I've always loved the story of the Phantom of the Opera, so of course I wanted to visit his home, the Opéra Garnier. It took me several tries to get inside because I didn't know when the visiting hours were. When I finally entered I immediately felt glad I had made the effort. The palace is magnificent, with its famous grand staircase and glorious halls and fancy auditorium, where hangs the immense chandelier. The Opera has a small museum section that exhibits books, paintings, models, and dioramas used for different operas done in the past. There were some people but it was not very crowded, so I could wander the quiet halls and enjoy the building without the background of noisy tourists. I really liked the atmosphere in the Opéra Garnier, and I walked around for a long time taking in the beauty and the feeling of mystery.

A.G.