We caught the bus at the stop next to the Eiffel Tower.
When we had been on board for a few minutes, I noticed that the electronic
sign gave us updates on the amount of time left to reach Gambetta or
Pere Lachaise. About a 50 minute trip.
Thanks to an Internet site called Your amazing places, I think this is
the eglise of Sainte Clotilde. We can see it on the
opposite end of Saint Dominque from the Tour Eiffel. It is a new building
that only dates back to the mid 19th century. Rather than being a church it is
considered a minor basillica.
.
As you can see it was a cloudy dark day.
All of these pictures were taken through the window of the bus,
so it is amazing how well some of them turned out.
A Paris street
Les Invalides
Crossing the Seine
A bateau filled with tourists sightseeing.
Vendors on the cay
The Conciegerie
Saint Gervais
Just a door leading into some hidden courtyard
Opera at the Bastille
Most of the streets that bus 69 travels along are very narrow. Just enough room
for a parked car and the bus. At one spot, the truck had to be moved a few inches in order for the
bus to drive past it. Needless to say, the bus travels on one way streets.
Visiting Pere Lachaise Cemetery
I appreciate the flower "boxes" that some of the tomb's provide. It is lovely to see
fresh live flowers among the graves. In 2007 when we were here there was a shop
outside the Gambetta gate that sold heavy ceramic flowers to put on the graves. It is so
delightful that almost all of those have vanished and in many places live plants
have been placed in potting boxes on the graves.
Crematiorium
When we arrived at the entrance to the cemetery cars were being checked on a list
and being allowed into the cemetery. When we reached the Crematorium we discovered
that all of the people were gathered there.
Individual memorial plaques and a staircase that leads to the upper
balcony.
Most of the pictures were taken at random of places I thought either typical of
the cemetery or that I thought were exceptionally nice.
I wish that I knew the story behind this woman leaning on the cross but
wearing a warrior's helmet.
"I talk about you sometimes"
We visited one of the areas where there are monuments to people from other countries who
died when serving and aiding France. A few of them such as the one above and the one
below list the names of individuals
Fresh flowers had recently been left by many of the "strangers" monuments.
We do not know what the occasion of these remembrances was.
This is a commemorative to those who died in Algeria. It speaks of those
who disappeared.
Again this monument speaks of those who died for France
serving in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
This commemorative is for those from Belgium who died in WW I in the defense of
France. A note is added expressing gratitude for their service during WW II also.
This is a remembrance of Italians who died in WW I in defense of France.
Needless to say no mention is of the Italians participation in WW II.
No idea why this pelican is so prominently displayed.
A famous actor and actress from France. Yves Montand starred in several
English speaking roles as well.
A quick stop by to say hello to Oscar Wilde. The note on the "glass" indicates
that any cleaning and maintenance of the glass or tomb is payed for by
family members. There were no lipstick marks or other distractions from this unusual
monument.
