So after finally crawling out of bed at 2:30 in the afternoon I figured it was probably time to do something and after contemplating it for a while I decided to check out the pantheon and it's crypts. It's an absolutely stunning building. There's a pendulum that swings from the centre that tells the time. When it was built it proved that the earth spins on it's own axis because the direction that it swings in changed throughout the day. They then realised that they can use it I tell the time and even by modern standards it's very accurate. The walls of the museum tell the story of saint genevieve and wherever there is room there's a monument or statue depicting the French revolution.

The crypts are pretty spooky. Very cramped, damp and the nearby metro creates a howling noise that echoes throughout. Beyond that there isn't much to say other than the fact that famous people are buried there. Too many to list.

Figured I'd have time to Do one more thing in Paris and after tossing up between the many museums I chose the louvre. I would've much preferred musee d'orsay but the louvre opens late on Fridays. The shear size of the louvre is unbelievable meaning that I would need to limit myself to a small portion. So I chose an entrance and the first things I saw were antiquities. Done. I'll save the paintings and artwork for next time I'm in Paris.

On a side note, the upside pyramid that meets with the stone pyramid where dan brown says jesus or Mary or whoever is buried is in the middle of a shopping centre surrounded by shops. Anyone who's seen the movie of the de Vinci code will find that hilarious or if you not sure what I mean go on YouTube and check out that scene. It's good for a laugh.

I'm glad I did decided to do what I did because i spent 3 and a half hours wandering the Many rooms of Greek, Egyptian and oriental statues and antiquities before stumbling across the foundations of the old museum. Words cannot describe the beauty of the walls that were once the old museum.

In the louvre all you can do is put one foot in front of the other and see what you can find. There is audio guides using Nintendo 3DS's but why bother? Just appreciate what you see for what it is. I mean I could tell you that the statue of the sphinx in the museum is so large and heavy that instead of bringing it in thought the front door and finding a spot for it they had to cut a hole in the floor and lower it into the basement and build the exhibit around it. I don't think it'll ever move again.

After a while of gazing upon the statues of the 14th and 15th century in a huge courtyard I came across an exit but thought no I'll check out the renaissance era then I'll double back. What I saw was a bigger courtyard than before and took a couple of photos of the room and then left when I noticed that the renaissance statues filled 10 rooms and I needed food.

So wandered back to the hostel met up with a bunch of new arrivals into the dorm room and went out for some traditional French..... No wait too expensive.... Japanese food. Of all things I've done so far this was what made me miss home the most. It looked, smelt and tasted like food from china town in Melbourne. With the same language barriers.

Anyway time for sleep, got to get the train to the south of France tomorrow.

A la prochaine

E