20 May 2015 - A long walk through Paris to Sacre Coeur

You know the routine now!  A walk to the bakery for fresh and warm baguettes and croissants and a bit of a leg stretch before school.  We would all prefer not to be doing school but really the morning is best as we are all too tired by the afternoon as we walk for kilometres!  Luke did find a great book to read on Magic Keys about a little knight, so there was a little bit of joy!

At a posh epicurie: water,yes WATER for 62 Euros!!

Poshness at the epicurie...

One thing that we have noticed, although there are many idiosyncracies in Paris, is that people young, middle aged and even quite old men and women ride scooters, the foot propelled ones!  What an efficient way to move through the streets!  One other notable point is the public shared bicycle system.  Although we do have such a system in Melbourne, it is nothing like as utilised as the system here.  Often we can count 4 or 5 bikes in a row, mainly being ridden by businesslike people.  Sometimes the racks are nearly empty so clearly they are used often.  In Melbourne, the helmet wearing law, possibly makes it more difficult as here it looks like you just swipe a card and ride off.  Mind you, I am a big fan of bike helmets but I can see that makes the grab and ride scenario a little less user friendly.  There also seems to be few dedicated bike lanes but on the whole the traffic is considerate.

Public bikes for use

For my nephew, Jacob!

We set off for our proposed walk to the Sacre Coeur Basilica which is on the highest point in Paris at the summit of the butte Montmartre.  It was designed in 1871 and construction started in 1875 but it wasn't completed until 1914.  It  is a political and cultural monument, and is said to have been built as penance for perceived moral lapses.

Clouds gathering on the horizon and before long, it was raining!

The Basilica is purported to honor the 58,000 who lost their lives during the war and was designed and constructed as a result of the request by the Archbishop of Paris, Guibert, after his predecessor had been executed/martyred on the site.  Guibert was said to have had a vision as he was climbing Montmartre and claimed that it should be there where the Sacred Heart (of Jesus) should reign and beckon all to come.  Montmatre was so named after the beheading of Saint Denis there in 250 AD.

Passing by/under the Louvre

Whilst Sacre Coeur doesn't have the Gothic beauty of the Notre Dame cathedral, it is indeed lovely.  Much of the interior decoration is mosaics which are stunning both on the walls, ceiling and floor.  It certainly had a more "sacred" feel to it than the Notre Dame and people moved through quietly, as directed.  

At the top of the street.....

So many of these lovely corner buildings!

Church of St Vincent de Paul

We choose to walk the streets of Paris as we see SO much and walking is by far the best way to see things.   We all notice different things so it is a good time to discuss and highlight each other's observations. Of course we regularly get off course, but then see things we would not have otherwise seen!  The kids really are fantastic walkers and we just have to remember to anticipate their energy needs and ply them with food and drinks before they start flagging.  Luke really is terrific given his little legs and the many, many kilometres he has walked...mostly, in his case, discussing Lego designs and favoutire dinosaurs!  We do try the "times tables" and spelling words as you walk trick but he readily sees through our game!

The huge and magnificent Gare du Nord!

Prior to walking up to the Basilica we had already walked for over an hour and the kids rested in the Tourist Office near the Opera whilst Karl and I bought tickets for Versailles (tomorrow's outing).  We asked the very helpful Robin William-esque man at the desk our burning questions.  Before long he was divulging his family's heritage to us and we were enthralled!

His father's side of the family had been officers in Louis XV1's army and had consequently lost their heads which made rather interesting small talk!!!  And then he said, and my mother's history is a different story...with a look of intrigue and quietened tone, and I asked if she'd been at the Moulin Rouge and he glanced around and whispered "No, no, the Cardinal was her father, the only cardinal to be entombed at Sacre Coeur, you will see his name " Guibert" there."  We were delighted that he had shared this information and in such a theatrical way.  Try as we might, we couldn't find the Cardinal's tomb in Sacre Coeur and when I asked a guard, he didn't understand what I was saying.

Steps up to the highest point in Paris - Sacre Coeur Basilica

Sacre Coeur  as we neared the top of the stairs!

Luke chasing bubbles! - in the forecourt of Sacre Coeur

Above the entrance

Mosaic ceiling - all glittering and beautiful

Storm brewing over Paris

Ninja dancing on the steps!

Well we don't actually put money in the telescopes!

 We wandered through Montmartre and there were groups of school kids on excursions and quite a few others just mingling about.  It looks the same as all those years ago when I was last here.  We slowly made our way down the hill to the base of the mount and found a metro station.

At Montmatre where so many famous artists have painted...Wow!

Montmatre

No it isn't my photography, this lintel was on quite a slope!

Metro - waiting for less than a minute for our train - so efficient.

We finally made it to the metro for our first Paris metro journey, worked out our route and breathed a sigh that we would be home soon and we were!