Quite randomly but also often you will see military men with big guns in green berets just wondering around the streets or on the metro, but they always seem to be in the places that make you a little apprehensive to see them in. One time in particular that I witnessed them walking around was while standing in line for the catacombs. Thats when I began to feel apprehensive, thinking maybe something was wrong. Not a good feeling to have when you are about to enter an underground grave yard. They circled around the line a good 5 times before I didn’t see them anymore. 
At first I was a little scared to see guys with huge guns crossing the street, then I was curious as to why they were at the catacombs. But I figured since they didn’t talk to anyone, it was just a regular thing. I tried looking it up online but couldn’t find anything on the french military men in green berets only special forces in the U.S. Talking to my teachers and other local people didn’t help much either, they all said the same thing, “oh they are just around”. A strange occurrence to say the least, something I didn’t expect. My fear quickly turned into excitement though as we got closer to the entrance. The catacombs where definitely worth the wait even with two of the “exhibits” closed.
For those of you that may not know what the catacombs are i will give you a little background. Known to the French as “les carrières de Paris” or mines of Paris the catacombs are old mines that hold the remains of 6 million people that had been removed from there graves located in the city of Paris, because the grave yard “Saints Innocents” had been filled to capacity but people where still being buried there. Because of the overwhelming amount of bones and filled graves, the sanitation began to decrease and become unhealthy. The city then began to bury there dead outside city limits as they used to, before the rise in Christianity, but what to do with all those bodies? The underground mine system had since been emptied and Thiroux de Crosne (Police Lieutenant General ) had all of Paris’s dead moved underground. Today the bones are arranged in a series of tunnels with some tomb stones and other decorations from the grave yard randomly placed with the bones. Very powerful thing to see but not for those with weak stomachs.
bon voyage!
-Lauren H
That does sound like a pretty awesome experience. As for the military personnel roaming the street, that was something that really caught my attention traveling. I have been to a couple of countries where soldiers are everywhere. Having the presence of large guns just randomly in the street is not something we are used to in the states, but is seen globally as your professor and people said, just around. I view it as more protection for me since I know I’m not doing anything wrong! Good luck with all of your adventures.
Cain
The green beret seems to have military significance in a number of countries. The British commandos wore green berets during WWII. And as you’ve already discovered, the U.S. army Green Berets consist of highly trained special forces. I bet with some digging, you could discover the significance of the green beret in France. You’ve peaked my interest.
Thank you for your very vivid description of the catacombs and the arrangement of bones. Your photo captured the eeriness of the dimly lit tunnel. Michele