Myra's visit part deux

As I told you already, Myra and Tracy returned to Paris late Sunday night. On Saturday after class, Tracy and I set out to wander around Montmartre and see Sacre Coeur - a beautiful white church about a 125 years old which sits on top of the hill.

Montmartre used to be an artist's enclave - some of the greats, Lautrec, Van Gogh and Picasso at one time each made the area his home. After walking around for a while you can see why. The windy hills, windmills and the whorehouses (which played a big role in Lautrec's work) make for a beautiful backdrop. Still located in Montmartre are some great cabarets and the Lapin Agile - which plays a role in Steve Martin's very funny play Picasso and Einstein at the Lapin Agile.

After viewing the artsy parts of the hood, Tracy and I wondered through the Cimitiere de Montmartre where Degas, Dumas and Zola among others are laid to rest. It seems so odd saying that I wandered around a cemetery, but it really makes for a pretty walk. We returned back to where we started near the Moulin Rouge - yes it still exists - and decided to take a jaunt through the Musee de l;Erotisme. It was not raunchy or seedy in the least. It contained wooden figurines, artwork, ceramics from cultures all around the world and was really informative about the role of sex and the erotic in different cultures. Interestingly, the museum outlined the ways in which sex was incorporated into the life of ancient cultures and was viewed as healthy and was supposed to be enjoyed. It was not until later times, such as those that we live in, that sex has taken on an air of seeming unseemly.

Tracy and I enjoyed a long walk home and rested before dinner at one of my favorite restaurants - the same one I took Myra to when she arrived. We had a fantabulous evening and ended it with a drink at the restaurant at Centre Pompidou which provides an amazing view of the city at night - you can see the Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame (among others) lit up and sparkling in the Parisian night.

It was a great way to end a visit with mes amies.