The Paris Meridian Line

The best thing about Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code is the attention it has brought to a little-recognized attraction of Paris.

The Paris Meridian Line lost out to Greenwich as the Prime or Zero Meridian, the datum for all measurements of longitude. It was established in 1667 and revised/extended several times, most famously by François Arago (1786-1853). To commemorate Arago an 'invisible monument' was created by Dutch artist, Jan Dibbets, in 1994. The newer 'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' markers are much easier to spot than the Arago medallions as they are on 1m [3 feet] high pedestals.

It consists of 135 bronze medallions, each 12cm [4.7"] in diameter, inlaid into the ground along a 9.2km [5.7 mile] stretch of the Paris Meridian Line. The 'official' documentation about the monument states that there are 135 medallions, but their own Arago Medallion Location List only details 120 items.

It is difficult but not impossible to walk the line, using the markers as a guide, and a number of medallions are in places not accessible to the public, e.g. private gardens or courtyards. This includes ten medallions inside the grounds of the l'Observatoire de Paris - an area only accessible by prior, written application.

The following is a partial list:

At no. 18 Avenue de la Porte Montmartre at the main entrance of the public library. Lat.: 48° 53' 57.940" N (estimated)

At the corner of Rue René Binet and Avenue de la Porte Montmartre. Lat.: 48° 53' 56.880" N (estimated)

At no. 45-47 Avenue Junot. Lat.: 48° 53' 21.410" N

At no. 15 Rue S. Dereure. Lat.: 48° 53' 19.160" N

At no. 3 Avenue Junot. Lat.: 48° 53' 16.850" N

At no. 10 Avenue Junot. Lat.: 48° 53' 16.230" N (estimated)

Mire du Nord At no. 1 Avenue Junot, in a private garden with restricted access. Lat.: 48° 53' 16.220" N, Lon.: 2° 20' 13.500" E

At no. 79 Rue Lepic. Lat.: 48° 53' 14.532" N

At no. 21 Boulevard de Clichy, side pavement (côté trottoir). Lat.: 48° 52' 58.140" N (estimated)

At no. 21 Boulevard de Clichy, on the main road (sur le terre plein central). Lat.: 48° 52' 57.180" N (estimated)

At no. 5 Rue Duperré. Lat.: 48° 52' 55.670" N E011 At no. 69-71 Rue Pigalle. Lat.: 48° 52' 53.810" N (estimated)

At no. 69-71 Rue Pigalle. Lat.: 48° 52' 53.380" N

In the inner yard of the National Education Ministry, 34 Rue de Chateaudun. Lat.: 48° 52' 35.720" N (estimated)

In the inner yard of the National Education Ministry, 34 Rue de Chateaudun. Lat.: 48° 52' 35.370" N (estimated)

Outside no.34 Rue de Chateaudun. Lat.: 48° 52' 34.500" N

At no. 16-18 Boulevard Haussmann. Lat.: 48° 52' 21.500" N (estimated)

At no. 9-11 Boulevard Haussmann. Lat.: 48° 52' 20.620" N

In front of the brasserie at the corner of Rue Taitbout and Boulevard des Italiens. Lat.: 48° 52' 18.444" N

At no. 24 Boulevard des Italiens. Lat.: 48° 52' 17.400" N

At no. 16 Rue du 4 Septembre. Lat.: 48° 52' 10.520" N (estimated)

At no.15 Rue Saint Augustin. Lat.: 48° 52' 7.930" N

At no.24 Rue de Richelieu. Lat.: 48° 51' 54.330" N

At no.9 Rue de Montpensier. Lat.: 48° 51' 51.520" N E024 In the Palais-Royal. Lat.: 48° 51' 50.970" N (estimated)

In the Palais-Royal. Lat.: 48° 51' 50.462" N

In the Palais-Royal. Lat.: 48° 51' 49.953" N

In the Palais-Royal. Lat.: 48° 51' 49.445" N

In the Palais-Royal. Lat.: 48° 51' 48.937" N

In the Palais-Royal. Lat.: 48° 51' 48.428" N

Outside the Palais-Royal. Lat.: 48° 51' 47.920" N

At the corner of Place Colette and Conseil d'État, Rue Saint Honoré. Lat.: 48° 51' 47.412" N (estimated)

