Like we have in every other city we’ve been to we took the 4 hour New Europe walking tour around Paris. Since a 4 hour tour is hard to fit in a blog I picked the top 5 favorite French stories/facts I learned on the tour.
Top 5 Favorite French Stories…
- Napoleon Bonaparte was buried in Paris at a prestigious hotel. When entering the hotel you go up a small platform and have to bend over/down to look at his coffin. The idea being everyone is bowing down towards Napoleon. Known to be a memorial to him as well as his great ego. But when Hitler went to visit his grave, he brought a mirror. He placed the mirror at an angle and was therefore able to see Napoleons grave without knelling down to him. But rumor has it later he hat blew off and he had to bend down to pick it up and so Napoleons grave as honored.
- France isn’t exactly known for its great battle strategy and winning the most wars however they are famous at losing them. In the 100 years war against Britain, France got cocky and thought they would win the battle. So they gathered all the British archers they had and instead of killing them they cut off there middle fingers so they couldn’t shoot their bows and arrows anymore. But France lost, and in return had all the middle fingers pointed at them. Hence the start of the use of the middle finger as an insult.
- Throughout Paris there are a number of these “graffiti” signs all across the city. There is an actually purpose for them, a stupid reason but nonetheless a reason. There is a man that goes by the name “The Invader” and has put these signs up all over the world. LA, NY, Italy. France, etc. They are supposed to represent the game Space Invaders and he has put these little symbols all across the world http://www.space-invaders.com . My favorite space-invader sign is on the D in the HOLLYWOOD sign in LA… highly illegal.
Lastly when Sarkosy became president of France he made a vow to the Parisian people to make the river Seine cleaner. Before president he was the mayor of Paris and had told them all before his presidency was over he would take a piece of his fine crystal stemware and drink for the Seine as a vow that he would work to clean it. He never did…. look at how disgusting that water is!
- Washington DC is the United States sister city to Paris, France.
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