I am nothing without a guide book, so I was busy studying Paris Top 10 on the Eurostar with a view to finding some places that we hadn't already 'done'. As we were staying very close to the Ile de la Cite I decided that we should go and visit the Conciergerie. This is not actually somewhere to get last minute theatre tickets but the prison which held the convicted, briefly, en route to the guillotine. Marie-Antoinette was held there for quite a while and there is a reconstruction of her cell. I did European history 1789-1870 for O'level but although I could nail an essay on the causes of the French Revolution in 1981 (that's my O'level year - not a French Revolution that you've missed!) it has all become a bit hazy now. It was good to read partly (and, therefore vaguely) in French about Robespierre et al as we went round, and there were crucial bits in English but I must revise.... Most successful though was the art exhibition which included an installation called the 'old people's home' which was composed of amazingly and scarily lifelike wax models of old men (I think probably a collection of dictators from around the world but it didn't go into that, merely saying that the artists are fascinated with death - it was pretty clear that there was more to it than that). The men were in electric wheelchairs which every so often set off around the room.
We moved on from there to Sainte Chapelle which is next door and it was worth the queues as the newly renovated windows are stunning. The difference with the ones still unrenovated was remarkable. I'm guessing that when they finish that they will move on to the intricate paintwork but I like the aged effect.
Three GT:
1. Scouring the depths of my brain for a once excellent education.
2. Full on sight-seeing justifies snails for lunch.
3. We moved on to the Eiffel Tour at night and Rachel only made me climb to the first level.
More Frenchness here http://365project.org/judithg/extras/2014-01-06
@fueast Philosophers - Voltaire and all them, Marie-Antoinette 'let them eat cake' stuff (though I think she was unfairly maligned according to the exhibits - but inequality anyway) and my friend Helen said 'Salt Tax' - bet she can remember all of it! I think there were two more things - Guillotine??
@judithg taxes on the poor to support the rich, economic crisis, food charity. now where have I heard that recently? Maybe its the philosophers we lack these days....
Funny how some of it comes back to you but I have further to back than you!!!! The little model old men in wheelchairs sound a bit scary.....classy French paintwork, the French have great style!! Did you see any large French women...apparently there aren't any!!
@happypat Nigel kept telling me that French business women have to starve themselves as they can't get on at work unless they are really thin. Now you've asked I can't remember seeing anybody you'd call obese. A lot of beggars on the streets though - my ex-translator friend was very disgruntled about them.
I have a massive collection of guidebooks that I refuse to get rid of - even though if I return somewhere I have to get new books because the old ones might be out of date.
that paintwork is amazing - I managed to avoid History O Level (took sciences and languages instead) so my knowledge of the French Revolution probably stops at baroness Orczy
Exhibition sounds great. Not a fan of snails though. JB went through a (gross) phase of eating the ones from our garden, and although I approved in theory - waste not want not etc etc - it still put me right off.
I love the sound the exhibition. My history knowledge is woeful, tho I did listen to A Tale of Two Cities a couple of years ago. In fact I was listening to the guillotine scene whilst having root canal work done in the dentist's chair - took my mind off things somewhat!
January 10th, 2014
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