« Venice, Italy | Main | Bruges »

October 09, 2007

Encore, Paris!

Hmmm... Paris. What to say??

Paris2 Web 01.jpg


We just had a wonderful time in Paris, again. It's still my favorite city to visit in the world.


We chose to focus on museums this visit. We even hit a few for a second time. As you can tell, these images come from the Rodin Museum. We loved his bronze work. It's so easy to feel the emotion and understand why he's the most acclaimed artist since Michelangelo.


Paris2 Web 02.jpg


We also visited the Musee d'Orsay. If you're not familiar with this
spectacular gallery, it's a train station built at the turn of the 20th century that was turned into a museum to pick up in art history where the Louvre left off, Impressionism. It's a great venue and a work of art in itself.


Paris2 Web 04.jpg


Paris2 Web 03.jpg


Through the clock is Sacre Coeur.


Paris2 Web 05.jpg


We also visited the magnificent Chateau de Versailles. What began as a hunting lodge in 1624, became the full time home of the French Sun King, Louis XIV in 1682. His heirs, Louis XV and the infamous Louis XVI and wife, Marie-Antoinette also ruled from this palace.


This is the Chapel, where the King had daily mass.


Paris2 Web 06.jpg


Here is the bust of the Sun King himself. He was revealed in this piece of marble by the great Bernini.


Paris2 Web 07.jpg


The rooms of the chateau were stunning.


Paris2 Web 08.jpg


In 1678 the back terrace was turned into the most famous (and grand) room, the Hall of Mirrors. To give you an idea of the scale, it measures 250 feet long by 35 feet wide and 40 feet high. Its massive proportions are added to by it's historic significance. In 1919, Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I.


Paris2 Web 09.jpg


The artwork adorning the walls is often of the royal family. In this case, it's the infamous Marie-Antionette and her children. Pictured are her eldest daughter, Madame Royale, the Dauphin (AKA heir apparent), Louis-Joseph (born in 1781), stands next to her while the third child (the future Louis XVII, born in 1785) is on her knees. This was painted a mere 6 years before the start of the French revolution. In some ways, the queen began the bloody revolution. However, the much-attributed phrase, "Let them eat cake" was probably not even uttered by Queen Marie-Antoinette (although it may have been). Similar to the way the Boston tea Party united the American colonies against the British, a certain diamond necklace united the French proletariat against the aristocrats and monarchy.


Paris2 Web 10.jpg

Here's the story of the necklace and the queen: there is a young noble woman (on the verge of bankruptcy) who plays two men's belief (the Cardinal of France and a jeweler) that she has the favor of the queen (Marie-Antoinette). So, she convinces the Cardinal to buy a 2,800 carat diamond necklace from the jeweler, give it to the noble woman, who would then (supposedly) give it to the queen. The idea was that the cardinal would then be able to gain the queens favor with this gift. Unfortunately, the necklace never made it to the queen and when she got the bill, the pieces fell into place. She and her husband Louis XVI, were furious with the cardinal and his disrespect. So, they demanded a public trial. Unfortunately, the cardinal was acquitted, but the noble woman was found guilty, flogged and imprisoned. However, since the jury had rebuked the French sovereign (a new precedent), it in fact marked a turning point and signaled the impending revolution.


Now, here is the view from the back of the chateau, overlooking the immense gardens.


Paris2 Web 11.jpg


Here is the view back to the chateau.


Paris2 Web 12.jpg

Next stop was the Panthéon in the Latin Quarter (just up the street from our hotel). It began as a church to St Genevieve, but has become a burial place for famous/influential French. One of the more interesting residents is Voltaire. Here is his crypt.


Paris2 Web 13.jpg


Here is the inside of the Panthéon, with my favorite touring partner.


Paris2 Web 14.jpg

Also housed inside is something called a Foucault Pendulum. This was a device conceived by the French scientist of the same name in 1851 who wanted to physically prove the rotation of the earth (although that was already commonly accepted knowledge). His experiment was to mount a weight at the end of a long wire, release it and watch as the weighted bob moved a known amount with each passing arc, proving the Earth rotated underneath the swinging weight. This created quite a fervor in both the academic and and layman worlds. It was tangible proof that the Earth rotates in an easy to set up experiment.

As a side note, if you perform this experiment at the poles, the bob will trace a complete circle in the 24 hours the Earth make one complete revolution. Here, it went just over 270 degrees each day. You can see, it's just about 5 PM in this picture.


Paris2 Web 15.jpg

As night falls in the city of romance, the lights come on to illuminate sight like the stunning Notre Dame. Construction took about 200 years, but was finally completed around 1250.


Paris2 Web 16.jpg


Paris2 Web 17.jpg


Paris2 Web 18.jpg


The metro is a great way to get from site to site in the city.


Paris2 Web 19.jpg


We also decided to go back to a couple familiar, but never common sites that are great after dark. The first is of course, the Arc de Triomphe.


Paris2 Web 20.jpg


This relief is called the Departure of the Volunteers of 1792, or commonly La Marseillaise. This is interesting because it's a unique sculpture where Liberty is cheering on the French people to rid themselves of tyranny. Also, the French national anthem is La Marseillaise and its lyrics are very similar to the emotion seen in this sculpture.


Paris2 Web 21.jpg


This time, we decided to visit the small museum in the top and go out to view the city from the top of the landmark where all roads converge.


Paris2 Web 22.jpg


Then, over to the quintessential monument to late 19th century French engineering.


Paris2 Web 23.jpg


A view from the second floor of the tower.


Paris2 Web 24.jpg

This is from 400', looking up to the 1,000' peak of the tower.

Paris2 Web 25.jpg


Reflecting back on the beauty of this landmark.


Paris2 Web 26.jpg

Yet again, we fell in love with the city. It was a great way to complete our re-connection time together, in the city of romance, love and science.


But, now we must wait a little while before traveling again.

So, until then.


--Jim

Posted by jim at October 9, 2007 02:42 PM

Comments

BEAUTIFUL PICTURES! I loved seeing Paris through the lens of your camera! It was truly the next best thing to being there! Thanks!
Love,
Mom G.

Posted by: Mom G at October 12, 2007 06:38 AM

Paris is also my favorite city to visit in the world. You captured so many of my favorite places, but with a completely different eye. Thanks for giving me a sweet mini-vacation!

Posted by: Pat Downing at October 13, 2007 10:00 PM

Post a comment




Remember Me?