Eighteen Interesting Facts about Paris, France

The next 16 days, I will be watching the XXXIII Olympic Games in Paris, France. The opening ceremony the other was one of the best Opening Ceremony in the history of the modern Olympic Games. Paris was indeed the City of Light ( Lasers).  TEAM USA IS doing well after the second day leading the medal count.     

Here are 18 facts about Paris that you should probably know.

1. The Paris Metro has several "ghost stations" that are no longer in use. One of the most famous is Arsenal, which was closed in 1939.

2. Gustave Eiffel's apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower still exists. It's now a museum, showcasing how it looked when he lived there.

3. Montmartre, known for its artistic history, has a hidden vineyard called Clos Montmartre, which still produces wine.

4. The Palais Garnier Opera House has a hidden apartment designed for the building's architect, Charles Garnier.

5. The oldest house in Paris is located at 51 Rue de Montmorency and dates back to 1407. It belonged to the alchemist Nicolas Flamel.

6. The shortest street in Paris, Rue des Degrés, is just 5.75 meters long and consists solely of a staircase.

7. The Opera Garnier has an underground lake, originally a natural water source that became part of its infrastructure.

8. During the liberation of Paris in 1944, the secret password was "Tante Sally."

9. Rue des Morts in the 5th arrondissement was once a street where people with disfigured faces due to World War I injuries lived and received treatment.

10. La Campagne à Paris in the 20th arrondissement is a small, hidden village within the city, complete with quaint houses and gardens.

11. The Tour Jean-sans-Peur, a medieval tower built in the early 15th century, is tucked away in the 2nd arrondissement.

12. Candelaria, a speakeasy-style bar, is hidden behind a taco shop in Le Marais.

13. Le Procope, founded in 1686, is the oldest café in Paris and was frequented by Voltaire, Rousseau, and Benjamin Franklin.

14. The Canal Saint-Martin was partly covered in the mid-19th century, and today, parts of it run underground.

15. At the Arc de Triomphe, there's an elevator hidden within one of the pillars for those who can't or don't want to climb the stairs.

16. The Pont des Arts was once used as a toll bridge, where artists would set up their easels and paint the river views.

17. Place de la Concorde, now a famous square, was once the site of many public executions during the French Revolution.

18. The Bièvre River, once a prominent waterway in Paris, now flows entirely underground through the city.

Meanwhile, Another Gastronomic Event- The THD Annual Hawaiian Luau ( Cocktail Hour and Dinner) is scheduled for Friday, August 9, 2024. I am looking forward for this Event not only for the Delicious Food, but I will get a chance to wear one of my many Hawaiian Colorful Shirts. Here are the flyers:

I Hope you Attend the Chair Volleyball Games at the Yoga Room, Today, Tomorrow and Wednesday at 10:45AM.