Paris

One of the things I loved most about Paris was all the decorative elements on the architecture. We were staying in a lovely little apartment a short distance from the Eccole Militaire (sp?) and Invalides, and did not have to walk far to see the Eiffel Tower. I've never been particularly partial to the tower, but having seen it up close, I am far more impressed. It always looked harshly geometrical and austere in design, which is far from true! There are dozens of different patterns decorating it, which I had never been able to see.





One of my favorite buildings, however, was the Paris Opera; also known as the Opera Garnier, after its architect, Charles Garnier. With dozens of types of marble, rich red velvet, detailed mosaics, and glorious gilt plaster paneling, it was overwhelmingly beautiful. Ironically, many of the artists decorating its rooms, quite famous in their own time, have been overshadowed in history by their contemporaries: the Impressionists. Symbols of music and fire are everywhere. Music symbols would be expected, but the fire symbols were surprising. It turns out, the architect was paranoid of fire (rightfully, as there had been fires previously, and gas lighting was the norm), so salamanders and other creatures of fire are everywhere to ward it off.






And, naturally, I had to make the obligatory peek into Box 5, having just finished reading The Phantom of the Opera a month or so prior to the visit.