The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is recent, erected at the end of the 19th century, and dominates the highest point in Paris, Montmarte- literally Mount of Martyrs. It is a "national penance for the excesses of the Second Empire and an embodiment of conservative moral order"; in other words another big church that cost a lot of money and gets the citizens excited. The history of Montmarte goes back a ways, to Roman times for sure. The main dude martyr was Saint Denis the Bishop of Paris who was be-headed (by the Romans I suppose) around 250 AD. The best part- Denis is said to have picked his head up after being decapitated, walking for six miles, and preaching a sermon the entire way, making him one of many cephalophores. Look it up!
Sacre Coeur (on the right), bicycle cops in the foreground, after running off all the immigrant vendors selling water and little tiny Sacre Coeurs and Eiffel towers and such.
There are immigrants all over Paris- a group of guys approached us as we first started up the ascent to Sacre Coeur- twisted little bracelets out of colored thread for us (donation!). I talked to one guy from Kenya whose english was very good- he learned it in Kenya.
Had lunch in nearby "artist market", a very dense area of shops, cafes, artists, tourists.....
more Day 2 soon, and its only Day 5!
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