Paris--History, Hugo and Hands Off!!

We started the day with a solid plan. We'd visit the Musee Carnavalet so we could get a good background on the history of Paris and it was nearby.  Once we got there, we learned that not all of the musee was open and we'd have to come back later. 

We decided to see Victor Hugo's apartment, which just so happens to be located at the Place des Vosges. 

It is really cool to think that we were walking on the same streets, climbing the same stairs and visiting the same rooms that he did. 

If I remember correctly, not much of the furnishings were actually his. But it's decorated in the style of the times. In this case, Oriental Art was in. It makes me anxious just to look at this room. There is way too much going on. 

This ink thing is cool. There are several other famous authors whose names are on it too. 

 Not surprisingly, Les Miserables items were prominent.  

 I have to say, that my admiration for him declined when I read about his extensive traveling with his lover. Shame on you Victor Hugo! 

Carnavalet was worth going back to. I enjoyed learning more about Paris. My knowledge of the city was very limited and now I feel like I only know just a little bit more. It is a fascinating city especially after visiting London. London has a very proud history of the monarchy whereas Paris has struggled trying to decide what it wanted to be. So many Revolutions!! 

Our final destination took us clear across the city to a Roman Catholic church, Sacre-Coeur.  This is in the Montmartre area of Paris, known as a night club district. Moulin Rouge is here, so it's an interesting dichotomy. 

Montmartre is the hill on which Sacre-Coeur is built and it really is spectacular to see. We trudged up the hill from the metro stop. Up until this point, we'd spent all of our trip in non-sketchy places, so we were ill prepared for what awaited us. 

As we were crossing the street I was approached by a smiling, happy man who just wanted to talk to me and tie a little string around my finger. I resisted and continued to walk but he was a persistent fellow and continued to bother and try to get that stupid string on my finger. I was trying to get away from him as politely as possible, but he just wouldn't leave me alone. Missy finally had to yell at him to get him to go away. Once I was free, we looked back an saw poor Rilie with a different guy...string on her finger. He got her! Once the string is on your finger, he makes you a bracelet which you now get to pay for.  Rilie had to dish out 10 (about $16) euro for a bracelet made out of string, just to get rid of the guy. 

There were plenty of additional opportunities for the rest of us to get bracelets just like Rilie. But we were more streetwise--lots of fast walking and, above all, no eye contact!  

There are beautiful views of the city from the church steps. 

We couldn't take pictures inside. The doors are really neat. 

Originally, we thought we might check out the Moulin Rouge, but we were all a little freaked out from our encounters on the street and it was getting dark so we went back home. As would become habit, we stopped for some dinner supplies at the Monoprix and picked out a couple of pastries to try. The raspberry one was super yummy!