BCers Visit Italy, Switzerland & France; Pt 13: Art Decorates A Hill Over Paris

IN MY WORLD, dismantling remnants of Christmas in BC brought back memories of a charming village overlooking Paris where artists of all sorts decorate the hillside. We visited Montmartre (shown in the watercolor print above) last October. It was an elevating experience ... literally.

Getting there requires a long trek up stairs or a lift in the "funicular" that has parallel cars traveling 118 feet from the lower to upper stations. I was sure the funicular would be more fun than the stairs, especially since my imagined fear of heights was barely materializing. This was a mini version of going up a mountain in Switzerland or like taking an elevator up the Eiffel Tower. There was no way I was going to miss the sights of Europe by not taking a chance on the modes of transportation available.

It was a short ride and a few more stairs to the Roman Catholic church (pictured above) which is known as Basilica du Sacre Coeur. The structure is at the heart and highest point of the artistic community. Its distinctive dome is often a subject for painters as my top picture shows.

The Place du Tertre in the village is filled with little known artists who cater mostly to tourists nowadays. This was not the case in earlier times, including when Pablo Picasso studied and lived there prior to his fame.



Because of my passion for both whimsical art and umbrellas, the painting (pictured at left) caught my eye.

Although I was tempted, the nearly 300 Euro it would cost to purchase the original work had me opting for a reproduction of another painting that now sits on my fireplace mantle. The cost of the print was just over one Euro.

I tried to chat for a few moments with the artist (I believe his name is Lambert) of the painting that attracted me. There was a language barrier, however. He allowed me to take his photograph. Unfortunately, I snapped and he blinked.

There were other attractions when walking from the artist's square back to the church, including what seemed to be a hopeless game of chance played out on the street.

A bin filled mostly with undergarments also spilled onto the street.

There was fabric galore ...

in muti-colored hues.

Sadly, this stunning mural of life-sized youth was marred by graffiti.

Livelihoods hung in the balance as street performers displayed diverse talents.

At the foot of the church there was an expansive view of Paris and the blanket of smog hanging over it.

People lounged along the church steps enjoying the many entertainers.

Tourists had their pictures taken near a live statue that expected donations.

Melodies musicians played filled the open spaces and enthralled listeners.

An impressive (bronze?) statue got my attention. But when I turned around ...

I could see from the corner of my eye that this was yet another performer who seemed to be packing his bag for new destinations. I, too, would soon leave this enclave of artists and actors with my watercolor memories firmly in hand.

Explorers can find more sites from around the globe at My World.