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 51' 46.970" N

In the Place du Palais Royal, beside Rue de Rivoli. Lat.: 48° 51' 45.000" N (estimated)

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 51' 43.970" N

On the Rue de Rivoli, just inside the Richelieu Wing passage entrance Lat.: 48° 51' 43.880" N

In the Louvre (Richelieu Wing), in the hall of the French Sculpture (in the passage between the 5th - 18th c. and the 18th - 19th c. areas). Lat.: 48° 51' 43.210" N

In the Louvre (Richelieu Wing), in the hall of the French Sculpture Lat.: 48° 51' 42.500" N (estimated)

In the Louvre (Richelieu Wing), in front of the ground floor escalator (18th - 19th century French Sculpture area, see detail). Lat.: 48° 51' 41.790" N

At the Louvre (Napoleon Court), east of the pyramid. Lat.: 48° 51' 40.896" N

At the Louvre (Napoleon Court), east of the pyramid. Lat.: 48° 51' 40.068" N

At the Louvre (Napoleon Court), east of the pyramid. Lat.: 48° 51' 39.200" N

At the Louvre (Napoleon Court), east of the pyramid. Lat.: 48° 51' 38.268" N

At the Louvre (Napoleon Court), east of the pyramid. Lat.: 48° 51' 37.440" N

In the Louvre (Denon Wing), on the main ground floor stairs (Etruscan and Roman Antiquities area). Lat.: 48° 51' 36.720" N

In the Louvre (Denon Wing), in the hall of Roman antiques (Etruscan and Roman Antiquities area). Lat.: 48° 51' 35.890" N (estimated)

In the Louvre (Denon Wing), in the hall of Roman antiques (Etruscan and Roman Antiquities area). Lat.: 48° 51' 35.000" N (estimated)

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 51' 34.360" N

On the Quai du Louvre, close to the entrance to the pavillon Daru. Lat.: 48° 51' 34.330" N

On the Port du Louvre, on the walkway beside the Seine. Lat.: 48° 51' 33.670" N

On the Port des Saints-Pères waterfront. Lat.: 48° 51' 29.090" N (estimated)

On the Quai de Conti, near the Institut de France. Lat.: 48° 51' 28.730" N

On the Quai de Conti, near the Institut de France. Lat.: 48° 51' 28.170" N

In the Place de l’Institut near Rue de Seine walkway. Lat.: 48° 51' 27.170" N

At no. 3 Rue de Seine. Lat.: 48° 51' 25.600" N (estimated)

At no. 3 Rue de Seine. Lat.: 48° 51' 25.300" N (estimated)

At no. 3 Rue de Seine. Lat.: 48° 51' 25.000" N (estimated) E054 At no. 12 Rue de Seine. Lat.: 48° 51' 23.680" N (estimated)

At the corner of Rue de Seine and Rue des Beaux-Arts. Lat.: 48° 51' 22.680" N

At no. 152 Boulevard Saint-Germain. Lat.: 48° 51' 11.270" N

At no. 125-127 Boulevard Saint-Germain. Lat.: 48° 51' 10.476" N

At no. 28 Rue de Vaugirard (Sénat side). Lat.: 48° 50' 57.370" N

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 52.800"

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 50' 51.790" N

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 50' 50.750"N

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 50' 47.670" N

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 47.030"

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 46.930" N

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 46.830" N

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 45.530" N (estimated)

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 44.412" N

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 43.070" N (estimated)

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 41.960" N (estimated)

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 40.848" N

In the Jardin de Luxembourg, on asphalted or cemented spaces. Lat.: 48° 50' 40.270" N

On Rue Auguste Comte, at the entrance to Jardin R. Cavelier-de-la-Salle. Lat.: 48° 50' 39.552" N

On Avenue de l'Observatoire, on the pavement beside the garden. Lat.: 48° 50' 37.180" N (estimated)

On Avenue de l'Observatoire, on the pavement beside the garden. Lat.: 48° 50' 35.016" N

