This picture is of the building that holds Napolean's tomb.

London vs Paris....two very different cities. In last week's Sunday London Times there was an article about comparing the two cities. I have it saved somewhere. I liked London for this royalty factor and the history. It was very clean and shiny (probably thanks to the Olympics.) Tube (subway) and their stations were immaculate. However, the city in general just didn't feel "old" like I expected. As I've mentioned before, it felt more like NYC than anythign else. yes, there's the Tower of London, but it is surrounded by new buildings. There was new construction everywhere. Paris feels old. The architecture is classic and stunning and consistant. It is a little more 'edgy"...subways are fine, but not as new and clean, there are more panhandlers, etc. I love it. Paris is what I envision when I think about goign to a European city.

As I've been going to history museams in both cities, I've wondered how much of each city's vibe is because of WWII. Does London have so much new construction because it was bombed to smitherines 70 years ago? Obviously that is at least part of the reason. While obviously it is good for all of us that the English fought off Hitler, I somewhat appreciate that Paris was spared by surrendering so quickly. (I learned today at the Army Museum that Hitler ordered his officers to "torch the city" as the Allied forces marched towards Paris, but they ignored him and surrendered instead.)

In Paris, there are many references, especially in the churches, to damage done during the French Revolution. I think the peasants just went crazy and destroyed as much as possible. When I visited the CAthedral in Metz, the organ was 1000 years old (or something like that) and had been in a church in Paris at the time of the Revolution. The audioguide mentioned that is was spared from the peasants rampage when little else was. What would Paris look like if the Revolution had not occurred?

The article of Paris vs London also talked about sprawl. London has spread without a plan (sound familar Central Ohioans?) while Paris has stayed more central. Both cities are great, just for different reasons.

War Part II: the theme of war, particularly WWI and WWII is everywhere in both cities. Monuments, monuments, and more monuments. And most of them have fresh flower arrangments (which may be leftover from ARmistice Day, but it is a nice touch.) However, it makes sense when you read the numbers that were killed and that the battles were on their home turf. In the US we have Pearl Harbor, but that was one attack. Granted, one big attack, but it was short lived. London was bombed almost nightly for months. Eastern France was locked into trench warfare for a couple years during WWI. I learned today that during WWi 3 out of 4 french soldier were killed or wounded. Literally an entire generation of men was wiped out. Makes me feel a little guilty that Memorial Day and Veteran's Day for me mostly mean a day off from work.

OK, it is after 10:00, and I still haven't posted pictures, so I'm going to sign off for tonight.