The sites of Paris

So since I am not working much right now, (and by much I mean at all! lol) I decided to do some sightseeing. I am trying to get in everything I have wanted to see for the past 3 years and been putting off. So today I went to the Catacombes and quarries. Let me just start by saying I wasn't really sure what to expect. I mean I know it is a bunch of bones and such but had no idea how many. So first you go down these spiral stairs (for a good 5 minutes non stop). I def got a little dizzy. Then you read a couple of plaques talking about what the underground quarries used to be and then how they were turned into catacombes b/c the quarries under the left bank of the river caused so many problems with the cemeteries that were above them. Then you walk down a winding tunnel with very little light for about 10 minutes. Then you get to a door that above it says "Stop. Here is the Empire of Death" (that is the translation anyways). And then there are the bones. And not just a few but millions and millions and millions. They are just stacked all the way along both sides. Every now and then there is plaque that will say these are the remains from such and such cemetery. Basically what they did was remove the remains from the cemetery and smush them all together in an area of these underground quarries. It is crazy. And then you walk for a good 20 mintues through the winding paths of these remains. It is quite humbling actually. By the time you get through it all, you realize that despite what your belief of what happens after life may be, in the end your body is no more. The bones were just there. Like no big deal and all stacked on one another. Some of them were famous people or at least well known people of France but you would never know which ones because they are all burried there anomonously.
A couple of tips of anyone who may be planning to visit this somewhat depressing but definitely interesting site. 1) Don't wear open toed shoes. Because it is underground, there is water that drips from the ceiling sometimes and there are puddles so be careful. 2) If you don't like the dark or get anxious in it, a flashlight might be a good idea (could help with photos too as no flash is allowed). 3) It is probably a site that is better to visit with another person but overall is definitely worth visiting. Enjoy!!!

Back in Paris

So again, it has been awhile. I swear, one day I will get better at this :)
The rest of the summer was great. Lots of fun, some interesting events at work, good times with friends, but all in all a great time home!! So now I am back in Paris. The flight was long and had some interesting events. For example, when I got to the Toronto airport security the guy saw my Western sweatshirt the guard scuffed at me. I told him I had also gone to another university and he said that his son goes to Western. It turns out the boy didn't do so well his first year! lol After my long flight to Warsaw I had to go through security again. This time, the guard looked at my bottle of buckleys medicine. He didn't believe it was medicine so made me take some there at the security! lol Can't say I've ever had to do that. Another hour wait and then a two hour flight and I finally landed in Paris. I got home and had to wait for my landlady to come home. I sat in the hallway with all my stuff. She came home about an hour later and I got into my apartment and started to unpack. I had to bring up some boxes from the storage. I unpacked a little and then headed to bed. The past week I have spent catching up with friends here, getting my bearings again and enjoying the beautiful city!! To top things off I went to a concert on a boat last night and tonight I am going to watch an Opera at a movie theatre! lol More details to come!!!