SACRED SACRE COEUR. SACRE BLEU!
Today we visited Montmartre focusing on the Sacre Coeur
Basilica, the beautiful white cathedral that overlooks the city. As usual,
crowds of tourists made the pilgrimage up to the top of the hill. Some took the
funicular train, but we braved it by foot up the long staircase.
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| Sacre Coeur Basilica, Montmartre |
We took a path less traveled down from the summit and found
ourselves in the bustle of the streets around Barbes-Rochechouart. Our next
quest was to find Halle St. Pierre, a gallery specializing in art brut,
outsider art, and art singulier. It was an unexpected and amazing collection of
modern art primarily from the USA and France depicting dark and
thought-provoking subject matter. Intricate paintings and sculptures abounded,
unlike the simplicity that I usually associate with the naivety of outsider
art. Full of images of sexuality, depravity, violence, futurism and the
intermingling of human and animal forms, our visit to the museum was a
mind-bending, disturbing, and ultimately exhilarating experience.
We took the Metro from Pigalle back to the Sorbonne area and
wended our way back home, dropping in for a visit inside the Notre Dame
Cathedral during a crowded and austere evening Catholic service. We were able
to view the magnificent Rose Window and as the choir began to sing, I found
myself deeply moved by the experience. It is no wonder that the ritual, music,
and architecture of religion is so appealing and inspiring to so many.
On the way home we saw the sun breaking through the clouds. Some may have thought this to be an omen that god really does exist. I saw it as a photo opportunity:
We rounded off my sixtieth birthday with more crepes at a
local creperie:
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