Day 2 was our free-&-easy day since we did not sign up for the optional tour. With a metro map in hand, we charted out our day’s itinerary over breakfast.

We set off from Porte de la Villette station which was just outside our hotel. We bought a one-day pass (zones 1-2) for ~€7 which granted us unlimited rides around central Paris.

Emerging from the underpass of Anvers station, we saw the fire-ravaged Elysée Montmartre Theatre with its unmistakable charred and partially corroded facade. It is reportedly one of the earliest cabaret theatres in Paris long before the better known Moulin Rouge.

As we walked through the streets of Montmarte, we could immediately spot the Sacré-Cœur in its white brilliance perched on top on the hill.

The beaming white exterior is attributed to the Château-Landon stones which were used for the construction of the basilica. These stones react with rainwater to form calcite which maintains the white sheen in the face of pollution and weathering.

As warned by our tour guide, we steered away from the gypsies lurking in the area, waiting to approach unsuspecting tourists to tie friendship bands on their wrists and then demand for payment.

But on the climb up, we threw caution to the wind, stopping to buy the Eiffel tower souvenir from a street hawker. We were told that these stalls were set up for pickpockets to find out where your wallets are kept. But perhaps mine was highly secured or contained unattractive amounts of cash so we came out of the transaction unscathed.

The reward of the climb was a surreal and charming atmosphere. The towering grandiose Sacré-Cœur, breaktaking views of the Paris skyline and beautiful violin music permeating the air.

Inside the basilica was another sight to behold. The tall pillars reaches up to a massive mosaic of Jesus Christ with its glowing colours which brightens up the otherwise earthen interiors.

Our next stop was to Charles de Gaulle – Étoile to revisit the Arc de Triomphe. This time, we crossed the underpass to reach the arch.

Standing in the midst of the colossal structure, we could see etched on the walls a list of names of French generals during the Napoleonian empire. The underlined names belong to those who died in battle.

There was also the tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I, adorned with an eternal flame to commemorate the unidentified soldiers who died in war.

Circling the arch, we could see the 12 roads that radiate from the nexus. We took a brief walk down Champs-Élysées before heading for Palais Royal Musée du Louvre.

The Louvre Museum was closed since it was a Tuesday but we were hoping to witness the beauty of the glass pyramid.

We sat for awhile in the courtyard of the Louvre Palace appreciating the intricate designs of the pavilions and watching seagulls frolic in the icy fountain waters.

Next stop was to Cité to see the Notre Dame. Along the way, we were again treated to a Parisian showcase with a string ensemble performing Pachelbel’s Canon in D in the underpass.

At Notre Dame, we merely stood outside to view the facade of the cathedral as there was a huge crowd at the entrance. But going back in time, I would never pass on the opportunity to enter the cathedral to view the Gothic masterpiece in its entirety.

We then proceeded to meet with our tour group at Lafayette for the seine river night cruise. Although we felt reluctant to pay €45 each for the cruise, we were more concerned with our safety trawling the streets at night.

One of the couples in our group went on their own on the hop-on/ hop-off cruises where you get to alight and stopover at various landmarks for only ~€13!

We went up to the open deck anticipating a romantic cruise along River Seine, immersed in the night-time views of the City of Lights with the buildings cast in a warm orange hue.

But we ended up freezing from the chilling winds that we escaped into the indoor cabin midway through the cruise.