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Published: October 20th 2010
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So begining of our 4 day museum pass. Hit up the Eiffel tower first thing monday morning.I have been there before so I let Sonja have the honors of going up. I stayed at the base and took pictures and watched the Sudanese souviener pushers get busted by the police while their buddys looked on from across the street. It was mildly entertaining. Next on to Invalide. and the army museum. I missed the army museum last time , so it was worth a visit. im not a huge war buff, but seeing the old armor they used, so intricaly designed, the details on their weapons. Its actually pretty surreal to imagine these being used to kill people. The canons were pretty impressive as well. After we took a quick visit to the church and Napoleons tomb.His tomb is massive and if I remember correctly it has 7 different tombs within itself made of different material, and there are 12 angel statues surrounding the tomb the represent his victories i believe.I come from a city that just celebrated 125 years not to long ago. We tear down anything the resembles old in order to put up condos. So its always interesting
to me to see history and culture preserved so well, and with pride.
We took a break at jardin de tuileries for a quick crepe lunch and catnap around the water feature, before we headed to Musee l'orangerie. This museum had some of Claude Monet's famous water lily paintings. It also had a feature exibit of Heinrich kuun, a photographer way ahead of his time, creating photographs using different mediums, be is metals, silver, gels. Looking at the pictures, especially considering what we have now, they would seem at a glance amatuer and maybe boring, but to think back to his time, and the materials they had, every photo he took must have seemed like quite the achievment. He photographed a lot of his family,almost to the point of disregarding them as his children but rather his subjects. The end of our day was supposed to be Arc de triomphe, but for some reason it was closed.
Tuesday, took the train out to Versaiile. When we got off the train, the whole station was flocked with police and swat teams and young kids. I asked the information lady and she informed me that it was because of the
strikes.I think every kid was out of school and in and around the station. I really wonder if they even know what they are standing up for or if they are there just because its a reason to skip school. I would beleive its the latter.
We made our way thru the throng of kids and made our walk to the grand palace. As soon as you approach it, there is no mistakeing that this was the kings abode. Or more like his weekend home. It kinda puts those cabins on the lake to shame. The outside was adorned with gold. Bright, yellow gold.Hmmm yeah just the old summer house. I can't even imagine what it would be like to exist here.And its kinda hard to put yourself in that mind space because trying to go thru the actual palace is like going to Ikea on a sunday, with a sale. It wasn't very handy either that I had my back pack full of my photography stuff,so I was constantly bumping or being bumped. But, alas I blocked out everyone else and just marvelled at the beauty of this place. It was insane, how elaborate and intricate it was.
Damask wall paper made of fabric, commisioned artists works on the celing, sculptures and marble walls and furniture. I can't even imagine how much somthing like this would cost in todays money. My favorite part was the hall of mirrors. A long hallway with the left side adorned with floor to celing mirrors, the right was floor to ceiling windows matching up to the mirror across the way. And on the celing hung chandaliers all the way down the hall. I could stay here for a while. I have always thought how amazing it would be to have this place to yourself to explore, no people, no ropes. I noticed in the Queens room, there was a door to the right of her bed, a door that Marie Antoinette used to escape when she saw the people of france storming thru the gate of versaille. I can only imagine the passage ways that doors leads to. Outside the palace is the very extensive gardens. Marie Antoinette had her own little palace a 25 min walk thru the trees and bushes.I think exploring the gardens on their own is another half day. As touristy as it is there is a reason
for it, because Versaille is amazing. And to add on to that, what was really cool was as the palace they have exhibits that they play throughout the castle, mixing old and new. some could say it ruins the look some may think its a bold push into the newer age of artistic expression. I thought it was great and a great way to showcase different artist from around the globe. right now they have a japanese artist, and all his sculptures are throughout the palace,new and shiny and japanamation style new to old classic french country. amazing
Ended the day off at one of my favorite view of paris and that is a top the Arc de Triomphe. From here you can see it all. Sacre Coeur, the eiffel tower, everything. its the most pituresque views of paris. Nothing else to say its all about the pictures at this point.
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How was the food?
Nice pics. How was the food at Laudree?