La Butte Montmartre
After we got rid of Floyd, Victoria and I spent the afternoon winding about la butte Montmartre, where cobbled streets form a complex labyrinth around the old artists quarters made famous by the Moulin Rouge, personalities like Picasso and Toulouse-Latrec, and the film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie Poulain (Amelie).
You arrive at Blanche, the metro station right outside the Moulin Rouge along the Blvd Rochechouart, and head up Rue Lepic to Le Cafe des Deux Moulins (the café where Amelie works) for a nice fresh salad, and a Mocha Cherry (with the yummiest whipped cream). And if you can settle for it, top it off with a crème brulée. You will not be disappointed!
Drop back down to the main boulevard and circle up around past the Cimitiere Montmartre, across the bridge and make a right, beginning to wind up along the hill. You will find yourself again on rue Lepic but take a sharp left. It is a quiet area of the neighbourhood boasting caves de vins (small wine bars/eateries) that cater for only around 8 people at a time. You also have small clothing boutiques, but won't notice them until you are standing right outside their humble windows. Tombées du Camion was a great find of the day, which you will discover on Rue Joseph de Maistre. It's a store full of lost items, small objects of seemingly no importance that when collected become insanely desirable.
We wound up further, following cobbled streets that lead to Place du Tertre, the famous artists square where old men with their easels and overpriced sketchings Beware: there is no way (unless it is snowing or there is an unusual lull in the tourist season) that you will not find lethargic, empty-headed tourists fumbling their way about the place and blocking all exit routes. Patience is the key.
Potter along around to the left and then turn right. You'll find yourself beside the Sacre Coeur. Today Vicki and I went in during a service which was absolutely beautiful. On our way down the steps we found an African man stripping to "You Rocked My World" by MJ whilst kicking and balancing a soccer ball on his body, and further down I was continuously harassed/eyed by the men calling me "miss gaga". Yeah, look mate. Not today.
All in all we had a lovely chilled and quiet afternoon, and now I leave tomorrow for my tour around the UK and North-East Europe before heading home to Australia in June.
This place has been wonderful to me and I can't wait to be back living here so very soon.
You arrive at Blanche, the metro station right outside the Moulin Rouge along the Blvd Rochechouart, and head up Rue Lepic to Le Cafe des Deux Moulins (the café where Amelie works) for a nice fresh salad, and a Mocha Cherry (with the yummiest whipped cream). And if you can settle for it, top it off with a crème brulée. You will not be disappointed!
Drop back down to the main boulevard and circle up around past the Cimitiere Montmartre, across the bridge and make a right, beginning to wind up along the hill. You will find yourself again on rue Lepic but take a sharp left. It is a quiet area of the neighbourhood boasting caves de vins (small wine bars/eateries) that cater for only around 8 people at a time. You also have small clothing boutiques, but won't notice them until you are standing right outside their humble windows. Tombées du Camion was a great find of the day, which you will discover on Rue Joseph de Maistre. It's a store full of lost items, small objects of seemingly no importance that when collected become insanely desirable.
We wound up further, following cobbled streets that lead to Place du Tertre, the famous artists square where old men with their easels and overpriced sketchings Beware: there is no way (unless it is snowing or there is an unusual lull in the tourist season) that you will not find lethargic, empty-headed tourists fumbling their way about the place and blocking all exit routes. Patience is the key.
Potter along around to the left and then turn right. You'll find yourself beside the Sacre Coeur. Today Vicki and I went in during a service which was absolutely beautiful. On our way down the steps we found an African man stripping to "You Rocked My World" by MJ whilst kicking and balancing a soccer ball on his body, and further down I was continuously harassed/eyed by the men calling me "miss gaga". Yeah, look mate. Not today.
All in all we had a lovely chilled and quiet afternoon, and now I leave tomorrow for my tour around the UK and North-East Europe before heading home to Australia in June.
This place has been wonderful to me and I can't wait to be back living here so very soon.
