Montmarte

Began with an early breakfast, always the first to breakfast. I think we are going by our tour 4 years ago! Slow start to Montmarte.

I have been teaching Paris train travel lessons on a daily basis here to my fellow traveller and today, after 4 days, my only student graduated. She was very pleased with her ability. And so was I. However, had she not been able to find her way back then tough shit baby, I was in the Louvre xxx.

For Montmarte we got off at Abeyss station, per advice from services. Wrong answer!! We should have got off at Sacre Couer. Our trail would have all been downhill. But it was all uphill you twit! Steep uphill steps forever! Whaaaat! This was not my plan. Luckily at the top, after 50 thousand steps lay the Place duTertre. This is the artists square. Portraits, scenes of Paris, famous icons.

I have wanted to visit here ever since I read a golden book called `Gay Paree` when I was 6 years old. It did not disappoint. I loved the buildings, the hillside views. I bought x 2 paintings. Miniature Sacre Cour and Moulin Rouge. They represent where I bought them. The artist himself lit up with a beautiful smile when he witnessed me returning to his little stall with money in hand.

I used Google maps to navigate around the cobblestone lanes to points of interest to me.

Came across the cafe used in the film Amelie. Then to Moulin Rouge. Just the outside.

Athena said to me at the end, Sandra you have a passion for Paris that I have never seen in anyone before. You just love everything this city has to offer- art, gardens, architecture, music, food, police.
My answer was yes indeed I do as I marched off to explore the Louvre all by myself!

(Obviously I asked Athena if she was OK to get to our hotel. To which she replied yes, and for the first time I believed she could actually do it on her own)Read more