Paris - Thursday 12 July 2012

Up early this morning - brekky at 7am.  Had an electrical storm last night over Venice - plenty of lightning and wind but no rain - a heat storm (I can vouch for that!).  Walked literally out of our hotel, over the bridge and into the car park of the bus station - climbed aboard the shuttle bus to the airport!  Our first flight on Easyjet - we didn't know what to expect but had been told that they are very strict on baggage weight as well as carry on.  They were.  But we were organised.  We were allowed 86kg between our 4 bags - Kez was devastated to discover our total only came to 76kg and she could have been shopping in San Marcos last night!

Somehow, David managed to get us 'speedy boarding' but we didn't know - until some kind man in the line told us that we did - so we raced to the front - and ended up getting on the plane in the first group.  Passengers choose their own seats - no seating allocation - so we took it upon ourselves to take exit row!  (More leg room for Kez and David M).  Nice, nice flight - comfy seats, good selection from the beverage cart, helpful and friendly trolly dollies!

Arrived in Paris for the 'fun' to begin.  Kez and David M did very well to get us on two trains from Orly to Paris (Gare du Nord) and then negotiating up to our hotel in Montmartre - which I find out this afternoon is also the 'Red Light' district....  mmmm - thanks Kez!  It is also home to the Moulin Rouge!

It was overcast, cool and beginning to rain this afternoon as we set out to wander this area.

Painters and Poets, from Picasso to Apollinaire, put the "art" in Montmartre, and it will forever be associated with their Bohemian lifestyles of the late 19th and 20th centuries.  The area's name comes from 'Mount of Martyrs' commemorating the first bishop of Paris, St Denis, who was decapitated here by the Romans in AD 250.    It is the highest point in the city.  Throngs of tourists climb the hill for the stupendous view from Sacre-Coeur, crowding the main square.  


We took several photos outside Sacre-Coeur (meaning Sacred Heart) before going inside the church. The basilica was built as a memorial to the 58 000 French soldiers killed during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) and took 46 years to build, finally completed in 1923.  Priests still pray for the souls of the dead here 24 hours a day.  It is said that there are few sights in Paris more memorable!

The second photo below is taken of the Moulin Rouge (meaning red windmill).  It is the most famous of the belle epoque dance halls which scandalised respectable citizens and attracted Montmartre's artists and Bohemians.  We didn't attend a show there, although we would have liked to, due mainly to our time restrictions - the evening shows are at 7.15 and 9.15pm;  and the cost is 'cher' (expensive!).

Kez and David took us around the artisan's square where there are many artists willing to draw or paint your profile for a fee; and many have artistic works for sale.  There are many places to eat and drink;  we decided on a little italian pizzeria where David said the smell from the kitchen was 'good'!  We were seated at a table in the corner - literally boxed in by the neighbouring table.  The waiter was friendly, especially when we tried to speak some french.  He asked us where we were from and upon finding out we were Australian, was very accommodating.  The food and wine was excellent and good value for the price.  Two ladies at a neighbouring table were from Belgium and spoke english - which came in handy, when the 'old guy' at the opposite table starting to speaking to us all in french - and we had NO idea what he was saying.  His story was that he was retired, and said he was a previous "Mayor" of Montmartre and he had lots to tell us.  We could only smile and gesture!  Almost hilarious - thank goodness for those Belgian ladies!  I asked one of them if I could spend the next two days hanging out with her so that she could teach me some french.....  David gave the waiter his kangaroo/Australian flag collar pin as a further gesture of good will.  I bought two of the BESt pastries EVER at a shop in the street - and am taking a great like to the lovely country of France!  Daivd, Kez and David M would agree!