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Vagabond Paris

Tales of the iPad Nomad

After the storm

Feet at La Salle du Chateau

Feet drying at La Salle du Chateau

So, the day before yesterday was catacombs trip number three. While I have written about them before, I think now is an appropriate time to conglomerate the aftermath and detail some of the interesting philosophical elements… things that I noticed after enough trips.

The first trip was with a cataphile, G, who showed me the beginnings of  the culture, the main crossroads, and taught me the basic rules of the road. The trip was eye opening, and lasted a full eight hours. I embarked at 8 in the evening, and did not get out until 4 in the morning. The next day was filled with paracetamol, sleep, water, and aches and pains that no human should need to endure.

The Castle

The Castle

Why, then, after knowing the physical cost, did I entertain and go through with the idea of venturing forth again, this time with no guide, just a Canadian who’s essential equipment included a bottle of cheap vodka and a quarter of a pack of smokes. I thoughtfully brought a few flashlights, water, and bread. This trip began going the wrong way, and then we met a group of people that took us through another set of rooms, to include the traditional La Plage, Salle du Chateau, and a room called Salle du Bleu Cite. This was a twelve hour trip, and we arrived home at 6:40, with a depart time of 8PM the precious day. Again, sleep and medicine were required, and for the Canadian, hangover cures.

The group of people we met, and the two others we encountered, were beautiful, wonderful people; examples of incredible thinkers and do’ers. The initial group we were with all originated from Paris, all but two of them spoke English, and they brought us through La Plage where there was a huge party (this was on Halloween) and by the time we had gotten to La Salle du Chateau, our group included almost thirty people, from Paris, Argentina, America, Ireland, and Canada. We spoke of politics, religion, sex, culture, language, everything and anything. Rules of normal, polite conversation in the world “up there”, don’t apply. Fair game includes everything. After spending almost three hours simply talking about the science of education, it was time to journey on. The interesting thing? The pile of food sitting in the middle of the room, in which everyone had contributed and everyone had taken. That was an unspoken rule. If you were there, you were welcome.

Third trip: Sunday, November 7th. After finding a random man waiting at the tunnel entrance, offering maps, we ventured down, finding an alternate passage which involved less water. We arrived at La Plage to find a raging birthday party, and many people offered us food and drink. I offered cigarettes, and people accepted. I’m normally not very generous with my smokes, being as I regularly have little money, but this was different. This was the underworld, and generosity became correct and natural. They left La Plage, heading down the walk to the passage we had come up, and the Australian with me decided the next leg of the trip would be La Salle du Chateau. We arrived, ate, took some pictures, and moved on, advancing north until we hit the Chambre Anubis, an old maproom with a bench and chairs carved out of the rock walls. After moving on, we took a walk back down, crossed Bysance again, then headed out. This was an eight hour trip, but we still didn’t get out until 7:30 in the morning.

Me and the Castle

Me and the Castle

I realized that the first experience was strange and eye opening, seeing a new world. The second was frightening, knowing the dangers but venturing forth anyway without a good knowledge of the map. The third was a gift, hoping to meet people and to show this wonderful experience to someone else. And in showing it, I realized that these things must be shared. Experiences like this should never be held from those who look for it.

To that end, I wish to announce the opening of a project that I have had been planning and working on for sometime. It’s rather innocuously named, but I hope that it’s purpose will not follow suit.

Today is the opening of Freepress Media Inc, a not-for-profit, all volunteer organization that exists to find and chronicle these experiences that bring us together regardless of race, creed, religion, class, or any bounds. Our hope is that by finding and writing about these amazing places and people, we can inspire minds of all ages and backgrounds to follow suit. The day we become seekers and treasurers of the secrets that every country and city holds for us, we will treasure each other for the power to create these experiences, and as a world, we will all get a bit closer to each other.

I have already been in contact with many different news sources and independent journalists and writers about being a part of this project, always received with incredible enthusiasm. Now we come to the part where it’s time to open it up to anyone and everyone, so that you can have a chance to change the world.

Well, it’s late in the day, and my body still aches after the trip two days ago… I’m not as young as I used to be! Time to sign off and get some sleep.

Artemis

November 9, 2010 Posted by | Catacombs, People | 1,702 Comments

Catacombes trip tomorrow!

There will be another trip to the catacombes tomorrow; I’m opening it up to the public. If you’re interested, email me.

November 6, 2010 Posted by | Catacombs, People | 2,735 Comments

I’ve got my country’s 500th anniversary to plan, my wedding to arrange, my wife to murder and Guilder to frame for it; I’m swamped.

Sometimes, this is exactly how I feel, except without the punchclock villain trope. So busy, and all of the business is unpleasant. Granted, I never have to deal with murders, framings, or anniversaries. Still.

So, after my second trip down into the catacombs, I’ve been honorarily inducted into the ranks of the cataphiles, to include the locations of updated maps online. If you do any exploring, you know that maps are important.

I also find myself with three flashlights, a lot of candles, and a knife to replace my nice camping knife that was stolen. Also, my toothbrush was stolen. Yay?

I find that every time I venture into the underground, somewhat like a wander through Pere Lachaise, that there is always something new. Passageways always look different, there’s always new people, and there’s always something you haven’t seen.

That’s why I’m preparing to lead a third and final expedition later this week to the Catacombs. It’s time to finally find the full extent of the passageways, since I am leaving soon.

Also on my list of things to do? A possible traveling writer’s convention to be held yearly in Paris, and also selling my laptop so that I’m carrying less around with me.

Well, I’ll keep you guys updated, I’m supposed to meet another vagabond tonight who has spent time on English shipping lines working as a deckhand. I’m looking forward to hearing the stories!

November 3, 2010 Posted by | Catacombs | 3,650 Comments