Chateau de Versailles

Another late start but what a day. I have never been to Versailles until today. The RER provides very quick transport out there. After standing in line for 40 minutes we purchased out tickets and were on our way.

There are way too many things to talk about with regards to Versailles. My overarching impression though is "Wow, these people were really into themselves!" The sheer size and amount of effort that went into the decoration are very impressive. From the largest painting for its time to the velvet wall paper. The hall of mirrors is really astounding. I have been a number of castles but this one room stands out. The 200 meters of mirrored wall facing the grandest garden. All this accented by a plethora of crystal chandeliers.

After visiting the over the top Kings and Queens chambers we were guided to the Hall of battles. 500 meters of never ending paintings of battles. The concept is pretty cool. The paintings depict in chronological order the most important battles in Frances history. The paintings are all very impressive. Delacroix whom I had not heard of before did some nice work. There is one painting that really stood out. It was a painting of a battle in its midway point. The figures were all slightly blurred but acceneted with striking colors. The effect is to feel like the painting is a snapshot at the crux of the battle.

The grandest part of the castle though was the gardens. There are like nothing I have ever seen. The grounds were endless stretches of manicured shrubs and trees. The paths while ever so mathematical seemed to weave around like mazes. To top off the impressive plants there is a 3km long lake.

Cody and I decided since we were here we might as walk around it. The walk was great but very long. The paths are all shaded by manicured trees which makes the walk more pleasant. It seems that this is the place that the French truly come to picnic. The grass was seasoned with families and friends sleeping, eating, and generally just enjoying the company of each other.

It is hard to describe the sheer size of the whole the experience. If one is ever in Paris, Versailles is a definite see. Take a whole day and you would do well to pack a nice picnic and plan for a luxurious nap in the afternoon sun.
The most impressive par

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These are the pictures of the Catacombs. Cody Mattern took all the photos except the ones of himself. I took those and a smattering of other ones. I hope you enjoy.

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Catacombs of Paris

Hello and welcome to my blog. Today I happen to be in Paris. While I have been here many times I have never been to the Catacombs. Cody and I decided to go finally. As we walked there, in my mind it seemed like any other tour. However as I descended the 83 steps and proceeded down the 500 meter long tunnel. I felt a rising lump in my throat. The whole experience reminded me of how I feel before the first bout of the day. The sign before you enter the actual catacomb reads "Stop, beware this is the land of the dead"(self translated from French (I don't actually speak French but I try)). This did not help a great deal. As entered the catacomb I was still nervous. The dark light and endless walls of human bones. As I journeyed further in though the nervousness disappeared. The catacomb is intriguing and disturbing. 2 million people have been laid to rest there. The tunnels dark and ominous seem to stretch and turn forever. One of the most strange sights is a place where the skulls are arranged in the wall in the shape of a heart. As you exit it becomes less and less creepy. When you climb the 83 steps and walk into the sunlight it all seems like a strange dream. The door as you exit has no sign and you are many blocks from the entrance. Overall it was a fascinating trip. If you are ever in Paris it is a definite must see.