Day 5 – Sacre Coeur & Montmartre

Yesterday the weather changed cooler, cloudier, but still nice to go out, with my trusty umbrella. Taking the Metro to the Anvers station, I bought a croque monsieur for the road and started the steady walk/hike up to Sacre Coeur. With other pilgrims I marched past shops selling the ubiquitous Paris memorabilia, taking my time going gently higher and higher. Then, there it was at the top of the staircases, Sacre Coeur. There, with all the other people who woke earlier than I did! After tackling the first terrace, I decided to sit at an available bench to eat my toasty sandwich and people-watch before finishing the trek. Once done, I was surprised at how many bodies were on the stairs and terraces two levels above. Hawkers, vendors, a few suspicious scammers, and a fellow skilled at balancing a soccer ball to Avril Lavigne tunes filled the space. Zooming past them I found the line to the building and enjoyed a visit in this 19th century hommage to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. My favorite windows depicted the life of St. Joan of Arc.

Next on my walking tour was the northern back of the cathedral, the heart of the 18th arrondissement, Montmartre, where the artists, singers, musicians, and creative ones thrived during the belle epoque and after. Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Edith Piaf, Sidney Bechet, and Picasso are a few famous artists who called this free-spirited district their home. After winding around and down the alley streets and admiring really lovely home facades, I ended up at the Abbesses Metro station, having missed the Moulin Rouge, my intended destination. Another day perhaps because I was tiring (“can-can,” not) and the afternoon was getting chillier.

For the evening, I helped Denis and Adine with dinner, delicious roasted eggplant, turkey, my lentil soup as a starter, and salad and cheese to end the meal. The veggies and cheese Denis and I purchased at the morning farmers market.

All delicious, bien sur.