Sunday, November 23, 2008

resting in peace

We were literally walking among the dead as we descended the spiral stairs into the first layer of the catacombs. The underground labyrinth tells a story of the past. Its beginning as a mining ground and its strategic role in the second world war made the catacomb an important piece of french history. The entire network traces 280km and is made up of 7 layers. However, tourists are given limited access of 1.6km of the first layer which is considered safer and less likely to collapse. The humidity of the tunnel rose and our anticipation rose as the path leads us deeper underground. We talked in hushed voices as the silence became as suffocating as the thinned air; even the water droplets from the cave's ceiling could be heard.

"one of the many underground galleries" - cj

" "-cj

The whole walk lasted 45min and we were glad we are finally back on solid ground. We grabbed a quick lunch and head towards our next stop, Pere Lachaise Cemetery. The cemetery is the final resting place of hundreds of famous politicians, inventor, singer, artists and royalities. The first step into the cemetery and I couldn't help but notice the mysterious serenity that surrounds the place.

"sunset."-cj

"Oscar Wilde.
noticed the hundreds of lipsticks marks on the momument."-cj


"Edith Piaf who sang La Vie en Rose. "-cj

"chopin's." - cj

"Arman's last words : Finally Alone!" - cj

"white rose."-cj


Today I walked among past giants, whose shoes I would never be able to fit.

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