Now that more American interns are here, we have been trying to fit in lots of visits and activities every day. Started the week with a stroll along the entire length of the Champs Elysees one evening, including the oh-so-fabulous fashion district: a street lined with the likes of Chanel, Dior, Prada… They have guards that stand at attention outside the stores all night, also looking dapper!
Ended the week with a visit to the Pasteur Museum, right next to my laboratory building. Pasteur used to live there and almost all of the original furniture is still as it was in the 1800's. It is interesting that Pasteur actually didn't start as a biologist, but rather was requested by some important higher-ups to apply his chemistry knowledge to problems plaguing the animals/plants of the region. The museum even has three glass containers with fluid still sterile from the late 1800's when Pasteur made them! Also didn't know that Pasteur was such an amazing artist, great with pastel portraiture.
Poor Pasteur was kind of a sad dude, losing all but two of his children to disease and later suffering from paralyzing illness, himself. His crypt is located underneath the house; he is one of the only famous Frenchmen not to be buried in the Paris Pantheon. After the guide opens up this creaking iron gate, you enter this crazy room covered in glittering gold mosaic tiles depicting scenes important to Pasteur's work (the silkworms, rabid dogs, hens, grape vines...). In a morbid way, it was…gorgeous! The man himself lies there under the angels of Charity, Faith, Hope, and Science ("the mother, daughter, and sister of the other three"). And nearby is his wife, under the inscription: "dedicated supporter of Pasteur's work and life." Gee, thanks for the credit.
After the historical rendezvous, I left to more modern pursuits. Watched the UK versus Algeria World Cup soccer match at an "English" pub nearby the Parisian Pantheon. What a crowd!
This weekend was quite packed with sightseeing. Saturday was "Death Day." Started with the Catacombs. Such an interesting place...six million people's bones buried underground in these massive piles. Used to be an old mining quarry, so ceiling and walls were drippy stone. The bones weren't even stabilized-- we could pick up and touch them. Sign upon entering reads in French "Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead." Spooky! We went far underground and walked beneath the Parisian streets all around these niches filled with bones. Crazy that the last person put there was in 1920! (Mostly, though, in the mid 1800s after complaints of disease from the cemeteries above ground.)
Next, went to Pere Lachaise Cemetery. A wild old place with hundreds of mausoleums sitting above ground made of stone and iron. Most from the 1700s to the 1800s, but many later, too. Lots of famous people are buried there-- I saw Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Chopin's graves!
Then, off to the Hotel des Invalides. It is huge and filled with military history and artifacts from the ancient to the modern times, with a big focus on Medieval armory and WWI-II. Napoleon's tomb is there; his body was brought back from exile to be placed inside this huge (disproportionate to his size) sarcophagus, six layers thick! Surrounding, on the walls, are Grecian scenes all with Mr. Napoleon as the star! Very opulent place.
Ended the day with delicioso crepes, first with jambon and fromage and next with home-made toffee! A definite offset to the goriness of the day!
Today was only in the 50's, and after yesterday I thought "Church Day" would be a fitting follow-up, so I took the metro to Sainte-Chapelle. It was built in traditional High-Gothic style and is known for its fifteen massive stained glass windows—over 70% are original. The Chapel used to house very precious (pricey, for Louis IX) relics of Christ.
Next, I found the Crypte Archéologique du Parvis Notre-Dame. It encloses the excavation site of the foundations of Roman buildings located beneath Notre Dame square—an ancient city within an old city!
Planning more weekend trips and will be sure to update…Ciao ciao!
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