A Visit with a few old Frenchmen 😏

September 22nd

Today we toured the Catacombs beneath the city of Paris. The exterior of the entrance is a modern building which was a little weird but as we descended the 125+ stairs into the underground tunnels it seemed like a walk back in time. The tunnel system is believed to be over 300km and is the final resting place of more than six million people. Apparently the walls of some of the cemeteries were collapsing and a major public health problem was tied to the failing cemeteries. From 1786 nightly processions of covered wagons transferred the remains from most of Paris's cemeteries and they were tossed into a mine shaft near the Rue de la Tombe-Issoire. Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, director of the Paris Mine Inspection Service from 1810, had renovations done that would transform the caverns into a visitable mausoleum and not just a bone depository.

Dinner at Huguette was a recommendation by our Wenatchee Francophile friends, the Foremans. After our main course the owner came along and wanted to know if we would like to know what the dessert of the day was and I of course said, "Oui!"  He proceeded to point at our very handsome waiter and said it would be him! I again said, "Oui, pour moi!"  Then we instead ordered an apricot tart which was very good indeed. 😂

Sweet Oysters from Normandy

Jay's Razor Clams

My excellent Moules et frites