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We got a late start today. We didn't really have any direction and I think we all needed to sleep in a little after the West Coast trip. We decided that today would be Montmartre day. Scott and I didn't make it to this section of Paris the last time we were here. We took the metro to Montmartre - let me stop here. There were these three guys outside of the entrance to the metro near our apartment. One was playing the piano, one was playing the bass and the third guy was playing the guitar. They were really good. This has been a common theme during our time here. I guess what strikes me as odd is the piano mobility. They are standard uprights... but still. We've seen them on bridges and in parks. Kind of crazy but it's nice to hear live music when you step out into the streets. I digress...
Montmartre is the hilly and artsy part of Paris. A lot of famous artists (Picasso lived in this area) and writers made this area their home. There are still remnants of the bohemian lifestyle apparent today, however this area has also fallen into a partial tourist trap. We had lunch in a little corner cafe and then took this thing called a funicular up the steep hill to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. This structure is very large and can be seen by most of Paris. If you walk out onto our back patio and look left you can see it in the distance. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside but it was a standard Basilica. Lots of candles. Jesus everywhere. Stained glass. The steps outside were packed with people. It reminded me of the National Gallery art museum in London near Trafalgar Square. Lots of picture taking, lots of kids on field trips, and lots of tourists. Initially we were going to see the Salvador Dali museum but we got a little sidetracked.
There is a square in Montmartre that is nothing but cafes. And in the center there are dozens and dozens of artsts who set up shop and sell their work while they are painting (or whatever their medium is). We got sucked into that area. I bought a barely dry acrylic from this weathered old man and Tanya had her portrait done and bought a small painting for Alli. By the time we left there I didn't really have any interest in visiting the museum, so we dropped Tanya off and Scott and I got some ice cream and sat in this quiet park-like area near the museum.
Because we were already in Montmartre we decided that we would go see Moulin Rouge. I would equate this area to a red light district. Sex shops and strip clubs were everywhere. And the nakedness just slaps you in the face. Don't feel like seeing genitals today? Best keep your head down. Otherwise you are least guaranteed to see a nip. Mouling Rouge was about what you'd expect. We didn't go in, just took pics of the famous sign. Then we took the metro back to St. Germain and hit up a grocery store. It's really difficult to buy groceries when you can't read a damn thing on the packages. The plethora of sparkling water (or gas water if you're in Poland) brings a tear to my eye. I love my gas water. I'm having some gas water flavored with something I can't identify as I type this. And then we headed home to make dinner.
Tomorrow is museum day I believe.
- comments
Daniel Sounds like an amazing day! I love to watch artists do their thing. The red light was something huh?
tracy This sounds like the best day! Didn't go inside moulin rouge? Dissapointment.