The summary of pour travel through Paris, Ghent and Amsterdam can be read here - http://harshad-datar.blogspot.com/2018/05/trip-to-europe-summary-of-trip-part-i.html
You can see the blog of day 2 at Paris here - http://harshad-datar.blogspot.com/2018/06/three-days-in-paris-self-planned-europe.html
Our Third day at Paris and Evening at Ghent.
We had a afternoon Flixbus connection to Ghent and that left us with just the pre-lunch session to visit Paris. Only one major place could be done in this time. One such place was Sacre Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart (of Jesus) Paris) that could be visited in this short time.
A beautiful, photogenic white domed Basilica (now I have no idea why a place is called Church, Basilica or Cathedral) built as a Penance for defeat of France during 1870 Franco - Prussian War as also Commune of 1871. The structure is Three domed, one large central dome and two small domes on either side make very geometric figure. Its construction started in 1875 and it was finished in 1919.
Taking a bus from Cadet area we reached We reached the nearest bus stop "Muller". A short walk took us to the base of Sacre Coeur. We wanted to take the Funicular (an inclined Lift kind of arrangement which exists at many monuments which are at some height across Europe) but we met a Gujarati Madagascar citizen who indicated that from our current loctaion we would reach Sacre coeur climbing the short stairs and walking in the same time that we would take to reach the Fanicular station. Hence we choose to walk.
If one wants to take the Funicular, it is better to go to Abbesses Metro in Montmartre area rather than heading to Muller.
It was a warm and sunny day with large number of people visiting Sacre Coeur. As we climbed up the stairs and walk about 50 meters, this was the first glimpse of the Basilica.
A beautiful, well proportional white building with its grand and smaller domes stood proud in front of us. The crowd gave it a festival look.
To give the readers a glimpse of the inside here is a panorama of the inner area of Sacre Coeur
There is a stairway access to Sacre Coeur Dome. Its not much, hardly 300 steps (Ha Ha) on long spiral stairway. One side to go up and other side to come down. Climbing up is a good exercise and a bit of fun too. Here are the views from the top
As we were taking post dinner stroll along the riverside, we found a a fully illuminated locked studio with glass facade. The statues and artifacts were so lively, we could not help but photograph them. See for yourself and yu would agree with us.
You can see the blog of day 2 at Paris here - http://harshad-datar.blogspot.com/2018/06/three-days-in-paris-self-planned-europe.html
Our Third day at Paris and Evening at Ghent.
We had a afternoon Flixbus connection to Ghent and that left us with just the pre-lunch session to visit Paris. Only one major place could be done in this time. One such place was Sacre Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart (of Jesus) Paris) that could be visited in this short time.
A beautiful, photogenic white domed Basilica (now I have no idea why a place is called Church, Basilica or Cathedral) built as a Penance for defeat of France during 1870 Franco - Prussian War as also Commune of 1871. The structure is Three domed, one large central dome and two small domes on either side make very geometric figure. Its construction started in 1875 and it was finished in 1919.
Taking a bus from Cadet area we reached We reached the nearest bus stop "Muller". A short walk took us to the base of Sacre Coeur. We wanted to take the Funicular (an inclined Lift kind of arrangement which exists at many monuments which are at some height across Europe) but we met a Gujarati Madagascar citizen who indicated that from our current loctaion we would reach Sacre coeur climbing the short stairs and walking in the same time that we would take to reach the Fanicular station. Hence we choose to walk.
If one wants to take the Funicular, it is better to go to Abbesses Metro in Montmartre area rather than heading to Muller.
It was a warm and sunny day with large number of people visiting Sacre Coeur. As we climbed up the stairs and walk about 50 meters, this was the first glimpse of the Basilica.
 |
| First Impression |
When you are in front of a beautiful monument it is difficult to avoid the urge to photograph self with the beauty
To give the readers a glimpse of the inside here is a panorama of the inner area of Sacre Coeur
There is a scaled model of the Sacre Coeur inside and that also looks beautiful, though difficult to photograph due to low light inside
The exterior of the Basilica is also equally beautiful as you can see below.
Just Two cautions. One - While one plans Paris trip, visit to Sacre Coeur should be planned befor effil Tower and Notre Dame. The reason is simple, one would enjoy Sacre Coeur visit and views from its dome more if you see Sacre Coeur before Notre Dame (as it is not as historic and as Grand as Notre Dame) and if one visits Eiffel Tower and takes the lift to Summit of the tower before climbing to the Sacre Coeur Dome, the rip to Dome would not impress you.
Two - As mentioned in this post earlier, if one wants to use the Funicular, it is better to travel to Abbesses Metro in Montmartre than to travel to Muller.
After visiting Sacre Coeur, we returned to our B & B, picked up our luggage, had lunch and then took a cab for Bercy Seine for our Flixbus to Ghent in Belgium. It was a 4 pm bus which reached Ghent by about 8 pm (still clear day light, Europe sunset in summer at that latitude is about 0830 pm) and checked in in our B & B there.
By the time we settled down and then stepped out into town for dinner, it was dark. We asked some people were to go to have food (finding people beyond happening areas is difficult but we found some) and were directed to area around Sint Veerleplein square. It was a very simple place to find (its city square and also one of the few happening places). Enroute we saw imposing Gravensteen Castle.
Reaching there we found a place where famous Belgian hand cut fries (what we call as French Fries) were available and had our dinner there. The glimpse of night time Ghent that we got is as seen below
As we were taking post dinner stroll along the riverside, we found a a fully illuminated locked studio with glass facade. The statues and artifacts were so lively, we could not help but photograph them. See for yourself and yu would agree with us.
This short experience with Ghent made us very enthusiastic about full visit tomorrow. Returning to B & B, we slept off.
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