Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Paris France – Catacombs

Bridget told us she wrote an essay about the Catacombs when she was in the 8th grade and suggested we go to see them today.  We had heard of the Catacombs but never had the time to visit them on other visit to Paris.  It is a very interesting place. 

The Catacombs contain the bones of over 6 million people in limestone caverns and tunnels. They were started when the cemeteries were being over crowded and the city needed space for expansion.  It does get a little creepy in the narrow tunnels with low ceiling and trickling water.

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Some writings and ancient graffiti are on the walls.

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DSC01203DSC01204DSC01205Carving in some areas.

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Some have been stacked in an artist style.

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The young man with us was in line behind us waiting to enter the Catacombs.  Alex is working in Paris for 6 months as a journalist for a Jewish Journalism Newspaper.  He travels to cities around Europe when he gets an assignment.  He is a graduate of Penn State is from upstate New York.  What a great opportunity for him! 

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They told us some of the tunnels were closed but I can tell you I was ready to leave. It is just hard to believe there are so many bones of human beings. 

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