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Published: June 16th 2009
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Me and the Eiffel Tower
Take from Trocadero Square. Hi Everyone!
Today's Itinerary was:
1) Eiffel Tower and Trocadero Square
2) Les Invalides
3) Napoleon's Tomb
4) Musee de l'Armee
5) Rodin Museum
6) Alexander III Bridge
7) Notre- Dame
Begining the day by finding that iron icon of the French skyline: the Eiffel Tower. 1,000 feet tall and made from 7,000 tons of metal. Gustave Eiffel's tower won the architectural contest of 1889 against the giant guillotine. (that would have been very French!) Even though I was looking for it, it was still a shock to turn a corner and have it appear Bam! out of the blue. I didn't go up in the tower, as it was a 2 hour line. Near the Eiffel Tower is Les Invalides home of Napoleon's Tomb. I do wonder how modern French people view Napoleon. On one hand, he did try to conquor the world. (Not a new idea, but still frowned upon.) He crowned himself emperor. (Very Arrogant.) On the other hand, he stabalized the French political system after the Revolution. (according to wikipedia) My biggest source of information about Napoleon being from Regency Romance novels I can say that the British did NOT like Napoleon one bit. I tend to
identify with the the British, since they speak my native language, but since I am in Paris now I am trying to be open minded. Anyway, Napoleon was certainly a memerable person, and just in case someone might forget, they built him a GIGANTIC memorial tomb covered in 26 pounds of gold.
From the tomb you can go on to the army museum. A shrine to the ancient aparatus with which humans kill each other. Only here they do it speaking French.
Interesting things I learned from the Army Museum:
1) Anne de Montmorency (who I never heard of before) was a man. At least he's Anne with an 'e'.
2) Medival French people were very small.
3) The French decorate their cannon's with couple's kissing. An interesting juxapostion of love and war!
The Rodin museum was very pretty. I probably would not have gone except that it was right next door, and it was covered by my Paris pass (48 Euros for 4 days). It's too bad the French don't subscribe to the British idea of making all teh museums free. Its not very obliging of them to demand money from me. But in any case, I got
to see Rodin's The Thinker. My guide book calls him the best sculptor since Michelangelo. All his statues are kept outside.
Notre-Dame was next on my list. When I visited France as a high school student I never got to see the inside of the church (we went on Easter sunday). The church is free, but it costs to go up in the towers. Fortunately its covered by my Paris Pass! However, I did have to wait an hour because they only let 20 people go at a time, due to limited space. It was fascinating and I am glad I went. I am sure the views were just as good as the Eiffel Tower, and I got excellent views of the Gargoyles.
Notre-Dame Cathedral or Church of Our Lady was started in 1163 and finished 200 years later.
The statues and carvings were damaged in the Revolution, but have since been restored.
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Glen
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Hey...Jennifer
Hi Jen, I'm enjoying your blog. Great work! Great adventure! More later.