This is a belated post following our last day in Paris. Waking late (after the previous night’s all-night summer solstice celebration) we took the bus out to Gare du Nord so we could walk around Montmartre. This is the arrondissement where the Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge are found. Walking through the train station (to confirm our later departure tickets) we were accosted by a bohemian looking man asking if we spoke french and then immediately if we spoke english; replying no to both he was on to us and yelled out “why not set a fine example for the next generation?!” I can’t help but wonder what type of enlightenment he would offer (and how much it would have cost). Then we went out to find a cafe to enjoy one last Paris breakfast.
Then we were on our way. We took a pedestrian street up that was lined with shops (see above). Then took the funicular up to Sacre Coeur (see below).
Quite honestly, it was not worth the ticket cost and wait to ride up it. The stairs would have been nice and a good way to spend that pent up energy the boys always seem to be storing.
But while waiting in line we got to witness the friendship bracelet scam up close. The tour books warned us that someone may choose us to demonstrate creating a bracelet around our wrists. The only thing is that it is not a demonstration – they are expected a handout at the end and the bracelet is conveniently too tight to slip off and return.
Walking through the main street of this town on a quiet Sunday morning, many of the shops were closed. It became quite obvious as we were getting close to the Moulin Rouge. Boys with eyes wide at the graphic words on many of the stores (but nothing to see but that one eye catching word). Failing to bring a map was a critical error – the only moulin we found was that on the Moulin Rouge (right). Later we found we had missed out on some great little walks and that we ventured very close to the Cimetiere de Montmartre where many famous artists were buried.
We meandered some more before submerging to the Metro. Part way through we were treated to a puppet show (see previous post).
