Then we had the adventure of finding our way to the correct station for the Catacombs. We finally did, but I wasted a metro ticket because I didn't realize I could use the same one changing lines. It's not at all like any other metro I've ever used before.
The signs, as usual, were quite ambiguous for the Catacombs. There was one outside the metro station, but then no more. I stopped in a McDonalds to get a diet coke. It was €3 and didn't have ice. It was cold though, but I'd like a bit of ice in my drink. I then stopped in a "Tabac" shop and asked the shopkeeper where the catacombs were. He, I'm sure, realized I didn't speak much French and replied in English and pointed down the street. I thanked him, (despite the stereotype, people in Paris are a LOT nicer than in other cities this size, like London and New York) and we went in the direction he said and sure enough we saw a long line for them.
My sister in the catacombs
Turns out they can only have 200 people in there at once because of the emergency exits, they don't accommodate many and there's not a lot of room down there either.
We had to wait about forty five minutes, but it was well worth it. It was over 100 steps down and I got dizzy going down them, as it was a spiral stair case. Then we had to walk down a very long twisty corridor. After a while we came to the bones. So many people, or rather, what once were people. They used to be buried in a mass grave, I think the info said, but were dug up and interred in the catacombs because of disease. Back in the 19th century, people would go down there with only candles. I think that's damned crazy. It was very interesting at any rate.
When we climbed the 83 steps to get back to the world of the living, it was raining. It had been sunny when we went in. I told V. we were like Persephone, descending into the underworld and causing winter. I did think it was interesting that one of the wells was named after the River Lethe.
An American couple from Indiana that we had been talking to in line before going in, came out right behind us. They helped us find the Metro station (one comes out in a different place). She had been reading Rick Steves, so knew all about it.
"Il est quelque fois plus avantageux de morir que de vivre."
"Croyez que chaque jour est pour vous le dernier." -Horace
Luckily it didn't rain much, we found the metro station and took the line for the Eiffel Tower. The second bank of ticket machines wouldn't take our tickets, even though we hadn't gone anywhere with them. A metro worker helped us out and let us through.
The Eiffel tower is ugly. We spent too much time looking for a post office. Then we ate a late lunch. Pizza at a place across from the Eiffel Tower metro stop. It was a bit much, but very good. €13 for pizza and a drink. The cheese was especially delicious.
Then we walked to the Museé d'Orsay. By the time we got there, it was too close to closing time to justify €8 for admission. They close at 6pm, but clear the galleries at 5:30 and it was after 4:30 by the time we got through the line. I'll have to see it some other time.
So we checked out their gift shop. Everything was overpriced. Then we walked over to the Louvre and saw the glass pyramids. It was very nice. We're going there tomorrow.
Then we went shopping on a street by the Louvre, mostly tourist crap. I bought a shot glass for Tommy (our IT guy) and some key chain bottle openers for the guys at work.
We went back to the hostel. I got a sandwich from a boulangerie/patisserie just down from the hostel. It was only €2.90. I sat down in the café downstairs, and V. ordered fries and a soda and I ordered a glass of wine from the "Pays d'Oc", where we had just come from. Did I mention I love the Pyrenees? It was only €2 because it was "happy hour".
My left leg has a charlie horse in the calf muscle. Too much walking and climbing to mountaintop fortresses. Shower, bed. I miss Andy. I wish he could have come with me, but he'd hate traveling like this.
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