miami and picking up a rental car that we drove till about 11:00pm US time ....5:00am Paris time. YAWN!!! We stopped for a hotel and got a bit of a rest before driving a couple of more hours into Clearwater Beach.
What a fantastic trip! Time to start planning the next one.
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