At the corner of Avenue de l'Observatoire and Rue Michelet. Lat.: 48° 50' 33.756" N E073 In the Jardin Marco Polo. Lat.: 48° 50' 31.700" N (estimated)

In the Jardin Marco Polo (near the ping-pong table). Lat.: 48° 50' 30.300" N (estimated)

In the Jardin Marco Polo. Lat.: 48° 50' 29.000" N (estimated)

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 50' 27.830" N

At the corner of Avenue de l'Observatoire and Rue d'Assas. Lat.: 48° 50' 27.420" N (estimated)

In the Place Camille Jullian. Lat.: 48° 50' 27.024" N E078 In the Place Camille Jullian. Lat.: 48° 50' 26.590" N (estimated)

At the corner of Avenue Denfert Rochereau and Avenue de l'Observatoire (Observatory side). Lat.: 48° 50' 18.312" N

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 50' 18.024" N

On the Avenue de l'Observatoire. Lat.: 48° 50' 16.700" N (estimated)

On the Avenue de l'Observatoire. Lat.: 48° 50' 15.380" N (estimated)

In the North side courtyard of l'Observatoire de Paris. Lat.: 48° 50' 12.760" N (estimated)

In the North side courtyard of l'Observatoire de Paris. Lat.: 48° 50' 12.150" N (estimated)

Inside l'Observatoire de Paris. Lat.: 48° 50' 11.500" N (estimated)

On the north and south side terrace and upstairs garden within the protected limits of the Observatory. Lat.: 48° 50' 10.270" N (estimated)

On the north and south side terrace and upstairs garden within the protected limits of the Observatory. Lat.: 48° 50' 9.565" N (estimated)

On the north and south side terrace and upstairs garden within the protected limits of the Observatory. Lat.: 48° 50' 8.860" N (estimated)

On the north and south side terrace and upstairs garden within the protected limits of the Observatory. Lat.: 48° 50' 8.155" N (estimated)

On the north and south side terrace and upstairs garden within the protected limits of the Observatory. Lat.: 48° 50' 7.450" N (estimated)

On the north and south side terrace and upstairs garden within the protected limits of the Observatory. Lat.: 48° 50' 6.745" N (estimated)

On the north and south side terrace and upstairs garden within the protected limits of the Observatory. Lat.: 48° 50' 6.040" N (estimated)

On the Boulevard Arago (in front of the rear Observatory gates). Lat.: 48° 50' 5.208" N

On the Boulevard Arago (street side of the old Arago monument). Lat.: 48° 50' 4.520" N

On the Place de l'Ile de Sein (on south face of the old Arago monument). Lat.: 48° 5' 4.230" N

On the Place de l'Ile de Sein. Lat.: 48° 50' 3.660" N

On the Place de l'Ile de Sein. Lat.: 48° 50' 3.084" N

On the Place de l'Ile de Sein. Lat.: 48° 50' 2.904" N

At no. 81 Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques. Lat.: 48° 50' 1.608" N

On the Place Saint Jacques. Lat.: 48° 49' 59.310" N (estimated)

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 26.830" N (estimated)

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 25.840" N (estimated)

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 20.630" N

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 20.190" N (estimated)

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 18.810" N (estimated)

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 18.408" N

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 16.990" N (estimated)

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 16.176" N

In Parc Montsouris (on the alleys). Lat.: 48° 49' 15.590" N (estimated)

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 49' 15.132"

On Boulevard Jourdan. Lat.: 48° 49' 15.130" N (estimated)

Mire du Sud Just inside the southern Parc Montsouris fence. Lat.: 48° 49' 14.670" N, Lon.: 2° 20' 13.500" E

On Boulevard Jourdan. Lat.: 48° 49' 14.300" N (estimated)

'An 2000 - La Méridienne Verte' Paris Meridian Line marker. Lat.: 48° 49' 14.290" N

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 12.310" N (estimated)

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 11.820" N

ithin the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 11.676" N

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 11.352" N

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 10.164" N

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 8.832" N

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 7.960" N (estimated)

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 5.100" N (estimated)

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (on a line between the Canadian and Cambodian Pavilions). Lat.: 48° 49' 3.576" N

Within the grounds of the Cité universitaire (behind the Cambodian Pavilion). Lat.: 48° 49' 1.140" N (estimated)

Please note that Google Earth puts The Paris Meridian Line at 2° 20' 11.000" E, whereas most other sources put it at 2° 20' 14.000" E - a difference of around 100m [330 feet].

