After we had looked at the artists and their work, and realized that we simply couldn't afford to purchase anything, we decided to go and look at Sacre Coeur. The church is simply astounding, the outside is like a brilliant white wedding cake, and the inside is an explosion of mosaics in vivid colour, the blues and golds are phenomenal. Sadly, no pictures are allowed, even without a flash, of the inside, so you'll have to go there yourself to fully understand the incredible detail of the work. As we wandered through, people were snapping photos with discretion and I really wanted to, but I decided to respect the rules, although it was tough. After we looked around, we were sitting on the steps out front, which, by the way, have what is considered the best view in all of Paris...they say on a clear day you can see for 30 km, all of Paris spread out below you. I decided to take a quick peek into the crypt, the entrance which was just behind us. I told Nicole that I'd be back in 2 or 3 minutes. I quickly walked down the stairs (well, sort of quickly, my calves were still aching from all of our climbing the previous days) and I found myself at a self-serve entrance. I put my 5 Euro in the slot and out popped a ticket. I then put the ticket in another slot and heard a "click" as the turnstile unlocked. I pushed my way through it (not another soul was around) and came face to face with a plexi-glass door. I pushed on it, it opened and there I was...at the end of a tiny hallway. I turned a corner and saw some circular stairs going up, so up I went. They spiralled around and were quite narrow and after I went up about 25 or so, I thought to myself: "ok, the crypt should be down stairs, not up, maybe I missed a set of down stairs." I turned around and walked back down, looking carefully around me...nothing, until I came back to the plexiglass door. I was a little annoyed, there were no signs and I certainly didn't want to go up any more stairs, so I decided to take the loss of 5 Euro and go back to Nicole and Chad. I pushed the door. It didn't move. I pushed again. Nothing. And again. Nothing. It is a one-way door and there is still not a soul around. I stood there, in a moment of panic, wondering how to get out. If someone came and put some money in, they could hold the door open for me, but no one came. I came to the conclusion that the only way out was up. So I heaved a sigh and turned around and started up. I ran rather quickly and it was quite hot and stairs just kept winding around and around, for what seemed like forever. In the other places were climbed, there were small windows here and there to look out, but this one had nothing and it was very narrow, and very warm. I was starting to panic and my legs were SO sore. My main concern was that I didn't really know where I was. I climbed up and up and eventually came to a door that I pushed upon and IT DIDN'T OPEN! I felt my heart leap, and I thought I might hyperventilate until I realized there were still more stairs. I ran up them (oh my poor legs) and then I came to a door that did open, I raced out and saw all of Paris below me, I'm sure it was gorgeous, but I just snapped a photo, tried to catch my breath and looked wildly for the exit, and also for other people. Where the hell is everyone anyhow? I ran around the parapet, every corner just seemed to lead to another corner, and eventually I found the door, only to open and it and find more stairs GOING UP. Why do I always get lost? And is this some sort of hell? Running eternally up stairs? I continued up, and came to another door and almost with fear, I opened it slowly (not true...I think I slammed it open while gasping for breath) but this time I saw stairs going down. I raced down, faster and faster, getting dizzier and dizzier, they really were very twisty and narrow and steep. I can only surmise that a higher being was watching me and keeping me from taking a horrendous tumble. At the bottom, finally, I opened yet another door to find myself....outside? No...now I am in the crypt. It is HUGE and circular. I raced around it and snapped a picture of someone's final resting place, while looking for exit door. I actually ran around twice before I saw it, only because someone else was coming in it. What the hell? How did they find a way in? I grabbed the door before it shut, and stopped to compose myself, and wandered out to find (Thank God) Nicole and Chad waiting for me. I'm sure I was a dishevelled mess, sweaty, red-faced and panic in my eyes, but I tried to calmly say: "Hey...I took a wrong turn back there." as my jelly-like legs collapsed and I sat down to catch my breath.
So if you ever go to Sacre Coeur to see the mosaics, please do not bother with the crypt. It's not worth the climb.
No comments:
Post a Comment