Day 3 began slowly, with Laura using her superpower known as sleeping forever. I on the other hand am a burgeoning insomniac.
We took a long walk over to the Pantheon, which in retrospect may be the most moving monument in the city for me. An imposing Catholic basilica redesigned for secular purposes, with incredible views of the city and housing a mausoleum with a veritable who’s who of French legends buried underneath.
I foolishly did not get any pictures of the exterior, which is utterly enormous. Also an incredible example of Neoclassical and Gothic architecture.
One of my favorite authors, Alexandre Dumas, is interred alongside Emile Zola and Victor Hugo. Legendary figures of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, like Lazare Carnot and Marshal Lannes, rest in the crypt below. Many World War II heroes can be found here.
I am not much of a Francophile (minus obsessing over Napoleon) but even writing about it later moves me to tears. It’s rare to find such a poignant collection of history in one place. It gives “Vive Le France!” a whole new, less ridiculously funny, far more serious meaning. Surprised I’ve not been here before that I can remember.
Please note Laura wanted me to take a photo WITH DUMAS! I thought that wasn’t very tasteful but I was also sobbing. Something right out of a villainous playbook from one of his novels.
By this point the shawarma, though delicious, had destroyed my insides. We returned to the hotel to rest before I opted for a quick alcohol cleanse to rid myself of the shawarma demons. Tomorrow we head to our true Honeymoon destination, Spain, starting in Mallorca.