Jim Morrison’s Unassuming Resting Place in Pere Lachaise Cemetery Paris
Woke up a bit late today but that is fine, as we have a long day ahead of us, as far as time goes.
We enjoyed our room coffee then walked to our neighborhood small market for breakfast items; sat on a bench under the trees on Boulevard Wagram to eat fruit and other goodies; relaxing while watching Paris wake up too, then off to catch the metro.
I know for a fact I can work any train ticket booth put before me, even if in another language. Not sure how, but feels like I have been traveling through Europe forever via trains. I even helped a family going to Disney Paris to obtain tickets. I am not sure why Parisians get such a bad rap because I have found them to be very helpful and nice. Even like one man mentioned to the young family to watch her purse more closely due to thieves, as he was hurriedly going through the turnstiles, and one woman who was also in a hurry pointed out where to insert our metro tickets. They are all different as some insert and others you just swipe.
Our first stop was the Pere Lachaise cemetery where Jim Morrison is buried, next to other celebrities such as Oscar Wilde, Charles Aznavour and many others. I love visiting cemeteries as they are so peaceful and full of others loved ones. This one was exceptional and was more like walking through an outdoor museum that displayed that last 300 years or so. We stayed longer than planned because of the beauty around us. We finally found Jim’s grave which was well hidden, surrounded by gates with signs, it was small and very unassuming compared to some of the other resting places. We heard that there had been some vandalism in the past, which is why the gates. What is wrong with people? If you are a true fan, then have some respect for him for goodness sakes. The night before I chose some poems from his book “The Lost Writings of Jim Morrison, Wilderness Volume 1” and read four short ones to him at his gravesite. The last one was most fitting. I got a little choked up but continued. People around me were at first looking oddly at me until they realized what I was doing and then it was all smiles.
“I hope you went out, smiling like a child, into the cool remnant of a dream.”
After a coffee and toilet break, we jumped back on metro direction Ile De Paris, From les Halles, which was a big construction site this year we strolled down and lunched at L’Escargot Montorgueil. I finally had some delicious, perfect, scrumptious morsels of perfection. Yes, I do rather crave escargots. Han and I shared a Creme Brûlée. I am not normally a fan of it, but this one was quite good. We enjoyed watching a young family devour what looked like to be 50 or so escargots. Just the smells wafting around the room was enough to gain some extra weight.
The restaurant is very old and original. It is dark inside and feels so rich.
After eating I saw a french bakery with a window full of macaroons. What else could I do but to walk in. The clerk told me the larger macaroons were the tastiest and I finally gave in, but then he added the smaller one for free. I was obviously delighted and he was completely correct, as it was more moist and slightly chewy inside. Yum!
I thanked him and Han and I shared more calories.
We walked some store front streets of Rive Gauche, but only window shopped as prices here amount to monthly pay checks.
Finally we arrived on the cotes of the Seine River and it was very serene even though there were many people, but everyone was having such a great time. Much laughter, talking and picture taking by all as we walked along the stalles with posters, magazines and paintings/photographs.
Arriving on Ile de Paris I took pictures of Notre Dame and surrounding areas, I did not go in as there was a winding line of approx 1/2 mile of people waiting to enter. It was simply too hot to stand that long. Han tried to find Paris Pointe Zero, on the square in front of the Cathedrl but it was too busy with people.
There was a wedding photo op in process with what I think was for a magazine because there was not a groom in sight. Just an Asian bride in a daring peek-a-boo bodice wedding dress. It was stunning, she might have weighed 80 pounds and had the sulky look that models wear in photos these days. The photographers were also bossy with all the yelling and instructions shouted at her.
Then we rode the subway train from the the very first metro station ever built in Paris. History is in such abundance here. It is very pleasant and easy to be impressed.
Han had already told us that we were invited to have dinner at Sally’s, one of Han’s School of Economicsl friends who he had not seen in person in over 40 years, but they have stayed in contact on Facebook in recent years.
On the way there, we drove through the tunnel where Princess Diana lost her life. Such a shame that happened to her. I still remember the news about it.
Jos and Ria were also invited, but had never met her. It was slightly uncomfortable at first but Sally was so open, friendly and welcoming that it did not take long to feel at home. Her mentally handicapped son was visiting for vacation and he was extremely sweet and loved having company over. He was bright and fun to converse with. He took the most liking to Han and Han in short time became his “best friend”.
We ate and visited until a little after 11:00pm, and so we had to bid adieu since our hotel was 45 minutes away. We were all a little tired from the full day of walking.
Arrived back after some close calls with traffic, especially the maniacs (literally maniacs) traveling the roundabout of the Triumph Arch. I am fairly sure we all lost whatever was left of our allotted nine lives. When someone else is driving, my new plan of attack is close my eyes and hope for the best.
We all walked together the long distance from the designated parking area, so by the time we arrived back to the hotel, it was time to collapse.
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