Paris Day 2

Thursday 6th October, 2011

Thanks Eddie for your comments, it’s nice to know someone is still following us but I think you must’ve missed the bit in the article that mentioned us!!

Off we went at about 8:15am this morning to the Metro which is directly across the road from our hotel so that was handy and we didn’t need to change lines to get where we were going so that was even better. We went up to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur which are on a hill and can be seen from all the monuments around Paris. Much to our disappointment we had to wear long pants for the first time since starting our holiday. We went inside Sacre Coeur which of course was free and then decided to do the crypt and dome as well. There was another 300 steps to the bloody top, but unfortunately I had another bit of a panic attack as soon as I walked through the door. I think this time it was more because I was hot with a jacket on even though the steps were still quite narrow. I had to ask the woman to let me out which initially she seemed pretty miffed about but I think we sorted her out in the end and we walked around the crypt first and then gave the stairs to the dome another go. I was fine then and we both made it to the top. Once again more spectacular views over the city albeit very windy and cold on this occasion.

We left there and wandered the streets of Montmartre for a little while starting by heading down Rue Chappe. Then Kim remembered that Moulin Rouge was nearby as we’d talked about it last night so we set off looking for that but once again went in the wrong direction. We cannot for the life of us figure out why we get it so wrong over here, must be the different hemisphere or something like that. Anyway after asking some friendly people along the way we managed to find it. We weren’t  sure what we expected and this was obviously during the day when it is closed and we assume night would be a lot different with all the lights, etc. but it wasn’t much and is in what appears to be the King’s Cross of Paris with all the sex shops, etc. We took a couple of snaps and went on our way.

Next we jumped back on the Metro at Pigalle to go to the Musee du Louvre which we were told by the Metro staff to get off at Concorde and change to line 1. Well we got off at Concorde and obviously missed the place to change cause next thing we know were up on the street surrounded by a big black cloud. We checked our map and decided it wasn’t far to walk so off we trundled again down the Jardin des Tuileries until we found it. Unfortunately the big black cloud followed us and down she came. We found shelter under a little information booth until it eased off and then went on our way. We stopped at a food van and grabbed another baguette for lunch and once again asked if they would halve it and after getting a look was given a plastic knife with it.

We got to the Louvre and stood in the line which moved quite quickly, about 10-15 minutes and we were in only to stand in another queue to pay admission. We wandered around there for a while seeing the usual suspects, Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, some grand masterpieces including Leonardo da Vinci which we just thought were dark and depressing. We even managed to get lost in there and had to ask for help.

On from there we walked down toward Notre Dame where Sainte-Chapelle is because we didn’t make it there yesterday. We rounded the corner only to find another queue and as we were tired, well our legs and feet were, and it was cold and wintery we decided not to wait. We headed back home arriving at about 4:15pm after another very busy day. More kilometres added to the clock once again and more photo’s added to the collection. It is very hard to describe every day what we see and the feelings we have about everything but as anyone that has travelled will know there is something around every corner and monuments everywhere, it is so hard to take it all in sometimes.

Oh, when we were coming to the intersection which our hotel is located at where it runs off in about 5 or 6 different directions there were gendarmerie everywhere. We went down the corner to get some milk and one of them smiled and said Bonjour so I took the opportunity to ask what was going on. He said it was a manifestation but wouldn’t or couldn’t elaborate and the receptionist here wasn’t too sure either but we have since found out it is because of the Ministry being near by and had something to do with the Minister for Education. Always seems to be something going on when we get there!!