May 2004
THE CITY OF LIGHTS: ALMOST THREE DAYS IN PARIS
Bob's search He just knew there were deals to be found at the famous street flea market along the Seine.
Conciergerie At the time of the Revolution some 1200 men and women were held here. Among those was Marie-Antoinette.
Cathedrale Notre-Dame Construction began in 1163, during the reign of Louis VII. It was completed around 1300 and the original plans hadn't been modified.
Of the many things that have happened over the course of these long enduring years was: the re-trial of Joan of Arc (1455); the marriage of Henrietta Maria by proxy to Charles I of England (1625).
There was a baptism/christening in the church's small chapel in the back when we were there.
Cathedrale Notre-Dame Cleaning and renovation is taking place now. The bells were rung while we were there...by the Hunchback?
The flame memorial for Princess Di It was very moving to hear our tour group silenced when the guide pointed out this memorial. I think we all feel a sense of loss.
Cleaning of bridges There is an on-going cleansing of the cities monuments, bridges and buildings. Here the dirty, in process of cleaning, and the clean is seen.
Eifel Tower What would Paris be without this great symbol of the city?
Built for the Exposition Universelle of 1899. It was the tallest construction in the world when it was erected -- 300m/984ft. The addition of television transmitter aerials increased its height by 20.75m/67ft but still can't top all the skyscrapers built around the world since.
The Louvre Once the home and seat of kings and emperors and now the home to the richest collections of art and antiquities in the world..
Basilique du Sacre-Coeur What can I say. This stands high above Paris on Montmartre. Around the corner is the famous Bohemian area where the artists, poets and nightclubs abound.
Paris from Montmartre The Eifel Tower looks so small from here.
Montmartre Bohemian Artist Fair Karen purchased one of her watercolors of a poppy. She uses a technique of layering the colors which is very tedious as well as difficult to get all the colors to have depth.
We told her we were from Oak Park, IL -- the home of Ernest Hemingway. She said one of her commissions was to paint the nightspot where Ernie frequented.
We thought it could have been someone from the Heminway Foundation of Oak Park tour of Ernie's Paris a couple years ago.
Animal sculptures Interesting art in the huge park between the Louvre and Atrium.
It's
May 18.
We'll be in Berlin this evening.
Copyright 2004 Karen Porteous Glass. All rights reserved.