Last night I was writing my blog and the prose was running free. I was on a roll and the words all seemed to fit beautifully. I had only had one wine, I should add.
Anyway, the computer was running slow, so I rebooted, and yes all the Pulitzer Prize stuff was gone.
So, my last blog was written with some frustration and some abbreviation. I will do better today.
A later start, have to Skype with Sue, so hang around, finally get out after 9.00AM.
I am doing another Paris Walk, Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame, and as it's not that far from the Pantheon, I get a look at that too.
The Pantheon is about 1500 metres further on the left bank of the Seine, past the Sorbonne.
I arrive at the meeting place for the Paris Walks with 40 minutes to spare, so off I head, past the Sorbonne, as I said and to the Pantheon.
No time to go in, already a line up. The Pantheon is notable as having one of those special triple domes and though originally a church the French Revolution put paid to all that, and it is now a mausoleum. Its necropolis contains such notables as Voltaire, Zola, Victor Hugo and Madame Curie.
Then backtrack, through the Sorbonne to Ile de la Cite to meet the group.
Mary Ellen, is a Parisian with an American accent, who doesn't quite have the gift the other guys had.
Nevertheless, we managed a good 2 hour stroll across and around the Ile de la Cite, with Notre Dame as our focal point.
Ile de la Cite was the site of the original encampment by the Parisii, a Celtic tribe, who used the island and the Seine. Then the Romans came, and it was they who gave Paris it's name, from the original tribe. I guess that's pretty obvious.
We heard about the original palace on the sight, abandoned when one of the kings died and his wife, one of the Medeci's was to distraught to live there any long, and moved across the river to the Louvre, before it became arty and crafty!!.
It's now the Palais de Justice, and has been extensively altered, with bits demolished etc.
Did you know that the concierge was originally "keeper of the candles" managing the supply of candles for nobles etc, and gradually became what they are today.
We found another bridge laden with padlocks and it seems that couple do as sign of everlasting love and devotion. Just wonder why some are combination locks! There was a newly married couple there today attaching their lock.
From there it was all uphill to get a look at Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur church that crowns the norther Parisian skyline.
Took just 40 minutes from the Seine to Montmartre though I was sweating by the time I got there. This place is humid.
Sacre Coeur is another church, Montmartre, however the surrounding suburb is just bounding with life, the square full of food outlets, budding artists showing their efforts for sale and the usual on the spot portraits, none of which looked like the sitter!!
There was also a Salvador Dali exhibition on, which was rather ho hum. I like Dali, but they had really nothing of his there, mostly pen sketches he had done on books for his manager.
Then the long downhill back to base, for the last time.
Past the Moulin Rouge, looking in need of some make-up, the rouge getting a little thin.
Then down past the Folie Bergere, which I find is literally round the corner from my hotel, which is near the corner of Rue de Bergere, and it is looking seriously in need of some love. In fact, apart from some new posters, it almost looks derelict.
Well that's Paris for you. I am sure there are things I should have done, the sewers, the catacombs, that cemetery where a whole lot of famous people are buried, along with some not so famous, BUT they're all dead.
More time at Versailles perhaps, yes certainly.
Tomorrow the fast train to Brussels and whilst on the train maybe some thoughts on Paris.
Picasa web albums
Anyway, the computer was running slow, so I rebooted, and yes all the Pulitzer Prize stuff was gone.
So, my last blog was written with some frustration and some abbreviation. I will do better today.
A later start, have to Skype with Sue, so hang around, finally get out after 9.00AM.
I am doing another Paris Walk, Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame, and as it's not that far from the Pantheon, I get a look at that too.
The Pantheon is about 1500 metres further on the left bank of the Seine, past the Sorbonne.
I arrive at the meeting place for the Paris Walks with 40 minutes to spare, so off I head, past the Sorbonne, as I said and to the Pantheon.
No time to go in, already a line up. The Pantheon is notable as having one of those special triple domes and though originally a church the French Revolution put paid to all that, and it is now a mausoleum. Its necropolis contains such notables as Voltaire, Zola, Victor Hugo and Madame Curie.
Then backtrack, through the Sorbonne to Ile de la Cite to meet the group.
Mary Ellen, is a Parisian with an American accent, who doesn't quite have the gift the other guys had.
Nevertheless, we managed a good 2 hour stroll across and around the Ile de la Cite, with Notre Dame as our focal point.
Ile de la Cite was the site of the original encampment by the Parisii, a Celtic tribe, who used the island and the Seine. Then the Romans came, and it was they who gave Paris it's name, from the original tribe. I guess that's pretty obvious.
We heard about the original palace on the sight, abandoned when one of the kings died and his wife, one of the Medeci's was to distraught to live there any long, and moved across the river to the Louvre, before it became arty and crafty!!.
It's now the Palais de Justice, and has been extensively altered, with bits demolished etc.
Did you know that the concierge was originally "keeper of the candles" managing the supply of candles for nobles etc, and gradually became what they are today.
We found another bridge laden with padlocks and it seems that couple do as sign of everlasting love and devotion. Just wonder why some are combination locks! There was a newly married couple there today attaching their lock.
From there it was all uphill to get a look at Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur church that crowns the norther Parisian skyline.
Took just 40 minutes from the Seine to Montmartre though I was sweating by the time I got there. This place is humid.
Sacre Coeur is another church, Montmartre, however the surrounding suburb is just bounding with life, the square full of food outlets, budding artists showing their efforts for sale and the usual on the spot portraits, none of which looked like the sitter!!
There was also a Salvador Dali exhibition on, which was rather ho hum. I like Dali, but they had really nothing of his there, mostly pen sketches he had done on books for his manager.
Then the long downhill back to base, for the last time.
Past the Moulin Rouge, looking in need of some make-up, the rouge getting a little thin.
Then down past the Folie Bergere, which I find is literally round the corner from my hotel, which is near the corner of Rue de Bergere, and it is looking seriously in need of some love. In fact, apart from some new posters, it almost looks derelict.
Well that's Paris for you. I am sure there are things I should have done, the sewers, the catacombs, that cemetery where a whole lot of famous people are buried, along with some not so famous, BUT they're all dead.
More time at Versailles perhaps, yes certainly.
Tomorrow the fast train to Brussels and whilst on the train maybe some thoughts on Paris.
Picasa web albums
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