That being said, it is well worth the trip. Not only are the pathways filled with greenery and shady over-grown trees, but Pére Lachaise also allows you to get up close and personal with the grave markers. This last statement might seem a little odd so let me clarify. There is such overcrowding at Pére Lachaise that many of the towering tombstones and mausoleums are literally almost right on top of one another. Finding specific graves means walking through the plots and over gravestones, which can be both tedious and uncomfortable at times. However, it makes it all the better when you stumble across a grave that is off the main avenue, like Modigliani's, because it is that much more special. Adorned in paper drawings, letters, small stones, and metro tickets, you are able to see just how much one person, like Modigliani, has influenced and touched the lives of others and has continued to do so for many decades after his death. Oscar Wilde's massive memorial stone even has been guarded with glass because of the sheer amount of physical attention that it gets from visitors. Lipstick marks and writing even overtake the surface of the glass at times and are then periodically cleaned, only for the cycle to start anew again. Visiting these figures is most inspiring and often leads to contemplation about the impact of these characters in history, which emphasizes the importance of literature, art, and music in our society.