This is a bit late getting posted but had problems accessing the Internet yesterday morning. Call me weird but I like to wander through cemeteries. I like to see the variety of the architecture of the monuments. And for doing just that, this is a fantastic place to do it! And you can do it from the comfort of your own home by visiting pere-lachaise.com.
The weather was dark and gloomy (perfect atmosphere for cemetery wandering) and it spit rain the entire time we were there (another prerequisite of cemetery prowling). The sun tried to break through a few times but the heavy cloud cover kept it at bay.
When I was first here back in 2003, a security guard was posted at Jim Morrison’s grave. Now, a fence has been erected to keep people away from it. Obviously, it’s not keeping his ardent fans away entirely or how else would these flowers and other things end up on his grave?
Victor Noir is also interred here in Cimetière du Père Lachaise. I’m not sure where the story started, but apparently his bronze effigy represents fertility and women who wish to become preganant come and rub his crotch. It looks strangely amusing to see the bronze sculpture green with age except for that one polished area.
Oscar Wilde is also buried here and for years, women would kiss his monument. Now, a wall of clear Plexiglass surrounds it keeping the lipstick prints off. It was really strange seeing Oscar’s grave so clean after having seen it with lip prints of many shades of red all over it before.
After getting our cemetery fix, we decided to return to the Champs-Élysées but this time walk down the other side of the street. This is almost a must since there is so much to see on each side of the avenue.
when we walked by the Toyota dealership, we were surprised to see this race car in the showroom. You could go in and take photographs of it, selfies with it in the background, pretty much anything you wanted as long as you didn’t touch. There was a security guard watching to ensure that you didn’t.
Two doors down at the Renault dealership, it was the same thing except they had two cars in the showroom – an older F1 car and last year’s model. Again, a security guard stood watch.
We carried on down to Place de la Concorde again before deciding where we would go next. While waiting at one of the traffic lights, a guy on a bicycle when tearing through the crowd (still surprised how he didn’t hit anyone) and didn’t bother to stop for the red light. Big mistake. I didn’t see it but I heard the crash. Mr MR-K said he saw the bike go flying in the air and almost twice as high as one of the buses that was in the intersection. We both figured when we got there, he’d be laid out on the cobbles – dead – but no, he was standing, hopping on one foot and his legs were scratched, cut and bruised from the pedals of the bike. The taxi that hit him had a broken fog lamp.
Some (a lot of) more walking and we were at Hotel de Ville on our way to The Auld Alliance.
When we walked down Rue Francois Miron, we passed by the oldest house in Paris.
Thirsty now, we stopped in for a pint of the amber nectar – Caledonian 80. By now my leg was getting tired and a refreshing pint was just the ticket. We enjoyed our drinks then gradually worked our way back to the restaurant for supper and our hotel.
And that was it for Day 4. Oh, and if you can go by the accuracy of the pedometer (seemed closer to what it felt like), we walked 28,589 steps or 9.02 miles.
Beautiful photos of Paris, haven’t been since I was 19, and that was a night stopover. And, I must admit, whatever huge city, or tiny village, I go to, I always visit cemeteries, find them very quiet, calming, and flowing with energy 🙂
Suzanne @Suzannes Tribe
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Hi Guys looks like you are having a terrific time. Imagine going from dead people to fancy formula 1 cars all in an hour or two! Paris seems to have everything and even with the cane you are getting to all of it!
Thanks for the beautiful pictures. Enjoy every minute.
XO
MJ
There’s something about cemeteries, isn’t there. I love the architecture of the stones and vaults. And the monuments here in Pere Lachaise are unbelievable. The craftsmanship that went in to these creations is, well, beyond words.
Paris is an amazing place for sure. We ARE enjoying every moment. Wish it could last longer.
Glad you liked the photos, Suzanne. The monuments in Pere Lachaise are amazing. I think you could wander through there for an entire day and still not see the entire place. I agree about them being quiet and calming.
The cane has slowed me down some but isn’t stopping me. Paris’s metro system certainly helps get you to the area you want to be in quickly which helps us cover much more ground.