Sept 17 Montmartre, Pigalle et la musique baroque

We decided to go to Montmartre but first on advice from Emma Dean the winner of Master Chef 2013, and also one of Anna and Peter's bridesmaids, we headed off towards "du Pain et des Idées" to get our daily bread....(sounds religious doesn't it?  No I ain't converting".  The produce was extraordinary and so we bought two baguettes as they were rather small and two tartelettes aux figues.

Then we went to le fromager to restock our cheese supply. This time we bought some lovely Beaufort and a goats cheese (don't remember the name but it was in the form of a Camembert...and rather similar in texture...delicious.  It goes without saying that both were made with raw milk.

Then to Monmartre, which adjoins Pigalle the red light district. We climbed up to la Basilique!!!!

Quelle pente!!!!!  What a slope.  At least the stairs had a gentle rise, so we could ascend slowly.

Stopped on stairs on way up and ate lunch...la baguette accompagnée du fromage...un vrai délice!

Arrived at la Basilique. Went in...all terribly serious, one must wear appropriate attire, not take photos and shut up. However, the attendant there was very happy to open his big trap to tell people not to take photos, thus disturbing the piece. There was a very shiny chromed Jesus....looked rather modern I thought.  Tins all over the place to ask for money to restore their organ.  If they sold a few of their under-used churches, I'm sure they easily raise the funds, don't you think?

After la Basilique, we walked the streets on that level, and found a market with many artists, doing, drawings, paintings, caricatures and the like of people and of places of local interest.

Descended, and walked the streets. Found le cimetière de Montmartre which we visited.  Cemeteries are not my bag, but this one did have particularly interesting tombstones, headstones and crypts, in which several members of a family (perhaps their ashes) may be kept--most economical. Jacques Offenbach amongst a few other famous names is buried there. Went down to Pigalle and saw Le Moulin Rouge (possibly less fabulous in the flesh than in all the drawings that we see).

Eventually, we made our way home as I wanted to check the web to see if there were concerts on that evening which we would like to attend.

Finally, back in the apartment, after spending a good 30 minutes trying to log on (as there were issues with the WiFi), we succeeded, found a concert at le Théâtre des Champs-Élysées...Roger Norrington conducting a French baroque orchestra with counter-tenor Andreas Scholl being the star of the evening.  

I found an "app" (not sexy to say application) for the métro on our last evening...isn't it always the way?

Rambuteau à la République, then another train from République à Alma-Marceau. Took an hour and we were twenty minutes early.

A lovely concert, but I prefer the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra...I think their playing is more precise (in terms of "oneness") and much more energetic.  His voice was a little lost there...I think Elizabeth Murdoch Hall is better for that sort of music.  However, it was still an enjoyable evening.

Before boarding le métro on the way home we said farewell to a most luminous tour Eiffel, which is very close and which looked splendid.

All in all, a pleasant day...quite amusing going from a red light district to a formal baroque concert...somewhat different in style.