Paris, Day 4: Sacre Coeur, Departure

By Tuesday we were all pretty tired --the kids especially-- so I suggested that Kim and her parents go see Sacre Coeur, a famous Basilica built in the late nineteenth century at the top of the hill in Montmartre, not too far from us. I agreed to stay at the hotel with the kids to relax and pack that morning, as I'd gone jogging up the hill the day before to have a look.


The Basilica is very pretty inside, much different from Notre Dame. The mosaics are impressive: check out this panoramic view, and clock and drag up to pan above the high altar. The morning I went up it was sunny and pretty quiet, but it was busier on Tuesday, for some reason, and overcast. Nevertheless, the sun shone through the windows and created a pleasant, contemplative illumination of the interior. Outside, you have a great view of the city.

When they got back, we grabbed some sandwiches and pastries for lunch on the train, and then checked out and walked to the station. It started to rain just as we got there, causing us to reflect on the good weather we'd had during our visit. The train trip back was pleasant, and we arrived in Cambridge in the late afternoon. (When I think of international travel I think of stressful, time-consuming journeys, so it was a bit unreal to have been in Paris for lunch, and then home eating dinner that evening---I could get used to this kind of proximity!)

In all: An excellent trip!