Sunday 18 June 2017

We almost saw the Catacombs - Death in Paris

The queues were longer than our patience!

It was rather hot in Paris yesterday!  Originally we had planned to visit the catacombs, but when we arrived, after a long leisurely lunch, the queues frightened us off.  I mean, standing in line for hours on end, waiting for a chance to look at artistically arranged human bones, at 30 Celsius ....

It didn't happen.  Even the fact that the temperature down there is only around 14 Celsius did not motivate us enough to wait in the basking sun for our chance to descend.

Instead we meandered about, did a little judicious shopping, and also some in-depth research into the liquid offerings of various little drinkeries.

We did happen across Montparnasse Cemetery, and strolled amidst the stoney monments for a while.  The cemetery looks like a little town, with a house for every family.  Very different from for example German cemeteries, which look like a collection of small gardens, each decorated with a cross or tomb stone and lovingly planted with flowers.

All in all we had a pleasant, civilised, day in Paris, full of gossip and chin wagging.

The catacombs can wait - another time there might be fewer tourists.  Not in October, though - apparently the catacombs are extremely popular in the month of Halloween!

A sort of historical marker

Interesting monument


Massive china shop - mostly just white dishes, for the restaurant trade, it seems.

A few coloured dishes


Entrance of a church where we sought shade and lower temperatures


There it is

Interesting mural

Interesting sign?

Religious establishment or school

Cute little street train!

Never seen it before
 
Streetlight fixed with packaging tape - another novel sight!



Entrance to the cemetery

Inside the cemetery











And finally, another weird art work in front of the Gare du Nord!