Knock on Wood

Often we use the phrase, "Knock on wood" - and proceed to do just that: Knock on a table or a door or whatever wood is handy.

In some circles it is believed that the origin of the phrase and practice comes from the wood of the rosary. Rosaries in the old days were made of oak wood and were fingered in time of distress or trouble. Thus, holding on to, touching or rubbing the wooden rosary or its wooden crucifix when danger was near became a common way for Christians to deal with hardships and difficulties.

The practice slipped into common use as "Knock on wood."

Ten Seconds Can Change the Course of History

It was 95 years ago today that the Titanic sank, and we are more fascinated by her than ever!

Something I found interesting, that shows how life can change in a blink of an eye, is this:

If the iceburg had been spotted 10 seconds earlier, there would have been time to steer the ship clear. If it had been spotted 10 seconds later, there would have been no time to turn the ship and she would have hit the iceburg head-on. This would have caused considerable damage, but she would have stayed afloat so that the passengers could be rescued.

Who says 10 seconds don't make a difference? It really makes you think...

Sandcastles

Check out the result of an interview I did with Wedding Bells magazine!

http://www.weddingbells.ca/articles/article/bwhen-your-main-maid-is-a-manbbrstanding-with-th/

Let's Twist Again, Like We Did Last Summer!

Let's Twist Again was released 45 years ago this month! It was written by Kal Mann and Dave Appell, and released as a single recorded by Chubby Checker, one of the biggest hit singles of 1961 reaching #2 in the UK charts and #8 in the U.S. charts. It refers to the Twist dance craze and his 1960 single "The Twist" a UK and US #1 single. The song received the 1961 Grammy Award for Best Rock 'n Roll Recording.

Jackie Kennedy loved to Twist, and rolled back the carpets when she hosted a party. So did Audrey Hepburn:


Someone else who liked to Twist was a little Canadian girl named Shari who won the Twist contest at Cindy Schneider's brthday party in 1963 -- that's me on the right!
makes me feel old....

I Feel So Sorry for St. Valentine!

Valentine's Day is a day for love and romance. It is also the feast day of St. Valentine, yet many people have no idea who he was.

Archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to Saint Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.

Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate in 269.

One legend says, while awaiting his execution, Valentinus restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter. Another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine."

St. Margaret of Scotland

Today is the feast day of one of my favourite saints, St. Margaret of Scotland

Margaret was an English princess, born in 1093. She was the daughter of Princess Agatha of Hungary and the Anglo-Saxon Prince Edward Atheling. \She and her mother sailed to Scotland to escape from the king who had conquered their land. King Malcolm of Scotland welcomed them and fell in love with the beautiful princess. Margaret and Malcolm were married before too long.

As Queen, Margaret changed her husband and the country for the better. Malcolm was good, but he and his court were very rough. When he saw how wise his beloved wife was, he listened to her good advice. She softened his temper and led him to practice great virtue. She made the court beautiful and civilized. Soon all the princes had better manners, and the ladies copied her purity and devotion. The king and queen gave wonderful example to everyone by the way they prayed together and fed crowds of poor people with their own hands. They seemed to have only one desire: to make everyone happy and good.

Margaret was a blessing for all the people of Scotland. Before she arrived, there was great ignorance and many bad habits among them. Margaret worked hard to obtain good teachers, to correct the evil practices, and to have new churches built. She loved to make these churches beautiful for God's glory, and she embroidered the priest's vestments herself.

God sent this holy Queen six sons and two daughters. She loved them dearly and raised them well. The youngest boy became St. David. But Margaret had sorrows, too. In her last illness, she learned that both her husband and her son, Edward, had been killed in battle. Yet she prayed: "I thank You, Almighty God, for sending me so great a sorrow to purify me from my sins."