Day Seven: Paris

Last night was Friday night and party central again at the Irish pub below us. It would have been a tolerable drone of noise if not for the screaming man. Just as we'd begin drifting off, he'd begin screaming as very drunk people are apt to do. Needless to say, everyone was sleep deprived and cranky today. So, why not walk ten thousand miles?

First stop: Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur, approximately ten million steps up from the Metro station. Montmartre is a charming part of Paris if one can manage to overlook the t-shirt shops and artists who will sketch your portrait for a mere 50 euros. Zach and Alex climbed the tower at Sacré-Coeur which they videotaped. I believe Alex plans to post that. Here are some views from Montmartre:













We also visited one of my favorite places in Paris, the Pere-Lechaise cemetery. There are many famous people buried here, including Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. Beyond that, though, it is an eerily beautiful place. I took a lot of photos - I love a good graveyard!



I love the rogue hollyhock taking over:





Jim Morrison's Grave:









For some reason I didn't take any pictures of Oscar Wilde's Grave. Maybe because it was covered with lipstick kisses and generally looked defaced. A strange custom, that. There were some notes left on the side under flowers and rocks. One man had written, "Without you, I couldn't be me." I teared up and wished that Wilde was here to see how far the gay community has come in becoming accepted and the role he and people like him played in that progress.