Walking around Paris

29 May 2008- Today I took a walking tour. The title was Medieval Paris and the Templars. For all you big conspiracy theorists, this was for you. The guide was interesting but not as funny as the last one. Maybe since she was American and not British. It started at Metro stop Temple and the lovely Republique square is the first thing you see after popping out of the metro. Marianne is the figure who represents France much as Uncle Sam in the USA. There was a demonstration planned because at least 6 wagons of police were in the area waiting.





















The pictures are of what remains of the Templar church and enclave. There is a nice fresco of what the area looked like before it was mostly razed but some punk sprayed some grafatti over part. Hopefully the city will clean it up soon. Turns out the Templars were not the holy order we think of. The French have a saying which pretty much means "Drink up, drink like a Templar Knight." They were busted up by the French King Phillipe the Fair (for his coloring not attitude). At the park at the tip of the Ile de Cite you can see the place where the Grand Master issued his dying curse upon the pope and king. Tour today didn't go there but we found it a while ago marked by its lovely Paris oar or shovel as Chad thinks they resemble a shovel more than an oar.

This is the oldest house in Paris. It belonged to Nicholas Flamel. Bet you thought Harry Potter just then. The real Flamel was an alchemist, a spiritual man with lots of mysterious wealth. He built the house and ordered that people staying there must say an Our Father and Hail Mary for he and his wife nightly. Hey now it is a place to eat so grace is the only said anymore. Built in 1407 though, the place looks pretty good.
This is Gate of St. Martin. Just a cool picture.


At the conclusion of the tour I bought the company's founders' book on the Da Vinci Code. It details all the areas from the book and movie. Mostly it a good guide book for my future tours of the areas. The weather cooperated today, nice and overcast with not a drop of rain until after safely at home.
Chad is trying to get us tickets to the French Open for the weekend. Keep your fingers crossed that we are sitting in full view of some clay courts.
I found a good link for those who are thinking about making the trip to Chez Nickell. Good stuff found here. http://www.geobeats.com/videoclips/alldestinations/france/paris