Day 66- 20 October 2008
Today i headed for Opera Garnier which is a magnificent building with some very nice statutes around it. Unfortunately the auditorium which aparently is magnifcent was closed today so i could not check out its splender. Also all the tickets for the operas this week are booked out too.
From there i went to Hotel Invalides by the metro (which when i took a connecting train i had to walk underground for about 15 minutes to get to the platform which is probably the same distance if i had of walked above ground to my actual destination !!). The Hotel Invalides now houses the Saint Louis Des Invalides Cathedral which has flags from enemies of france that were caputred, a museum of arms and armour, and things from the two world wars and the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Eglise du Dome. The museums are quite interesting and have a lot of videos and information in both french and english. Napoleons Tomb is very large and within it it he now lies within 5 coffins made of tin, mahogany, lead, lead again and ebony with a moumental sarcophagus made from red quartzite on a green granite base.
From here i went to Eglise St Sulpice which features in the Da Vince code, and alas, another movie moment which bears untruth in the real world. There is a gold line for the meridian in the church which goes to an oblisque, but no gold discs on the ground and no chapel at the end of the line. Although what was cool, that at midday (original Paris time) the light shines through one part of the glass in the stained glass at the other end of the church and shines on the ground in three light circles and passes the meridian line. I was fortunate to see this (and there is a photo attached).
I then got a train to Montmatre and then a very short funicular ride to the top of paris on which sits the Sacre Couer. A very large white church which is visible from many places around Paris. At one end of the church in a massive dome there is a fantastic gold leaf painting of a scene with Jesus which is very impressive. From there i walked up the 300 steps to the top of the dome for spectacular views of montmatre and paris. My entrance ticket was suppose to get me into the crypt also, but alas, when you got to the door it said the crypt was closed (well after paying for the ticket), another paris scam this time perpetrated by the church.
I then enjoyed a nice baguette and sat on the steps of the Sacre Couer over looking paris listening to some good music from buskers and enjoying the sun.
Day 66- 20 October 2008
Today i headed for Opera Garnier which is a magnificent building with some very nice statutes around it. Unfortunately the auditorium which aparently is magnifcent was closed today so i could not check out its splender. Also all the tickets for the operas this week are booked out too.
From there i went to Hotel Invalides by the metro (which when i took a connecting train i had to walk underground for about 15 minutes to get to the platform which is probably the same distance if i had of walked above ground to my actual destination !!). The Hotel Invalides now houses the Saint Louis Des Invalides Cathedral which has flags from enemies of france that were caputred, a museum of arms and armour, and things from the two world wars and the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte in the Eglise du Dome. The museums are quite interesting and have a lot of videos and information in both french and english. Napoleons Tomb is very large and within it it he now lies within 5 coffins made of tin, mahogany, lead, lead again and ebony with a moumental sarcophagus made from red quartzite on a green granite base.
From here i went to Eglise St Sulpice which features in the Da Vince code, and alas, another movie moment which bears untruth in the real world. There is a gold line for the meridian in the church which goes to an oblisque, but no gold discs on the ground and no chapel at the end of the line. Although what was cool, that at midday (original Paris time) the light shines through one part of the glass in the stained glass at the other end of the church and shines on the ground in three light circles and passes the meridian line. I was fortunate to see this (and there is a photo attached).
I then got a train to Montmatre and then a very short funicular ride to the top of paris on which sits the Sacre Couer. A very large white church which is visible from many places around Paris. At one end of the church in a massive dome there is a fantastic gold leaf painting of a scene with Jesus which is very impressive. From there i walked up the 300 steps to the top of the dome for spectacular views of montmatre and paris. My entrance ticket was suppose to get me into the crypt also, but alas, when you got to the door it said the crypt was closed (well after paying for the ticket), another paris scam this time perpetrated by the church.
I then enjoyed a nice baguette and sat on the steps of the Sacre Couer over looking paris listening to some good music from buskers and enjoying the sun.
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