Ascension Day

A public holiday in France today.

Stared with a visit to the Pantheon. Being Ascension Day I had to go up. The views from the top of the building are wonderful: though the flag was less obliging on a day of very light wind. Still, a bit of patience paid off.

This building, where many famous French men and women are laid to rest ( eg Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Dumas, Madame Curie and her husband) is also where Foucault in 1851 demonstrated the movement of the Earth by using a massive pendulum. A replica operates today. See extra.

We then visited the Musee D’Orsay for a surfeit of artistic culture. A superb impressionist section and many many other great artists.

Dinner out then I went round the centre for some night views. One example in my second extra. A full day.