Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Montmartre - Les Nombreuses Étapes

Montmartre is all about steps. The hellish steps up from the Métro for starters. Then more steps to the Sacre Coeur. And then if you are really energetic or cave to peer pressure, a zillion ( give or take a few hundred) beautiful old worn stone steps to the dome of the Sacre Coeur with its spectacular view of Paris. Pour moi, j'adore les étapes de descendre!

18 comments:

James said...

The steps look great in pictures I especially like the black and white but I sometimes cheat and use the funicular.

TheChieftess said...

Wonderful B&W!!!

Cafe Pasadena said...

Wunderful & more. You & Laurie have a way with the BnW.

Shell Sherree said...

Yes, I'm loving this in the B&W too, V!

Ginnie said...

I sooooo know where this is, Virginia, and share the adoration with you!

Sandy at Ooh La Frou Frou said...

Forgive my ignorance, but I am one that has yet to come to Paris (and I can't wait to do so!). Virginia, your photo reminds me of a popular photo I've seen in posters of a long row of Paris steps before ... with lanterns such as these -- can't remember what the view is, but I think it must be a famous shot ... do you know the one I'm speaking of and what it is? Your photograph made me think of it for the first time and remember thinking how beautiful the steps were. Love your photograph -- just one more thing that makes me want to go to Paris.

lucette virelle said...

I know... As you say, it's hellish...but so beautiful !

Daryl said...

But now you can wander San Francisco and never feel out of breath ...

Awesome shot, V.

PeterParis said...

The main thing is that you made it!!! ... and didn't need to be pushed! :-)

Virginia said...

Peter,
And I am still patting myself on the back for it! We did have fun once we arrived at the top didn't we!

Sandy,
There are many stairways in Montmartre and most have these lights along the way. Perhaps the famous photographs were here but could me most anywhere around the Sacre Coeur.

James,
the funicular was in working order the last trip. All other times it was broken or we took another way up.

Anonymous said...

Are there gargoyles at the top, or am I confusing this with another place? The photo is charming.

Starman said...

We climbed all those steps after walking up to Montmartre from Place de la République. Those days are now long gone for me.

Anonymous said...

Virginia: Just wanted to let you know, I am going over Sept. 2 for 10 days: any chance??? Great time of year to be there!

♥ E.T. Suzy ♥ said...

Great photo! Hellish, indeed.

Alexa said...

This one's great in b&w. I'm proud to say I've never used the funicular—though I probably made it up those stairs more quickly 40 years ago than I do now!
(Guess I'm more of a "downhill" gal too.)

Virginia said...

Hiker,
Yes some grand gargoyles as well as at ND.

Starman,
I know. I think my last climb to the dome might have been last summer but who knows, Peter might cheer me on one more time!!!

Alexa
I was so relieved to finally meet the 'funiciular"!

ET Suzy- HELLISH is a nice word for those &%$* stairs!

EVeryone,
This is a climb I"ve done twice. Am I glad I made the effort? YOU BET.. The view of Paris still takes my breath. I will never ever forget that moment when I looked out over the city and saw la Tour Eiffel. A Paris Moment indeed!!!

T. Becque said...

Nice b&w! Wish I would have known about the steps when I was there last May. My son (5) did the Eiffel Tower in record time and was looking for more steps when we got down!

Starman said...

Montmartre is why god invented taxis.