Bus 67 took us along the busy Rue de Montmarte upwards to Place Pigalles where we disembarked and wandered through the backstreets towards the 'butte' of Montmarte. We stopped at the famous Place du Tertre, a square full of artists showing their paintings and many offering to do sketches or portraits. The square is lined with cafes but is also a pickpocket haven. Every style of painting and sketches were on display including watercolours, thick oils and charcoal. The paintings were realist , impressionist, modern and abstract and every other genre ,so it is a fascinating place to visit. In the artistic halcyon day of Montmartre at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th Century this area was frequented by Edgar Degas, Van Gogh, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso. 
The Cathedral of Sacre Cour was quieter than Notre Dame with more of a focus on prayer and no group tours. We had a great quiet meditation time there and admired the view of Paris from the entrance.
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| looking up Rue Du Montmatre to Sacre Cour |
There are a fair few tacky streets and stalls around but we avoided these by wandering back streets down the hill back to lodgings getting lunch on the way.
One thing that is so noticeable in Paris is that so many people smoke - especially young women. Apparently ~30% of the population smoke and for teenage girls the rate is rising to ~50%. Smoking seems socially promoted here and there is no shame in dropping butts anywhere in contrast to Australia where rates are dropping, marketing is banned and and taxes on cigarettes are enormous.
While I am making comparisons Paris has a brilliant transport system but could do with a rubbish recycling system - Rome has one of these.
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| La Fayette Dome |
In the afternoon we had a brief foray into the La Fayette shopping complex - the second most visited place in Paris after the Louvre. It was definitely upmarket and very busy. The main building is spectacular with a ascending floors spiralling around a glass covered dome.
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