Today we caught the metro to the Arc de Triomphe, which was commissioned by Napoleon after the Battle of Austerlitz in 1806, when he declared to his soldiers that they would "march home through arches of victory". We climbed the stairs to the top for a 360 degree view over Paris. Unfortunately the pollution today restricted vision. The sculptures on the outside of the arc are impressive and depict battle scenes and other significant scenes to commemorate the soldiers who died in battle. In 1921 the Unknown Solider was buried beneath the Arc de Triomphe and the flame of rememberance was lit on 11th November, 1923 and has never gone out.

We now make our journey to the Sacre-Coeur a Roman-Byzantine Church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Christ. Unlike so many other churches we have visited, this was completed in 1914 . One thing that strikes us about churches throughout Belgium and France is that there are other altars beyond the main altar which are each dedicated to particular Saints and each are beautiful in their own way.

We now make our way through the Montmatre district renowned as the artistic quarter of Paris. This is a beautiful area and reflects the 'village' feel of Paris. A delicious, hot cappucino is enjoyed after again walking and climbing many stairs! We continue to stroll and enjoy this part of Paris-unfortunately, so do all the other tourists who force their way past us. I thought this was the 'quiet' season for travel!

Back to the metro and to the cinema to buy tickets to see the movie 'Savages, Oliver Stone's new film. It is in English with French subtitles-time to get off our feet! It's easy to forget you are in a foreign country watching an English speaking film. Movie over, it's 9.30pm and time to head home to rest our tired feet.

26/10/2012
Back on the metro, this time finally alighting at Blanche to see the exterior of the Moulin Rouge. We wander through the adjacent Place de Clichy and quickly determine we are in Paris' red light district: myriad live show clubs and every second shop front sells erotic attire. We proceed, continuously doing the 'sign of the cross' (not really) and pick up some clothing bargains ( not from the erotique shops) to further cramp our overpacked suitcases. We are getting so tired as we have been walking around 10 to 15 km a day on hard uneven pavements- our choice most of the time: we have a common outlook, that the best things to be seen are those BETWEEN the popular tourist sights. Our bodies are telling us that we will need to dispense with that outlook fairly soon.
Tomorrow, leave. Paris for Carcassonne.