The Catacombs

Today was full of a lot of waiting...

  We decided to go to the Catacombs today in order to walk through the underground tunnels and view the remains of the thousands+ who were relocated there. We had planned on leaving at 11:30 to get in line early for the noon opening. We got distracted however by the cutest street market filled with everything from cheese and bread (of course!) to clothing, pots and pans, dried fruits, and cooked pigeons. It was insane and very enjoyable. We didn't buy anything today but since it is held every Sunday we are planning on returning next week to make purchases and have a picnic by the Eiffel Tower! Something I can say I'm very excited for! 

   When we finally made it to our original destination we knew we were in the right spot due to the line stretching around the block. Turns out it opened at 10 am not noon. Oops! But the line actually moved rather quickly. While we were waiting Abby and I went into a McDonald's to use the bathroom- how strange. It was a men's and women's restroom. While I was washing my hands this dude came in.. caught me off guard! haha. There was also this dude walking around selling water bottles who would not leave me alone, kept on coming up and talking to me- he was Indian and I can barely understand french with a french accent so with his Indian accent I was lost! After 2 and a half hours (!) we made it in! It was such a great experience, which sounds kind of crazy considering we walked through this underground labyrinth surrounded by the bones and skulls of more dead bodies than I could ever imagine. But reading about the events that led to their placement here was remarkable. Bodies were transported and placed in the tunnels very respectfully and ceremoniously after they had just been left to rot due to lack of the proper space for the deceased. Other ended up there after being slaughtered for seeking shelter there during wars. Each individual experienced a different tragedy that led them to that final resting place where people come to visit them and hear their stories. It was intense. One of the girls was freaking out the whole time because she had completely psyched herself out over hauntings and spirits and stuff. Once she actually saw all the remains however she calmed down an realized that it was all in her head and that it was not that kind of a place. 

   After exiting the Catacombs we went out to lunch (at 4pm its still considered lunch here) at a very American like cafe called the Indiana. I got this delicious tuna sandwich with avocado and cheddar fondu on it. Yumm! At that point my feet were not happy at all! I now have a swollen ankle, shin splints, and sore feet from where new heels out the night before. But its all worth it! haha. Now we're just relaxing and trying to do some last minute reading/prep for our first day of class tomorrow- should be interesting! 

C'est la vie a Paris!

At the Market

The Geneseo crew waiting in line for the Catacombs

Just walls and walls of bones and skulls

In front of a crazy detailed stone scuplture

We survived! haha

My sandwich :)