High points

The domes of Sacré-Cœur

Usually around this time every year (Feb 17th to be exact) Tom and I hike Mt. Sanitas in a celebratory reenactment of that momentous day when we decided to tie the knot and stick with each other for good (aka- our engagement).  Since there aren't any mountains within 500km of us, we hiked up some other high places instead....to the Sacré-Cœur and the Tour Eiffel!  While the endless staircases and beautiful views reminded us of Sanitas, our excursions had a distinctive Parisian twist: peacoats and dress shoes instead of Gore-tex and boots, saussison sandwiches at the top instead of gorp...yes, we're trying to fit in. :) 

Looking up...

Looking out

A few interesting facts about the Sacré-Cœur:
-The church is devoted to the atonement for the massacre of some 58,000 citizens during the Franco-Prussian War (1871) and has even carried on the tradition of praying for those war crimes 24 hours a day, non-stop, since the church was consecrated more than three quarters of a century ago.  
-The travertine stone forming its structure constantly exudes calcite so it stays white, and gets even whiter when it rains.
-In WWII 13 bombs were dropped on the church but every single one narrowly missed the building and zero casualties occurred, something of a miracle and proof of God's protection, as stated on a plaque right inside the entrance.

Storm rolling in

A view of the Eiffel Tower

Sacré-Cœur from behind

Walking around Montmartre afterwards, we found Paris' one and only vineyard...quite a claim to fame.  They even produce a few hundred bottles per year, which are auctioned off at their yearly harvest festival. 

Clos Montmartre Vineyard