Carol's Birthday

Walk in Forrest Looking for Mushrooms

The Czech Fly



A good fly! 

 In case you are not acquainted with the animal kingdom's Messerschmitt, here it is; it is Hitler reincarnated.  These flies sound like a Messerschmitt  when flying around you and when they bite they draw blood and you swear you've been stung by a bee.  Fortunately  horseflies are as stupid as they are slow on take off.  Somehow, they've evolved to believe that a shot of their prey's blood is a cool meal following their stinging bite. That was pretty much this guy's mistake in that following this, his last bite, he was dispatched from this mortal coil again, perhaps to be an ameoba in someone's septic tank (I hope).  In my ever developing sense of tolerance, noise and flies are never going to make the inclusion list, in fact,  the only good fly is a dead fly.
 

Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe - Jun 4



Arc de Triomphe

  The real Arc de Triomphe and Ave. Champs-Elysees were only a few blocks from the hotel so on day 4 weak as we were, we decided to chance a walk in that direction.
Finished in 1836, 15 years after Napoleon I death,  it is a little more majestic than I had expected.




The Arc looking west 

 The Arc forms a round about for the Ave Champs-Elysees and visitors gain access to the
Arc by a tunnel beneath the street.  You can buy tickets to climb to the top if you are willing to wait an hour or so in line; in our delicate condition we took a pass.  Moreover, having been in the military, I don't do long lines. 

Tourists here, tourists there
tourists everywhere

Planned by Napoleon I as a monument to his military prowess, it has now become a French landmark and the beginning or ending place for many national celebrations that include parades, grand processions, parties, the Tour de France, etc. on Ave. Champs-Elysees.  The two narrower sides are not as impressive, lacking the significant bas-reliefs.  The Arc is 180 ' high at the upper terrace, and the Arc has 12 avenues that radiate out from its round-about.

Looking into the Arc
from street level

I suspect that with a better camera you could have visualized the intricate details of the ceilings and interior walls.  Oh well.





















 

Placed these two together so you can see the two bas-reliefs with their intricate and very impressive details

Relief #1

   Again, the reliefs.

Relief #2







Relief #3

Of course there are reliefs on both sides; you didn't think I was going to leave out the other side did you? 

Relief #4

Suppose anyone has ever made a bas-relief of a  group of happy guys just sitting 'round a table in a pub puttin' away a pint?

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Arc's final distinction is that it is the resting place for
France's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier -- an enduring reminder that no where in the world is freedom free.