From Montmartre to the Eiffel Tower

Travelling to Montmartre

We slept like the dead and wake to bright sunshine.

Even though there are closer Metro stations, we walk to St. Michel. I side step a few spots of “merde de chien” along the way. We also pass an old arena from the first century which is now a park and some beautiful, narrow Parisian streets.

After some initial confusion at the Metro, we chat to the info person, grab some transit maps and buy a couple three day Navigo (transit) passes.

Sacre Coeur

Our first stop is Sacre Coeur. It is just like I remember it. Being fashion week, my sister and I buy a few berets from a souvenir shop.

The Cathedral is lovely inside but it is outside that leaves me breathless. A busker singing on the steps is joined by tourists. The view across Paris is spectacular but a little smokey. I see Notre Dame in the distance.

Around Montmartre

We wander the streets of Montmartre and check out St Pierre de Montmartre. Built in 1133, this is a one of Paris’s oldest churches.

We stroll around the sun dappled Place du Tertre (square). Filled with portrait artists, painters and sidewalk cafes. Musicians are busking in many places.

The French make people watching a sport…a very enjoyable sport. It is true, people dress really well in Paris.

I spot the same silhouette artist stand where we got the boys silhouette portraits done in 2006. Some things remain the same.

Lunch

We stop for lunch at a sidewalk cafe and people watch over flavourful bowls of moules et frites. The food is divine but there is no sign of Alfie or Gabriel (Emily in Paris) at the restaurant.

An older lady sits four tables away, hacking and coughing as she smokes yet another cigarette with her lunch. The French do smoke a lot more than Canadians.

Windmills and Bars

We walk down the cobbled street to check out Lapin Agile, Paris’s oldest bar and cabaret. This place was frequented by Picasso and Modigliani.

A small, private vineyard is nestled into the hillside next to Lapin Agile.

Montmartre Cemetary

Passing one of Montmartre’s windmills, we make our way to the Montmartre Cemetery. It reminds me of the cemetery in Buenos Aires. Walking through the shaded monuments, we pay our respects to Degas and Nijinisky.

Since it’s Fashion week, I’ve been looking for Pierre Cadault (Emily in Paris)…but instead I find the final resting place of Pierre Cardin.

Moulin Rouge

Our final stop in Montmartre is the Moulon Rouge before we take the Metro to Pont de l’Alma and the Bateau Mouches.

Bateau Mouche

The golden flame unofficial monument to Princess Diana shines warmly in the late afternoon sun. The monument is over the Point de l’Alma underpass where Princess Diana’s car crashed.

The sun is beginning to set as we begin our cruise down the Seine. A large family with numerous kids under five sit right in front of us and it’s too late to move. They are very loud but fortunately they go somewhere else on the boat for half the trip. No matter how often I go, I always enjoy the cruise down the Seine.

Sparkling Like Diamonds

The lights turn on the Eiffel Tower by the end of the cruise. The Olympic rings are also still on the tower. At the end of our tour, we head to the Pont de l’Alma and eat the butter, salted caramel and banana crepes that we bought from a street stand. At exactly 9:00pm, the tower sparkles like diamonds for five minutes. Click here for a quick video. It’s pure magic.

My sister and I take the subway back to our apartment. Such a magical day.