Paris 2006

Paris 2006: Day 6 - Local Life Encore


As a Parisian on a Casual Sunday
Feet power is crucial when going to Montmartre. It was raining. Luckily by the time I got off the métro (subway), rain stopped. At the bottom of the church, I saw some people by African origin selling counterfeit handbags to tourists. I also found a few musicians, I have never seen anyone playing harp in the street. Luckily as a popular tourist attraction, the church was open to the public during mass. I haven't been to any mass for a long time. So I sat along the side, watching the bishop in the giant LG LCD TV. The wooden chair, like those in many other churches in Paris, is very small, almost doesn't fit my butt... Something interesting I found in the shop of this church but not other churches - bibles for babies. I attended about half of the mass till it ended at noon. Although I didn't understand a word of the teachings, I didn't find it too boring. Admiring the architecture and decorations kept my mind occupied perhaps.		As I was hiking half way up to Sacré Coeur Cathedral, I thought, "Today is Sunday. I might not be able to get in."
Around the corner, there is a very very old church which has been the parish church for Montmartre since 1147, called St. Peter of Montmartre. Inside, there is a tomb stone for a Queen of France dated back to 12th century. I have seen many religious paintings in museums. I knew they came from churches. But seeing in this church, oil paintings on the church wall offered me new artistic insights, even the paintings were painted in 16th - 18th century (not as old as the church itself). The way stories were told through paintings differs from murals. Too bad lighting inside was dark and I didn't want to use my flash as it would ruin the paintings. (See Sacred Heart area as I climbed up & St. Peter of Montmartre near the end of the album)
	Throughout history, Montmartre is inhabited by relatively well-educated people. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why Montmartre market is full of portrait painters and local artists. Like most locals, I picked up a crêpe to-go as lunch, with apple sauce this time, heehee. Souvenir shops here mainly sell paintings with Paris scenery. Yet, I also found my favourite Paris souvenir - a 'La Vie en Rose' musical tune box.
Those turn out to be class assignments for young school children during World War I (WWI) to draw their daily lives. In 1 drawing, a lad visited a friend and they spoke at his door-steps after playing a war game. Lad: "Why didn't you bring out the food you have and share?" Friend: "I put it under my bed. I must save it for I will go to the war." The kids might not know why war started. All they know was, their fathers, brothers were fighting and as soon as they would be old enough, it would be their responsibility to join and fight. And even sadder, I bet many of those children ended up fighting in WWII. To them, the light-hearted words said in childhood became real in their adulthood...		Walking down this cobbled road will lead you to the Montmartre Museum where I saw postcards of some children drawings.
	Suddenly rain was pouring. Ironically, that was how I discovered this modern tram because I rushed to get cover to open my umbrella and that was the station entrance. It requires one bus ride ticket. If I was not holding a day pass, probably I would just walk down the stairs. Yet if you would like new technologies, it is still a worthy ride. The tram is very steady, smooth, quiet, sleek, somehow just doesn't seem to fit with the historic buildings around.
As I exited the station, I again saw some African ethnic people. I encountered them when I was hiking up. Beware, these people look friendly and harmless but it is the colored threads they hold that warn you. They would talk to you, weave a friendship bracelet on your hand and then demand money. They have back-ups looking at you and you don't want to pick a fight. Friends told me before, so I know how to get away. Just Don't talk, Don't Smile, Look at them with a Fierce Look, Pretend to Push Away and Walk Away Quickly. I found out from the Canadian guy who made me the South Park cartoon picture that he surrendered €25, 25 euros!! What a scam!
(See More Photographs of Montmartre Neighbourhood)	Rain stopped. I walked around to check out local shops. I was attracted by a photo-book in the on-sale book rack outside a bookshop. I didn't buy that book. Rather, I bought a children's literature, *Le Petit Prince* (The Little Prince). As I walked out the bookshop, for a split second, I felt like I want to live in the Montmartre neighbourhood, haha. Just a split second. haha.
Futuristic at Peugeot concept car showroom.	I hopped out to Champs-Elysées as that's the place most likely to have shops opened on Sundays. There are several Concept Car Showrooms along Champs-Elysées. Despite many shops in Paris are closed on Sundays, these showrooms were opened. I was more interested in the French cars that are not sold in North America. So Peugoet was definitely my stop and I was surprised to see a hydrogen-powered red truck! In the end, I also visited Toyota's showroom because I saw a big crowd inside around a single-man vehicle. No, that's not a motorcycle, really looks like a space-age vehicle.... (See More Photographs of Concept Car Showrooms)
HOMME AU PAPILLON / Man with Butterfly (1968 - 1984)	Paris is a city full of surprises. I continued strolling along Champs-Elysées. Suddenly, I saw a masterpiece quality bronze statue at the entrance of a mall, by the famous artist Dali. Once I was impressed by Dali's paintings when I visited Fredericton, New Brunswick in 2004. One nice thing about going there on Sundays is the famous shopping avenue is not flooded with people. I wandered inside the mall and found more bronze statues. I didn't even need to pay entrance fee! I couldn't have been more delighted. The artist's presentation of time, movement, passion, through 3D artwork is so vivid. There was no glass cage over the masterpieces too! (See Dali's Artwork in a Shopping Mall)
More Surprises! Purely Coincidence! Suddenly I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I turned around and I saw Danny and his wife Winnie. They just arrived with Ricky and his wife Ivy. When I told one of our friends later, he said, "Wow, what are the chances? Probability of bumping in anywhere on earth outside of Vancouver!"	I requested a picture with L'Arc de Triomphe as background. Even better, a cyclist happened to ride by, so Parisian. Thank you Ivy!	I still don't know why I had to ask a passer-by to help us take this picture despite someone among us speaks better French... Hmm... I am not shy when it comes to asking for help in Paris :-)
(See More Photographs around Place de la Concorde)	I don't know whether this is 'The Fountain of the Seas' or the 'Elevation of the Maritime'	L'Avenue de Champs-Elysées took me directly to the Louvre Garden past Place de la Concorde. Even my feet were very sore, I had to go inside the garden and take a look of the fountain.
In the evening, I went to the Eiffel Tower. I figured weather was not the best and didn't take the elevator to go up. Years ago, cars could pass directly underneath the Tower. These days, it is a pedestrian zone. The many armed soldiers underneath Eiffel Tower reminded me Europe is alert. I guess this is Paris, where you could totally feel that you are isolated from the rest of the world and get drown in her glamour.