Teachers on the move in Paris

I flew into Paris with six friends on a European Awareness Trip on a beautiful autumnal day. Paris has to be one of the most romantic cities in the world. It has so many splendid palaces, monuments, fountains gardens, fashionable shops and restaurants. One never tires of seeing Paris in all its splendour. On this trip we saw the famous Eiffel Tower erected on the occasion of the World Fair of 1889. In the distance you can see a replica of the Statue of Liberty presented to the U.S.A. by the French.

The Louvre Art Gallery, that houses the famous Mona Lisa and numerous works of art, fades into the background behind the spectacular glass pyramid - you either love this structure or you loathe it. We passed by the famous Notre Dame cathedral, the Bastille, the Luxemburg Gardens where Parisians and tourists picnic, jog and relax on the manicured lawns and admire the multi coloured flowered beds. We visited the church of Madeleine with its 52 impressive Corinthian columns 65 feet high running around the out side. A wedding was in progress with a string quartet playing classical music, which filled the architectural splendid interior. The bride was a mere 45 minutes late. Paris traffic was the excuse offered for her lateness.

We passed the famous Rolex, Tiffany and Charavet shop but we didn’t have time to purchase any shirts!! The colours didn’t suit!!

The impressive Arch Carrousel built to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte ‘s victories in 1805 and the Arc de Triomphe, a memorial to the Great Army are striking monuments. Under the Arc the tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame still attracts crowds of visitors. The Champs – Élysées with its luxurious shops, theatres, and famous restaurants is one of the most cosmopolitan avenues in the world.

The building of the famous avenue is attributed to Napoleon who reigned in this medieval city of narrow streets, wooden houses, no sewers – they literally dumped all their waste both human and commercial out on the the rat invested street. Napoleon ordered that most of the streets and buildings be demolished. He rebuilt the city with wide boulevards, installed piped water and constructed new sewers.

I visited Dome Des Invalides – a church, erected as a shrine in memory of Napoleon, his family and famous French generals. Napoleon was buried in the Island of St. Helena. When Queen Victoria came to power a bargain was made to exchange Napoleon’s body for that of Richard the Lion Hearted who was buried in France. Legend has it that the French cheated and didn’t return the body. The English also cheated and returned the body of Napoleon’s friend - so inside the massive tomb we do not have the body of Napoleon to day. Who knows who lies in the sarcophagus of red granite with its six coffins of tin, mahogany, two coffins of lead, ebony and oak?

We attended Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at the Rue du Bac. The medal’s design was given to Catherine Laboure. On the death of her mother Madeleine in 1815 Catherine choose the Blessed Virgin to be her mother. She entered the convent in 1830 and was entrusted with a message - “ Have a medal struck, and those who wear it with confidence will receive great graces”. During the Great Plague thousands of medals were distributed and many people were cured and it was given the name “ Miraculous Medal’.

When Catherine’s body was exhumed it was in perfect condition. It lies in state under the side altar to day. The place exudes peace and tranquility.

We spent an afternoon in Montmartre one of the most picturesque quarters of Paris. The white domes of the famous Sacre Coeur Church, a mixture of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, tower over the “Mount of Martyrs”. Close by is the Place du Tertre the artist’s quarters with its narrow streets. People stand or sit on stools while artists paint their portraits. There are no monuments here. The monuments are the people themselves, musicians, artists, puppeteers who live and work here and who fill its narrow streets, its old shops and tiny cafes with their colourful but tranquil lives. The stalls are a great attraction for all keen shoppers. We enjoyed bargaining for caps, hats, scarves even some of our ladies bought aprons!! How crazy!

We visited the last resting place of Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) in Anvers-sur- Oise, a small ancient village. He is laid to rest in a simple tomb beside his beloved brother. Van Gogh had a tragic vision of life so he filled both men and objects in his canvases with violence and desperation distorting and transforming everything.

Paris is an enchanting city. My friends and I enjoyed French cuisine, fine wines the carefree atmosphere of the open-air cafés drinking kir or sipping hot chocolate and indulging in their delicious pastries. We will be back le cúnamh Dé.

Mary Kyne September 2010