well - it has been a few days since my last post ( couldnt find an internet cafe in brussels, too busy eating chocolates) so now i am in antwerp and will pick up where I left off.
For New Years we went to the Eiffel Tower to retake a family photograph that we took 15 years ago ( The last time my family was together in France). It was quite a bit colder than last time when we were here in July! Here I am all bundled up at the Eiffel Tower:
What did all of you dear friends do for New Years? Please send me wonderful stories!
After the Eiffel Tower we journeyed to Montmarte to see the Sacre Couer and Moulin Rouge area. The sacre couer was hectic and crowded on the outside, but it was so so beautiful. When we entered there was a service in progress; and there was a chorus of nuns singing - it was so lovely: I loved the Byzantine style of the church, and in the top dome there was the most beautiful mosaic I have ever seen. I am still searching for a photo to do it justice (photographs were not allowed inside so I didnt take any). The history of the church itself is quite interesting - it was not copleted until 1919 although it looks much older, and the church is atop many gypsum mines, this gypsum is what gives the church its white color (also used to make plaster of paris)
I will have to write more about all of the interesting details on the mosaic later. Can you see Joan of Arc to the right at the feet of Jesus in this picture?
Next we walked around the Montmarte area, and I found another statue of my favorite headless Saint, St. Denis, in a neighborhood park. It was such a lovely area, even in the middle of winter.
The last stop on our New Years Day walk was Café des Deux Moulins, 15 rue Lepic at rue Cauchois. This will be a vry special place for any of you who are Amelie fans - this is the cafe where she works in the movie - it is a real place! Very warm and crowded. They pay homage to Amelie with a picture of here on the back wall and also these cue snow silhouettes of her on the doors:
So cute and wintery cheery! It was the perfect walk to end my time in Paris, which I already miss. Now I am alone in Antwerp and quite lonely - I cant wait to get to London and see some familiar faces!
Until then (and more about Belgium coming soon) sweetest New Years Wishes!
TTFN,
Heather
HK! I am really enjoying your writing and pics! It makes me miss you and Paris a lot. I especially loved the photos of the yarn/baubles shop...very Heather-eske. I had a nice New Year's in New York, nothing too crazy, minus the weather. Stay safe and keep writing!
Love,
Em
Posted by: Emma | 01/05/2010 at 11:20 AM
Ha! montmarte! i stayed there once for two weeks. that big green hill in front of the sacre couer turned into an outdoor movie theater while i was there. baguette, spanish ham, and brandy picnics were my best friends in paris.
Posted by: Ravi | 01/06/2010 at 05:55 PM
thanks for the posts friends! I am so happy to hear from you guys - I am glad to hear that you had a nice new years, emma! And ravi, when were you in Paris? I didnt know you had been!Too bad I cant ham, but I do love picnics.
Posted by: HeatherK | 01/09/2010 at 05:55 PM
mm, it was probably two years ago now.
Posted by: Ravi | 01/14/2010 at 05:57 PM