The wisest among the wise

This is the main staircase of the Senate in Paris, near the the Luxembourg gardens. And guess who is likely to use it today (Wednesday)? Well, the Dalaï Lama who is currently in France and has been invited to pay a visit to a bunch of Senators, but only in private (sorry, I won't show you the Dalaï Lama climbing the stairs!). His visit is highly controversial - as many things in France are. Some regret that President Sarkozy won't see him, some say it's normal and some find it suspicious this sudden fad for a man that represents the 3rd 4th religion in France (600,000 Buddhist followers in France) .