Basilique Du Sacré-Coeur aka: Sacre Coeur

Whether your going up or down, there are peddlers and vendors who know you’re a tourist. If you stop to listen to them, they will NOT leave you alone.

We were leaving Sacre-Coeur and a guy (from Africa, he says), grabbed my husband’s finger very kindly and started braiding a bracelet. I thought, ‘oh, how nice, a token for our honeymoon.’ Another guy (also from Africa) grabs my finger and starts doing the same thing. They were very nice, congratulated us on our marriage, wished us the best, etc.

Then they said “10-10”, and I thought, 10 euro for both? Well, that’s a bit much, but hey, whatever. Then they reiterated 10 EURO FOR EACH – can you believe that? We didn’t even ask for the damn pieces of string!

I lied and said I had no euro and gave them a $20 bill, which I knew was about 13.50 euros. Then one of them had the nerve to ask for the change in my hand “for a cup of coffee”. WTF?! I just GAVE you a $20 bill! Coffee is expensive there, but I’m sure 13 euros would cover it.

Peddlers in Paris have no sense of value – they will ask for an outrageous amount and won’t really barter down for it.

So, I thought I would warn anyone who visits. Our cousin had been here and hadn’t bothered to warn us about these people; that they even followed her all the way to the Moulin Rouge! I think we should ask her for $20…

PS. Sacre-Coeur and it’s hill is gorgeous; stay up there as long as possible before dodging the “vendors” at the bottom.

This, for me, was the most beautiful place in Paris, and it has a great history. Do NOT let the street vendors stop you on your way up to the Basilique, though. They won’t let you go if you stop to listen.

You must visit this one if you go to Paris, I really loved it: the sights, the religious ambience, the breath-taking architecture and so on, and so on.

The Sacré-Coeur is like a pearl.

1) don’t feel ashamed to ride the funiculare! you can alwyas walk back down.
2) watch out for the guys with the strings at the base of the hill, they will try to get you to hold out your hand and will tie a string on it and will not take it off until you pay up… i got around them easily by saying… “non non non – je suis francais!” and then laughing. they will probably yell to have a nice day…
3) this is my very favorite place in the whole city. it’s a total tourist trap, but it’s so beautiful!!!

One of my favorite Basilicas! Also, there’s a crepe shop behind it that makes chocolate banana crepes, and they’re truly amazing.

Very nice, but often attacked by beggers and men selling strange things very scary if your alone!

It’s all up hill but if you can make it there just before sunset you won’t be disappointed! Sit on the steps and soak up the view with a loved one. Absolutely lovely.

I liked this church better than Notre Dame. It was very serene and quiet, calming and peaceful inside and the whole area is beautiful as well: there’s a wonderful view from the front steps. Well worth the climb up the steps!

I went to Paris with my boyfriend and we had so much trouble getting from place to place (it made it so much more fun). In trying to get to the basilica, rather than coming up the steps in the front or the tram in front we ended up approaching it from the side. To get to it we had to walk down a road called Rue de Poulet, which seemed like a huge market road. It was so crowded and we were the only white people so we stuck out like crazy, plus we were obviously tourists. When we finally found the basilica we sat in a little parklike area for a minute watching two boys kick a soccer ball back and forth in front of a waterfall. Well worth the trouble.