One of the things I looked forward to doing on my trip to Paris, was visiting the catacombs. The bones of six million people are arranged there, 22 meters below the earth. I was not however, prepared for the nearly anxiety inducing experience of 130 small circular stairs descending into nearly total darkness and I was equally unprepared for the ascending 83 narrow, wet with slippery clay, steep circular stairs that brought me into welcomed daylight.
I had hoped to feel some of the energy, the stories from seeing so many earthly remains in one place. Unfortunately, with the crowds, camera flashes and noise, I was unable to have a quiet, centering moment to feel anything. It was however, a worthy experience and a place that I am happy to have seen.
Oh, and climbing those stairs down and up? Priceless victory for exercise challenged me!
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| The entrance. |
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| It was actually this dark in most places in the tunnels. |
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| Small villages were carved into tunnel recesses. |
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| Coming up into some light before the dreaded spiral staircase. |
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| Piled and carefully arranged to the ceilings. |
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| Structure. |
