Continental Crossover

I've been learning along the way that things seem to work themselves out somehow, but also that some things are much cheaper when planned in advance. When I left Okehampton I didn't really have any accommodation or transportation booked. Crossing the chunnel was expensive to buy at the last minute (unlike the other forms of transportation I have used) However the most difficult was finding accommodation in Paris. While there were plenty of hotels around the Gare du Nord...all of them were completo (full) So for the first night I ended up paying for an overpriced 1 star hotel. Then the following morning I spent most of it trying to find ANYWHERE that had a bed. Apparently by June Paris is having lots festivals and is already in full tourist season. Anyways...lessons learned.

I was reminded of why I loved Paris even though I was only there for 2 days. There is soooooo much to do there. I came with a list of things I wanted to see and I left with a list just as long of other things for next time (and there will be a next time ) This time there seemed to be a reoccurring theme of dead people. First I was at the Pantheon (where all the famous people of France are buried - Hugo, Marie Curie, Voltaire, Alexandre Dumas etc) There is also a great view of Paris from the top of the dome.

Next there was a visit to the catacombs...this was super cool! It was long tunnels of arrangements of bones from the late 18th century (french revolution uprisings) It was almost artistic. You go down below metro level and walk through this unending dark damp tunnel of bones. It was a nice break from the hot afternoon! Then you reappear several hundred meters from where you entered.

Finally on my dead person day I went to the Pere Lachaise Cemetery where some other great French (and not so French) people are buried (Moliere, Oscar Wilde...)

I went back to the Monmatre area (that I loved so much on my first trip to Paris) primarily to see the Dali museum (which happened to be closed ) So then I braved the tacky souvenir stores to get my cheap scarves. Finally I went in search of the real Moulin Rouge (not the tiny windmill Mr. Dilworth said was the Moulin Rouge when I was in high school!)

Summary: I love Paris!