I took everyone down to the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday morning and being adventuresome the group climbed the stairs to the top ... I took the elevator since my knees can't handle the stairs. The climb to the top was quite rewarding with views all the way down to Place de la Concorde to the east and down to Arche de la Defense to the west. And of course the Tour Eiffel and Montmartre.
The Arc is built on the summit of a hill which over time naturally drew the attention of rulers and town planners, architects and landscape gardeners. One extravagant plan dating from Louis XV was to erect a gigantic elephant on the site. And a plaster model of the creature was in fact cast at the Bastille which Victor Hugo describes in detail in Les Miserables. Napolean however preferred to follow Roman traditions and in 1805 commissioned the construction of a monumental Arch in commemoration of his great army and their glorious victories. The names of 600 of his generals and 128 of his battles are inscribed on the wall. After World War I they added the tomb of the unknown soldier and the eternal flame.
With Napoleon's abdication there were all kinds of problems so the monument was not completed until 1836. Napoleon's ashes were taken here in 1840 before being laid under the Dome of the Invalides.
Surrounding the Arc is the Place De L'Etoile a gigantic round-about that is 12 vehicles deep with traffic. It has never been provided with traffic lights so if you are a driver you just take a deep breath and plunge in ... I guess it would also be wise to say a prayer. I drove through it once many years ago and hopefully will never have to drive it again. But I've never seen a collision here so maybe the prayers work.
Life is good ... enjoy
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I love the Hair!!
I just read that a 3d optical illusion is on display at the city hall until the 15th. You should try to check it out!
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