It’s already the 16th and although the program is coming to a close, we still have much to see.  Today was one of our later starting days, but I still had trouble waking up.  Maybe it’s still jet lag or maybe the fact that we’ve been walking about 10 miles a day.

While heading to St. Denis, we went past a corner that was similar to a flea market.  After glancing at it, everyone knew what they wanted to do after visiting the church.  Once we crossed the street into the garden-like resting place on the side of the church, we entered a different realm.  Everything was now quiet and there was little traffic.  Everyone obviously knew and respected this building, showing their respect by making no disturbances.  We sat for a small lecture, which gave us our ground information, then made our way inside.  This was the first place to plan the use of flying buttresses, the place where most French kings were buried, and also the place that they were crowned.  This was the first place we visited that displayed king’s attire.  There was a great amount of stained glass just like the other churches.

You could see caskets from the main room, but they were blocked off.  To get a closer look we took our passes and got crypt access.  There were many caskets, all with a statue (of the deceased) on top.  Some were held in a stone 4 post bed-like structure.  Then we went down and explored the cold crypt.  Many more caskets were stored down here, some had

just a name on top instead of a statue.  There were tapestries and stained glass displayed in each nook.  I would’ve read more descriptions and information but there was a huge tour group of very old, very unaware, people behind us.

We conquered a small uphill battle and reached a big, much further than where we were, building that seemed out of place.  Sacre Coeur de Montmarte – My first thought was “Taj Mahal” or Asian-inspired.  It didn’t have the same architectural design as any other building we saw.  I’m not sure if it was the building’s design or the rows of stairs beneath it that everyone noticed first, but soon we voted for a rest break.

The angle and awkward size of the stairs were what made them such a challenge.  The sun was bright and didn’t make things much easier, but made me shed my layers real quick.  We stopped half way and, in the shade, Alexander gave his presentation.  Afterward we took on the rest of the stairs.  The whole outside was a photo op: the building itself and the view of the city from it.  Above the entrance were grand organs.  To the back, above the altar, was an impressive ceiling painting of Jesus.  You were forbidden to take pictures of the inside, but the signs didn’t stop some of us.