First, we walked from the metro stop to the Sacre Couer. They thought the Sacre Couer looked like an vanilla ice cream sundae! We arrived early before the carousel at the base was opened. Elisabeth and Kate enjoyed running around the square and climbing on the carousel. Next, we rode the funicular up the steep hillside towards the Sacre Couer. We bought a week metro pass earlier in the week and the funicular was included. We rode the funicular up and down several times during the day!
After climbing the remaining stairs to the Sacre Couer, we entered the church. The girls were incredibly well behaved and admired the stained glass. They especially admired the stained glass window regarding Joan of Arc. After exiting the Sacre Couer we climbed the tower (all 260 feet!). Montmarte is set on a hill 130 meters high. We enjoyed very grand views out over all of Paris.
After descending the stairs, I walked with Elisabeth and Kate down the steps to the base of the hill and rode the carousel several times. It was a "double decker" carousel with two levels. After the carousel, we rode the funicular back up the hill. We ate at a wonderful restaurant recommended by Fodor's Around Paris with Kids book. It was the perfect restaurant for lunch with small children (unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the restaurant!).
We walked back to the Sacre Couer after lunch and hopped on a mini-train for a tour of Montmarte. Kate fell asleep on the train. She was tired! The train took us past the Moulin Rouge and cabaret nightlife, the old vineyards where monks stomped grapes, houses where famous artists lived like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and other bohemians.
After the train ride Elisabeth took pictures of a woman selling flowers in Montmarte in 1890. We rode the funicular down the hill and rode the carousel again before walking back to the Anvers metro. Much to the girls delight, there was another carousel just opening at the metro. I think they were the first to ride on it that day. Elisabeth rode in an airplane, Kate rode in Cinderella's carriage. We took the metro back to La Tour Mauberg. The girls enjoyed a My Little Pony video before an early dinner at a rugby restaurant on La Tour Mauberg. The girls enjoyed watching the ice skating competition on the TV at the restaurant.
