Montmartre

[intertext]

The sun was shining (hip hip hooray) this morning, so I decided to go to Montmartre. I heart Paris, but I especially heart Montmartre. Yes, it's touristy, but it's very charming and beautiful. And I walked and walked and walked today - all the way up the hill from the Metro station to the Sacre Coeur, then ALL the way home. I just wandered until I found myself close enough that I figured I'd just keep going.

Of course, I had another wonderful lunch - this time in an Auberge that was once frequented by just about all the famous artists you can think of, AND Zola. Its garden served as the model for one of Van Gogh's paintings. What I liked was that it had a nice shady terrace out of the way of the throngs on the street, but I could sit and watch the world going by. Also, apart from a couple of Germans, I was the only non-French person there, as far as I could tell, which made a nice change from all the touristy ones closer to the Sacre Coeur. Here, because lidocafe asked for it, is a picture of my lunch.



Chicken with chervil, the best bread so far, house white wine and coffee to follow. The beans were overcooked again - I'm surprised by this trend, having thought the French knew better. However, the chicken was delicious. I can't believe how much I'm eating on this trip; it's a good thing I'm doing so much walking or I would definitely get fat!

EDIT: Oh, and I forgot to mention: I saw two cats today. After all the hundreds of dogs (that I love a lot) it was nice to see a couple of felines. One was obviously the "house cat" of the restaurant where I had lunch.

And today's musical offering was a harpist on the steps of Sacre Coeur. Rather nice until he started to play "My Heart Will Go On"...

Comments

[brinian.livejournal.com]

Yay! You made it to Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur! Lunch looks wonderful. Is it coincidence or are you taking my suggestions? You've been visiting all my favorite places. I may have to go back sooner rather than later now that you've been making me miss seeing all the wonderful sites. Oh wait...yeah...need a job that PAYS decently :-) (Votes for Saint Denis "a demain"! I love all the tombs.)

[intertext.livejournal.com]

Well, I think we share some interests, plus many of these places are Paris' "greatest hits" :) Not sure about St. Denis - I may later next week if the promised sunshine doesn't turn up.

[lidocafe.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmm . . . and it's lunch time here and I'm deciding between two cans of soup! Ugh.

Have you read Kay Boyle or Robert McAlmon or Hemingway's A Moveable Feast? If so, is it all recognizable?

[intertext.livejournal.com]

I haven't read any of the above! My only prior knowledge of Montmartre was by reputation and from seeing "Moulin Rouge" :)

Tourism

[(Anonymous)]

Have you come across the tour of Paris choclatiers (sp?) Saw it on TV, and I'm still thinking about a basil and lime chocolate that was mentioned . . .
MKB

Re: Tourism

[intertext.livejournal.com]

I haven't - and think it might be one to be avoided for someone who gets migraines from anything but the most teeny tiny piece of chocolate! I'll keep an eye out for the basil and lime one though in my shopping expeditions...