Paris Day 7

Tuesday morning in Montmartre! We avoided the crazy bracelet men like plague. Traversed a great number of stairs (there is a lift for the differently-abled) to the Basilique Sacre Coeur. From our vantage point we watched various street performers and heard a lot of music. We deemed many of the performers fun, but likely criminal distractions. One of the statue performers was awful; he couldn't stand still if you paid him, and considering that's the point of this gig, he was a pretty huge failure.
On this day we actually went into the huge church, where the requests for silence were most assuredly unobserved. No parishioners collecting donations, but a shocking and frightening number for homeless and less fortunate women crowded the entraces and exits looking desperate and ashamed.

Men with sketching pads were as abundant and Venetian gondoliers. Huge outdoor artist's square featuring completed works and offering charicature and portraits. I still have not found perfect souvenirs for friends, and perhaps I am destined for an absinthe cardholder after all. Discovered wonderful Italian restaurant with relatively reasonable pricing. Learned the existence of an erotic museum and gallery and have promised to make a visit another day. Bought chocolate at Jeff de Bruges.
Spent the evening strolling the Champs Elysees, watching "danse de la rue" (which is exactly what it sounds like) and photographing the arc de triomphe.

Turns out there's a military museum inside the arc. Who knew?
It was closed when we were there.
Still, a beautiful idea, if strange.
Traveling home we encountered a middle aged man in a business suit with exciting socks.
We slept like babies.