It tuned out to be a beautiful day. Warm with a light breeze in the air. I made my way to the metro and stopped once again at the Patisserie just around the corner. After the obligitory Bonjour I introduced myself to the shop keeper Marlena. She is a skinny (suprising?) tall woman in her early 40's, who makes all of her pastries from scratch (I hope thats what she said). The line outside her shop on both days has been long, and she seeems to enjoy talking to each and everyone of her patrons as she serves them warm bread and other chocolatly delights. After leaving her shop, you can't help but feel a warm glow, as though you have been loved on for a few minutes by an long lost Aunt. Once again I am taking to the metro. And again I can't help but marvel at the differences between Paris and NY. I head for Montmartre. When I exit the metro station
I was immediatly aware of all the people, it's quite a departure from the neighborhood I am staying in, where I pass about 3 people on the way to the metro. I headed up a crowded street, on both sides there were numerous tourist shops and little places filled with knickknacks. All of which were stuffed to the gills with people, purchasing their must have souviners, I quickly moved past. When I reached the top of the hill I saw the Funicular that I had been planning on taking, but quickly realizing that the basilica was only a hop-skip-and a jump away from where I was, I decided to climb up myself. I climbed and climbed and climbed some more. It was exhausting and I now understand why French woman are so skinny, you have to climb stairs to get everywhere.
All around the area there are street sellers, with everything from handbags (knock offs. I checked) to ash trays, to personally made friendship bracelets (this is ingenious, a man approaches someone and askes to see their wrist, a unsuspecting tourist obliges, the man then begins to string together different colored strings in the form of a bracelet. Once finished he askes "isn't that pretty" to which the tourist replys "oh yes" the man then demands payment for making the bracelet. With no way to easily remove it they must pay.They never even seen it coming.) I am approached numerous times, but coming from NY I know just what they want so I steer clear and use my angry eyes to convey that they should not approach me any closer. The climb to the top is exhausting, but well worth it. The Sacre-Coeur Basillica is beautiful and offers a sweeping view of the city below.
I sit on the stairs in front of the church, to catch my breath (I use the excuse that I want to admire the view, but we all know it was really because I simply could not walk one single more step. After 5 minutes or so I joined the masses entering the Basilica. The view inside was almost better than the outside.
I was able to snap this picture before I was accosted by the guard and told no pictures allowed. He stood watch over me to make sure I put my camera in my bag and then followed 3 steps behind to make sure I didnt break any other rules. Outside the sun was shinning brightly and inside the stained glass windows allowed the light in to bath the alter in sunshine, it was a stunning sight. After leaving I walked around Montmartre for a bit and then sat in a Cafe to enjoy some lunch. Since it was only 2:00 I decided to catch the subway over to the Rue Cler. Once there I found a very charming and quiet street filled with shops and resturants. Most were closed, Parisian shopkeeper are notoriously lazy and very rarley open on Mondays. But the ones that were open were fun to look around in and I spent the better part of an hour popping in and out of them. I continued walking around the neighborhood and before long I felt a tug in my heart and an emotional longing begin. I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower again. Just as I rounded a corner, there she was in all her brown and metal glory. I procceded to the resting spot I had found yesterday, and after purchasing an Ice Cream (lemon), I sat and enjoyed people watching for an hour or so (I also had another Crepe, chocolate and Banana, I think I could seriously live off those things). I started back towards Trocadero. On my way to the metro I noticed a sign for the Arcitecture museum. I decided to pop in since it was covered by my museum pass (which I purchased before I left the US. Well worth the money) It had mostly modern arcitecture but also alot of Roman arcitecture that was simply breathtaking.
It's simply amazing to think that people used their own hands, and a God given talent to create these works of art. The best part of this museum I must say, was that through each window I could catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower (am I obsessed, YES, but that's okay with me).While I was there I noticed a security guard that was quietly creeping up towards me. He introduced himself (in broken english, he said he had heard me when I asked for a map so knew I spoke english LOL) and asked me where I was from, he was very interested in the fact that it was my first time in Paris and that I was there alone. Here is something that I knew before coming to Paris, French men love to flirt with the ladies. I was however, not prepared for just how true that statement is. Everywhere I went men flirted with me, old men, young men, even boys (when I left the grocery store on Saturday a group of three boys were kicking around a soccer ball, one of them kicked it to me as I passed with a quick lift of his brow and the smile I am growing accustomed to seeing on almost every mans face here in Paris, I laughed and kicked it back). At the Basilica this morning a man had followed me around for about 5 minutes asking if he could paint me (I know, makes you laugh out loud doesn't it) I like to think it was due to my charming good looks, but more than likely it was another tourist trap. Thankfully in front of me waiting to enter the Church was a group of Germans, I quickly snuck into the middle of their group and was able to get away. Back to the museum, this guy offered to show me around Paris and asked me for my number, when I said I didn't have a phone with me here he immediatly suggested Facebook. I laughed right out loud when he said that, how funny is it that I am on a completly different continent and people want to "Friend" on Facebook. Pascal (the name alone makes me smile, in a that's kinda funny way). After leaving the Museum I made my way back to my apartment where I hoped to get some dinner. I have to admit that eating dinner out alone is still intmidating to me, so I stopped in some local shops and bought some things I could eat on my balcony. But tommorrow I am staying in the touristy areas later into the night so I have high hopes for finding a place I am more comfortable. Right now I am sitting out on my Balcony with a Bagget, some fresh provolone cheese, some salami and a glass of red wine. There is a slight breeze in the air as the sky gets darker and in the distance I can see some lightening. The apartments around me are slowly turning their lights on and the smell of dinner time is in the air. I don't think my life could get much better.
*I take that back, if that darn building weren't in my way, it could be much better!
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