Sacre-Coeur

Debbie writes:

August 20th, 1978

"We went to Basilica Sacré Coeur on a hill overlooking the city. The basilica was so beautiful, I just loved that church. The view from the hill of the city was fantastic. "

My mom says she doesn't remember everything from her two months in Europe but her trip to Sacré Coeur, Sacred Heart still resonates. It was one of the few things she insisted that we see in Paris. 

We took the Metro to the base of Sacré Coeur and walked up the hill to the church. The variety of people and languages was simply astonishing. The steps of church were filled with people from all walks of life, and nearly as many countries. 

Vendors hawked their wares from striped blankets, while musicians played accordions and guitars for loose change. One group had a large boom box playing French hip-hop and a few were dancing while others watched. It was like a strange block party. Little has changed from the '70s. My mom noted in her journal that there were a lot of "groupies" around on the church steps even back then. (Groupies translation according to Mom: Lots of people smoking, drinking, hanging out.)

The atmosphere of the cathedral was a marked difference. People somberly walked through, admiring the statues while a nun sang from the front altar, her voice echoing off the walls. 

We sat through part of the service and I tried desperately to understand what she was saying.

It's weird to be in a city that's full of such beautiful churches yet has one of the lowest church attendance; it seems like such a juxtaposition. 

The view from Montmartre 

the hill where Sacré Coeur sits.

Montmartre is the highest point in 

Paris and was an artists hangout for

Van Gogh, Pizzarro and more. 

After walking through the church, we went to grab food in the narrow streets of Montmartre. La nourriture! That is something that I have not spent enough time writing about, but simply, the food in Paris, even when you're trying to find the cheapest option, is delicious.