30 January 2005

Pere Lachaise near Menilmontant...


Morrison Grave 3
Originally uploaded by jmichaeli.

Whenever I go to Paris, usually once or twice each year, the first place I visit is Cemetiere Pere LaChaise. It is filled with monuments to many famous people: Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Rossini among them.

The most visited, and probably most world famous, is the grave of Jim Morrison of The Doors. Each time I go there are always people around the grave. Not only that, but there is usually a police guard and/or barricades.

Originally, there was a bust of Jim on top of the stone, but it was stolen so many times the city won't let it be replaced.

A couple of years ago, the lease came up for renewal, (you lease graves in the cemetery not purchase them) the management did not want to renew. The city of Paris went ballistic. Turned out that next to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, Jim Morrison's grave is one of the biggest hightlights for tourism.

the soft parade has just begun...

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