Montmartre

Our tour guide brought us along the Bateau Lavoir, a tongue in cheek name for the very poor, small, dark, dirty, housing place where many of the famous Montmartre artists lived, among them Picasso. This place only had a sink and a toilet, no actual space for washing; and at night it creaked like a boat. Hence the ironic name "the washing boat".

We learnt where the term impressionism actually comes from and how Monet's bad eyesight was the impulsor of this movement and the key motivator of modern art.

After a visit of Sacré Coeur in the rain, I teamed up with a lovely slovenian marine biologist for a very french lunch in a typical Parisian "Bouillon", Bouillon Pigalle; more affordable, social, french food restaurants.Read more