Since ‘Au Lapin Agile’ was a popular meeting place for questionable Montmartre characters including eccentrics, pimps, a batch of local anarchists, students from the Latin Quarter and one or two well-heeled bourgeoisie; seemed a fitting place to start.

Lapin Agile

After the obligatory jostle of tourists around the iconic Basilica Sacré-Cœur, checked out the Montmartre Museum housing Toulouse-Lautrec and a host of other famous artists’ works including the iconic Chat Noir by Théophile Steinlen, the posters now more famous than the actual night club they were promoting.

Aside from cats and rabbits, I also came across a vineyard, a floppy clock, a couple of windmills and a few more space invaders.

Vineyards beneath the Museum.

Salvadore Dali works

A bite to eat

Artists sketching tourists

One of the two remaining windmills that once stood on this hill

It’s sister – that other famous windmill in neighboring Pigalle

And more of those pesky invaders

Right. That’s Montmartre and surrounds taken care of…next?

Proud to say we’ve totally mastered the Metro now! Jumped off at Père Lachaise to view Jim Morrison’s grave – a pile of curious tributes atop, and a sad chap weeping as he took photos, for him it appears the legend lives on. Climbed to the top of the Cemetery to view Edith Piaf’s too and a number of other noted individuals along the way.

Followed this with metro ride to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Man that’s a lot of stairs! Discovered a Vernicular after we got to the top. Having admired the Basilique’s brilliant white from afar and now, four visits to Paris later, finally viewed at close quarters. Interior underwhelming but admit to being smitten by the modernity of the Sacre Familia back in Barcelona.

Wrap the day by joining the two D’s for a wine bar rest stop followed by a nosh including Steak Tartare in a cute little eatery. Couldn’t stop grinning at the thought of Mr Bean skit where Bean realises its raw meat and proceeds to hide forks full under table settings rather than admit he doesn’t like it. I do, but not an entire side of cow worth, the meals are rather large here. Finished off with a Creme Brûlée which we all concluded was absolutely splendid.

Five am rise for Mont San Michel tomorrow…gak!