Thursday - October ???

You can tell a good vacation when you forget the date or the day of the week. I know I am writing about Thursday but I am not sure of the date.

We started with breakfast with same surly waitress who was rude. I wish my French was good enough where I could tell her what I thought of her lousy service and rude attitude. I am planning on posting it so everyone beware of Bar Pit Brasserie in Rue Cler - bad, bad, bad.

Today we were going to finish Lori's list of stuff to do. We started our day by catching the bus to Pere Lachaise. I wasn't the one that researched it or had it on my list of things to do but it was a short sidetrip, not too far from our objective of Montmartre and was where Jim Morrison was buried (which was what Lori wanted to see).

The bus took us through some areas we had already been (St. Germain des-Pres, Marais, Bastille) and we saw some familiar sites. Half way to the cemetary, the bus driver told everyone in french to get off (this bus was supposed to go the entire way to the Pere Lachaise). We got off, looked around and tried to figure our next step when another bus pulled up. I asked the driver if he was going to Pierre Lachaise. He laughed, Lori laughed and so did everyone else. Now she is calling me Lucy. Hmmm . . . I guess she is Ethel.

Here was the best part about Morrison's grave - the cat really did not care - he was just hanging out on someone else's grave.

It was the bus and we got to cemetery. We saw Jim's grave - it is now fenced off due to vandalism. It was easy to find - follow anyone who looked like they came from the sixties or looked alternative and sure enough, we found it. We passed some very interesting crypts. On the way back to the bus, we found Chopin's grave. That was it.

How the heck did they get that grafitti up there???

Then we hopped the Metro to the Montmartre. At the bottom of the hill, is certainly the seedier side of Paris. We walked past a gauntlet of junky souvenier shops (with tons of other tourists) to the tram to take us the rest of the way up the hill. When we got to the top, there was a harp player and a juggler and tons of tourists.

The Basilica is beautiful - white stone with an incredible view of Paris. We went inside but there was a service going on. The nuns (in habits, mind you!) sang after the service and it was beautiful and a bit surreal. We walked around after the service and saw the mosiacs and small chapels. A very nice place but almost as crowded as Notre Dame. We only spent a short time. I tried buying post cards but all the Catholics were in the gift shop buying rosaries and statues. So we moved on to lunch.


We walked into the main part of the neighborhood and had lunch (omelettes) at a small cafe on the edge of a square. Then we walked around the main square where all the artists were either painting or just displaying their wares. There was some really nice stuff. The funniest thing I saw was some guy taking a video of his girlfriend or wife having her picture painting. How exciting is that???? He just stood there running his video camera. We finally just walked past him. What was that all about?




The main artist square

We walked around many of the streets and looked in the shops and alleys. It was really an adult Disneyland and I tried of it quickly. We then walked down so I could see the Moulin Rouge. It was in the sex shop strip neighborhood. Very sleezy. Again, lots of tourists but I would not be here at night. I also got to see the Abesses Metro stop which was classic Art Nouveau.

Pigalle Sex Shops - all shapes and sizes - 1/2 block from the famous Moulin Rouge

We then headed back to the apartment to get some warmer clothes for our evening walk down the Champs Elysees. Lori also wanted to do the big ferris wheel (Ugh!!!). We got to the Arc du Triomphe just as the sun was setting. It is amazing how big the thing is and how beautiful all the architecture. I was too tired to climb to the top but I might do it Friday. Again, there was lots of tourists. I went below the arch and took pictures but it was much more fun watching the cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses jockeying for position!

Jockeying for position or Driving Slots cars in Paris

We walked down the Champs Elysees which was just shopping, most of it high end and way out of my price range. It was amazing how many Parisians were out and about on a work night. Many of the shops were closing. There were also some car dealers which were having some type of reception with some very new fancy cars.

We had dinner in a great little restaurant off the strip which was wonderful - I had couscous. The waitress was very cute and funny. She did not speak much english and my french is . . . well, you know. Another patron helped us out. When I asked what one of the meats on my plate was, she told me in French but I could not understand. The other patron made a baaing noise which we all laughed at.

After dinner, we finished our walk and ended up at the ferris wheel at the end of the Champs Elysees. I told Lori I would go on the ferris wheel with her since I had dragged her hither and yon. Needless to say - I went with no complaints. There are no pictures because I was hanging on so tight - I hate heights and I hate ferris wheels. I also had my eyes closed most of the ride. So this is the only picture of the ride - from a distance. I really, really, really hate ferris wheels!