At a hostel I stayed at in Paris I met a guy from Cincinnati who was studying Paris' public staircases for the Cincy city council, in order to properly recommend upgrades when he got back. My age, maybe a year older. He had a really nice camera, like $3000+. We were both bored and the only English speakers around so we tromped around Montmartre together. He pronounced the famous grandiose walkway up to the Sacre Coeur a 'bad staircase', and talked about his girlfriend a lot. I ditched him to go to the red light district. Still don't know if he was telling the truth but he knew a lot of shit about staircases. PS, I like your tags.
Sounds like a sweet gig that guy had. And criticizing a landmark is a great technique to give oneself a bit of authority. :) I've walked those stairs myself, but can't say they made any impression - plus or minus. Must have been something about the cadence that threw him off.