Paris

Our second experience of Paris - and just as wonderful as on the first occasion; this time in summer and in what is being described as a heat wave, with daily temperatures up around the high 30's.
The accommodation this time was in Montmartre - a cute little hotel with 5 star class and within about 20 minutes of the Sacre Coeur. As we did the last time we were in Paris we attended Mass here the day we arrived and spent the evening re-orienting. This trip to the magical city included attractions and events we were not able to fit in in 2008. And so, we saw Moulin Rouge (Feerie) - and despite the instructive guide, smart casual is best - no need for suits and ties. An amazing spectacular with not only what looked like scores of semi-clothed, feathered dancers but also amazing acrobats and talent that looked like it had come straight out of Cirque de Soleil. The train from Montparnasse took us to Chartres Cathedral in the medieval city about an hour to the south west of Paris. Arguably, this Cathedral is larger than Notre Dame in Paris - but it certainly is an awesome sight and well worth making the effort to see. Would recommend to anyone with a day to spare in Paris!

Chartres Cathedral

The superstructure is just too large to be accommodated by a single photograph.

The following day we ventured to the Palace of Versailles - and even with the wait in the zig-zag queue, the Palace dominated the crowds in attendance. The gold gilt of the upper floors sparkled in the midday sun and while there were crowds moving through, there always seemed to be time to stop and listen to the audioguides which helped to bring to life the grandeur of Louis XIV, his family, Marie Antoinette and subsequent Louis'. The grounds too showed their splendour. It was difficult to imagine the popular movement of the people in the French Revolution forcing the royals to move to the Louvre [abandoning Versailles] in Paris for their own safety.

Inside the Palace of Versailles

A cruise on the Seine to view the skirts of The Eiffel Tower at one end to the old lady Cathedral, Notre Dame on the Isle de la Cite at the other end gave us a different view of Paris and served as a marker for places we then visited on foot.

La Tour Eiffel from the Seine Cruise

Notre Dame from the Seine Cruise

Paris was fair buzzing while we visited. Preparations for Bastille Day Celebrations were going on all over [scores of temporary seats in and around the Place de la Concorde] and never have we seen so many police and armed military moving freely amongst the populace going about its own thing. And while we waited outside of Versailles it was interesting to watch the illegal hawkers [many of whom would likely be illegal residents - although we don't know that!] scatter as the police made themselves present. As the police moved out - the hawkers moved in again. A sorry state for all really. And on the night of the 14th we waited amongst the crowd on the hill outside the Sacre Coeur to see the celebratory fireworks - but given our long day [in excess of 10km walked] and the fact that it wasn't getting dark until nearer 11.00pm, we trundled home to bed. The end of yet another long and eventful day.

Waiting among the crowd at Sacre Coeur for the July 14 Fireworks display