This marked our first day in Paris when it wasn't 65 degrees with a clear, blue sky and a bright, blazing sun. Oh, well. We made our way by Metra to the Montmartre area and spent the gray, drizzly day walking in and out of its cobblestone streets. This was just the way I wanted to experience Paris.
Our first stop was the basilica of Sacre Coeur. It was beautiful: sitting atop a hill in the heart of Montmartre, guarding the city with majesty and grace. The history of the monument is quite interesting, and though while there I simply stood in awe of the building, I read up on its story when I got home.
After this Roman Catholic beacon where else would head but to a Salvador Dali museum? Where else, I say!? Espace Dali is nestled in heart of Montmartre, and it was the only museum that we couldn't get into with our Museum Pass. I still don't know if the museum was worth 11 Euros, but I did gain a newfound respect for Dali. I have always been unimpressed with his wilty, wobbly clocks, timepieces, and horizons, but Espace Dali housed his sketchings and bronze statues. They were outstanding. So much better than his paintings (in my humble, not trained in any sort of art criticism opinion). My only grumble (besides the price?) was the fact the little shop had no sort of book collection of this amazing line drawings/other art that didn't have to do with something wilting over a rock. :(
Oh, I also learned that a lobster is a symbol for sex. I always thought so...
We had lunch a cute little pink cafe, for the simple fact that our daughter would have loved eating in a pink cafe.
Then as we were walking toward the Moulin Rouge I saw something. As we walked out of an alley, I saw a small jewelry shop across a busy street of traffic, and I saw MY shiny. I pulled hubby through the streets, avoiding zooming cars passing by, and dragged him up to the shop window. The necklace was so unique and beautiful: rainbow blown glass baubles arranged on a dark gray/black chain. The kicker is, he loved it, too! He said it was so me, and he bought me a Paris shiny to commemorate our trip. :)
Our last stop in Montmartre was to simply take in the Moulin Rouge. I didn't like the plasticine facade.
During our trip I was reading a book about a guy who travels back in time and is obsessed with how things used to look, so I am standing there trying to imagine what it must've looked like in its heyday of debauchery.
We ended the day with a quick stop back at Notre Dame. Martin really wanted to go to the top, and I wanted to go back to Shakespeare and Company. By now it was really pouring, so I huddled in and amongst the shelves while he DIDN'T get into Notre Dame. :( He missed the last tour by seconds, but he made due by seeing the amazing stained glass of Saint Chapel.
Our last day ended on a quiet note: an early dinner at 7 p.m....which is WAY too early for people in Paris to eat. We were the only two in the restaurant until 7:30. What can I say? I was hungry...again...but not hungry enough to eat snails, like hubby did. Good for him!
