Jon arrives, insists we walk around Paris

It's pretty ridiculous that through the first two weeks I've been here — yeah, it really seems longer than that — aside from the walking I've done during tours of famous buildings and museums, I never really walked around my own neighborhood. Yesterday, with Jon's arrival, that changed almost immediately.

We decided we would check out the Panthéon, an 18th century cathedral (which I just learned is of Baroque influence). Like every other famous structure around Paris, this one didn't fail to impress. You don't realize just how massive the building is until you're right next to it, but it clearly was built to amaze those who see it.
I didn't really know what purpose the Panthéon served, but upon going in (and paying a stupid five Euro fee), it was made clear pretty quickly. The building was, and still sometimes functions as a church. It's architecture is consistent with more classic cathedrals, i.e. the Latin cross design and a has equidistant separation between columns and engaged columns.

As if the outside of the building weren't grand enough, the inside was just as impressive. While it is currently undergoing restoration, the canopies near the ceiling and the people waxing the floors didn't detract from the sculptures and and works of art that covered the walls from top to bottom. Little did we know that, for the past 200 years, the Panthéon has served as one of Paris' most famous tombs. We walked down into the crypt, where Jean Jacque Rousseau and Voltaire are buried, among others. We were walking through the cemetery of France's national heroes. Pretty cool.
After the Panthéon, we walked around the nearby Luxembourg Gardens, which were much more pleasant without snow on the ground. We managed to get our bearings in the 5th arrondissement, and managed to get back to our apartment so we could relax before having dinner with everyone in our group.

I guess I have been taking this city for granted over the past two weeks. With such a functional public transportation system, I haven't really seen the need to walk around so much. But now with a buddy to explore with and after having seen more of the city from a pedestrian's point of view, I know I'll be getting a little more exercise.