Journey Across France

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Thursday, 29 May 1999 - Had the morning to explore Paris before the flight home, starting with a visit to Hôtel National des Invalides and Napoleon's Tomb under its spectacular dome. Took shelter from a sudden thunderstorm at the Soldier's Church entrance, then toured the Musée de l'Armée with its extensive military exhibits spanning centuries before heading back to the hotel and flying home.

France 1999
We had the morning to explore prior to the flight back home so we decided to go to the French military museum. Napeolon's tomb and the military museum are located in L' Hotel national des Invalides (Hotel for the Disabled) designed to welcome Louis XIV's war veterans in 1671. Today it continues to operate as a hospital. This is a picture taken of the hospital with the Dome Church in the background. Under the dome is the emperor's tomb.
France 1999
In 1840, it was decided that the remains of Emperor Napoleon would be transferred and his national funeral took place on 15 December of the same year. This picture is of the ceiling of the church dome over the tomb
France 1999
Attached to the Dome Church is Soldier's church - when we visited it was Sunday so the church was closed to the public - we could peer in but were not allowed to visit. As we were leaving, a sudden thunderstorm came up. So we huddled in the Dome Church entrance with others, as the storm grew, we all tried to go back in which confused the military guards. Fortunately, they let us all in because seconds later the plywood/plexiglass entrance caved into the church. Due to the destroyed entrance we were allowed to leave through the Soldiers Church. This is a picture of the church with the flags captured by France during the 19th and 20th centuries
After the Soldier's Church we went to the Musee de L' Armee. Here weapons and uniforms from several centuries are on display. Unfortunately, we were in a hurry to get back to the hotel and raced through room after room. There were several floors and literally hundreds of displays - you need at least an afternoon to walk through the museum and take it all in.


France was fun - we enjoyed the bread and cheese breakfasts. We need to get back because we were not able to visit the museums. Hope you enjoyed the pictures - auri voir!!!

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