Hitting The Pavement

The famous Sacre-Couer De Montmartre
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After sleeping in, we headed to the Metro station and purchased a week long pass called the Carte Orange. Our first destination that day was the Basilica Sacre-Couer and the neighboring pavillion where artists congregate, painting and selling their art work. The Basilica was built on the spot where Saint Davis, the first bishop of Paris, was decapitated for his faith. It was constructed of a special stone that actually bleaches out as it rains, giving the structure a perpetual pristine look. The foundation was one of the many challenges faced by the builders, given the porous nature of the stone comprising the hill the Basilica was built on. Shafts were drilled hundreds of feet down and concrete was used to fill them to help support the structure.

The street to the artist pavillion.
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We then proceeded down a narrow street to see the artists. They are lined up shoulder to shoulder around the pavillion displaying a wide variety of styles and abilities. After a couple of rounds we settled on some art work and negotiated with the artist on a price for our selection. Credit cards accepted. A quick stop at a corner cafe for refreshments and we headed for the Arch de Triomphe, at the head of the Champs Elysees, one of the most beautiful and expensive retail streets in the world.

Our artist. He takes credit cards
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We climbed the Arch, first proposed as a monument to Napoleon's conquests and subsequently finished years later after he was deposed, as a generic monument to France's victories. A wonderful walk down the boulevard along with a memorable meal topped off the day.

Food of the Day: Soft chocolate cake with custard and vanilla bean ice cream.