Paris : 16 June 2006

After a hasty breakfast of tarte pommes (apple tart lah..), we are off to Montmatre. I missed this one from the last trip; only managed to see it from a distance. We alighted at Anvers and followed the crowd. Before long, you can see the magnificient Basilique du Sacre Coeur (Basilic of the Sacred Heart). It stands on the highest point in Paris, all arches and domes, gleaming white against a perfect blue sky.


The Basilic of the Sacred Heart (Sacre Couer), all gleaming white domes and turrets piercing the blue sky.

You can walk up the steep steps or opt for the funicular. It’s another queue for the funicular but thankfully it is a very short journey. The view of Paris from the steps of Sacre Coueur is better than from Eiffel Tower. It was a beautiful day with the sun shining brightly. An old man played a violin and with the muted sounds of the carousel, you feel as if you are on the set of Amelie.

We walked down via the steps, stopped by the discount stores for cheap tshirts and turned right towards Pigalle and Moulin Rouge. It is the red light district with neon lights, girls in suggestive poses with bits coyly covered and almost every other shop screamed Sex.


The Art Deco sign of the Metropolitan, Paris' underground trains, framing the infamous Moulin Rouge. Perhaps a leeetle more glamorous at night, no?

We stopped to take a photo of the famous Moulin Rouge before taking the metro to Palais du Royal – Musee Louvre. In the bright afternoon sun, it does not look remotely sexy or seedy although I cannot vouch for how it looks at night. It is definitely longer than the infamous Red Light district in Amsterdam although Amsterdam would still be special because of its “beckoning” windows. Hmm.. bila lah Geylang RLD boleh jadi tourist attraction?