and me at la statue de Joanne d'Arc at la Place des Pyramides
on Rue de Rivoli
We went to le Jardin des Plantes and strolled through the gardens
We feel at home here. Yesterday we went to du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle en Jardin des Plantes. The gardens are of course beautiful, lots of plants and scenic paths for strolling. Geoffrey took my photo alongside a tree that was planted in
1734. We had gone there to buy a book on les dinosaures for Liam and we found ourselves in the main botanical garden of France and we did not visit la "Grande Galerie de l'Evolution" du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Wednesday is not a school day and there were about 30 adults and children in the queue. Of course, the gardens is a place we will need to visit again, just about like everything else. However, I must say that every other day we are crossing la Seine at Pont Neuf, a few minutes from where we live, or Pont d'Arcole, my favourite bridge, and past la Cathédrale Notre Dame.
We are taking nothing forgranted.
It is all wonderful.
The weather for the last 4 days has been really good. The days are sunny and
around 7 to 8 degrees, but through the night, the temperature drops to zero,
minus 1 or minus 2. The next 4 days it is going to continue to be sunny and
temperatures 4 - 12 degrees. We are quite happy with the weather.
We went to the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur a few days ago. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the hill of Montmarte which is visible from many parts of the city. On our last trip to Paris, we did not go there.
Work began on the church in 1875 and was completed in 1912 and consecrated in 1919.
We took le Métro to the Anvers station, meandered up rue de Steinkerque, passed Carrousel Venitien at la Place Saint-Pierre and boarded the Funiculaire de Montmarte which takes you to just below the church. At this time of year, there was no queue to board the funicular.
The day was sunny and 10 degrees, a bit misty and hazy. We could still enjoy the fantastic, panoramic views of Paris and could see la Tour Eiffel. You can see up to 30km on a clear day.
On the steps just before entering the church. people were sitting there and enjoying the winter sun and a man was playing a harp. The church was magnificent. The stained glass windows, the mosaics, the dome, everything was breathtaking, I even touched the well rubbed "worn out" foot on la statue de Saint-Pierre. When we go to Rome, in June, I will go to Saint Peter's Basilica and touch the foot of the original statue de Saint-Pierre.
All the time in the church I was listening to the organ and the beautiful singing of the nuns.
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| they let me in |
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| they let me out |
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| the view was a bit hazy but still magnificent |
Located on the north side of Sacré-Coeur is L'Église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre on the highest point in Paris, It is one of the oldest churches in Paris, consecrated in 1147. It was built on the site of a Roman temple. It is from this temple that the hill gets its name (Latin Mons Martis).
The site is traditionally associated with the beheading of the city's patron, Saint Denis around 250AD.After his head was chopped off, he picked it up and walked 10 kilometres preaching a sermon the entire way. The site where he stopped preaching and actually died is now the site of the Saint Denis Basilica.
Behind the Sacré-Coeur is la Place du Tertre, the main square of the original village. Even at this time of year, there were many artists painting in the square and tourists posing for a quick portrait.
We then meandered down and along Montmartre's narrow, winding streets. Had a beer and our first French crèpe in one of the cafés.
à bientôt
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