Flea Markets, Churches & Concerts: October 7

Pigalle

Took the Metro out to the flea market area but not much was going on. Probably do most of their business on weekends. Besides everything was either too expensive or just junk. We headed off to Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart) Church, a magnificent building on a hill above the city, the dome being higher than any point of the city except for the Eiffel Tower. Before leaving San Francisco I had decided to climb the narrow spiral staircase to the top of the dome, but when faced with the real prospect of such a climb, my legs told me the same thing they did at St Peter's in Rome: Don't You Dare! So we poked about inside and headed down the hill to see the Place Vendome, a wonderful square that still evokes the elegance of the 18th century. It is also the home of the famous Ritz Hotel.

In the evening, we went to a delightful concert at St Julien-de-Pauvre (St Julian the Poor) Church: Albinoni's Adagio, Mozart's Eine Kleinenachtmusik, and Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Afterwards, a very good dinner at a Greek restaurant in the Latin Quarter.