Montmarte…I fell in love with this bohemian village on our first trip to Paris. A place where poets, artists and writers lived as it was a cheap place to live. I could imagine sitting in one of the many cafes in a past life writing about the people I saw each day. Joining me would be some of the most famous artist’s such as Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gough, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , Suzanne Valadon and Picasso to name just a few.
Our trip to the top would be via the Petit Train, it would weave in an out the streets of Montmartre making its way to the top. We caught it right near Moulin Rouge and the trip finished out the front of the Sacre Coure
Moulin Rouge
Petit Train
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris – Sacré-Cœur
The Sacré-Cœur is the second most visited monument in Paris. It is at the highest point in Paris. The views over Paris are stunning. Yet both times I have been there its been overcast. Inside the Sacré-Cœur is nothing short of stunning. This time I actually took a photo, well I took a few but only one worked out. I must work on my photography skills for inside buildings.
Inside Sacré-Cœur – Stunning
I’m sure you have seen photos of La Maison Rose on social media. I know I have. I always wondered what its story was. Is it because its pink?
La Maison Rose isn’t too far from Sacré-Cœur and you can get both in the shot depending on where you stand. Picasso used to visit La Maison on a regular basis. Maybe this is where I thought I sat with my coffee in a past life?
La Maison Rose
The girl in the photo was a passerby perhaps a local. Looks can be deceiving. It looks quiet in the street, yet behind me there were loads of people all trying to get “that shot”
As we made our way along the cobblestone streets we passed a tribute to Van Gough.
Tribute to Van Gough
There are two windmills out of a dozen or so still there in Montmartre. Le Moulin Blute-Fin’ and ‘Le Moulin Radet were built-in the 17th century. I was able to get a shot not that good but still.
These windmills over the years have been painted by some of the most famous artists such as Van Gough.
Windmills of Montmartre
Our walking tour of Montmartre was over. Everyone was able to wander around for a little bit then head back to the ship.. We decided we would make our own way back to the ship.
Here is a tip: Public toilets are far and few between and Montmartre there are none. So if you do need to go, head to cafe get a drink and use the toilets. Also, a lot are downstairs and the stairs can be quite steep. We managed to find a cafe that the toilets were on the same level.
We enjoyed a coffee and a creme brulee each. I thought I took a photo but perhaps I didn’t, it was lovely though. We sat outside and watched everyone walk by. Fascinating!
Our view while having a coffee and a Crème brûlée
Another view from where we were enjoying our café au lait and Crème brûlée
This square is part of the reason I fell in love with Montmartre, cafes and artists everywhere.
Amazing clothing shops and one Nina Kendosa is where in 2016 I purchased a skirt. We couldn’t find it again, typical. So I thought the shop had closed down. Once home, I checked online and to my dismay I discovered it’s still open and doing a roaring trade. 2020 here I come!
France has a etiquette when dinning. The seats out the front of cafe’s, is where you can sit and enjoy a coffee. Inside you will find tables with paper and or tablecloths. If you wish to sit at a table with a tablecloth, you will be expected to order and have 3 courses.
When I visited the bathroom inside the cafe I saw courtyard and it looked so pretty. So I asked the waiter if we could sit there. He said yes of course you can. He wasnt aware we had already ordered a coffee for the front of the restaurant. Oh dear, things nearly got awful. Those tables in the courtyard were for diners who would eat and drink all afternoon. Our waiter became so angry his arms were flaying around his head. I thought his eyes were going to leap out and run away. Somehow I managed in my broken French to calm him down. I think I fluttered my eyes at him, lightly touched him on his wrist with a finger and then we both laughed.
We wandered around some more before making our way back to the ship. Little did we know how far we would be walking. More on that in the next post.
A very foggy or smoggy photo of the Eifel Tower from Montmartre
Le Consulate Montmartre
Le Consulate Montmartre, another cafe that has had many famous artists such as Monet, Picasso, Van Gough and Toulouse-Lautrec.
The steps at Montmartre
** Next post will be on our walking trek through the streets of Paris**
Of course more photos will be on Instagram. Thank you so much for stopping by.
Travel and Lifestyle with Bree 
This brought back lovely memories of our time in this area! We did a great walking tour in Montmartre and learnt so much. Beautiful images too, visiting from #seniorsalon
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thanks Deb xx…its always lovely when there is a posts and it brings back memories
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We had a similar experience with the Eifel Tower being in the smog both 23 years ago and last year! Is it ever possible to get a clear day in Paris? Your picture of the crepes brings back memories, gosh they really know how to make good ones, especially with mushrooms. Thanks for your blog.
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mushrooms mmmh. I see photos of clear days.. these people must sit and wait.
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I worked in Paris once a month for a few years and had a view of Sacrè Coeur, yet never went inside. How stupid of me! So glad you managed to sort things with the waiter!
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Oh my really? I hope you do one day xx haha yes crisis averted
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Loved the post. You have captured the beauty of Montmartre beautifully. We stayed at a hotel in Montmartre on our three day Paris trip but never got a chance to explore it so well as you did. We went to sacrecoer but didnt visit the windmills or the Van Gogh tribute.
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Our first time in Montmartre we didn’t see as much we did this trip. There is so much to see, there is a wall of love that I must find on the next trip. Thank you for stopping by x
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Great post – you can’t beat walking to get a real flavour of an area! Love the tips on dining etiquette & toilets. Always useful!
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Yes walking tour’s are always great. Thank you for stopping by
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Aw, how typical that both times you’ve been to Sacré-Cœur it’s been overcast. Still, Montmartre as a village is something I knew very little (nothing) about so this made for fascinating reading. There’s so much beauty, history, intrigue there.. Sound like the public toilet situation is much like how I find it to be in many places in the UK where you have to pop into a cafe for a drink. Interesting that the shop you went to before has now gone online. It’s a sign of the times and yet very sad, especially because you’d think that if these places could flourish anywhere, it would be there. Crikey, not to keen on how angry the waiter got, glad you put your broken French & fluttering eyes to good use! Thank you for sharing all of this & your beautiful photos with us =]
Caz xxxx
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yes I think Europe is all the same. You either have to pay or buy a coffee…so your still paying. Yet I found all the toilets/bathrooms very clean. Thank you xx
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It’s decades since I last went to Paris and it was lovely to revisit through your footsteps.
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I know most people prioritize Notre Dame over Sacre Coeur when they visit Paris, but I think the two should be flipped! If for no other reason than because Sacre Coeur is surrounded by Montmartre!
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I have yet to go inside Notre Dame…the lines were so long when we were there.. July busy time…next time and then I can answer fully on which I prefer. hehe
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Would you recommend staying in this area of Paris for a mother/daughter trip?
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That would be a lovely place to stay or the Marais…My niece stayed in Montmartre…It is the red light district of Paris though.
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this is a wonderful area to tour. I picked up some nice prints there.
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Oh it is. Yes you can get some amazing things there.
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A lovely day
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It was x
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Lovely… I love Montmartre too… would love to explore it more if I get to Paris again soon….
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Its beautiful isn’t it….I hope you do. I plan on going in 2020
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Ahh lucky you… please blog further on Paris when you return.. I love the blog by the way, and your adventures with your sisters… 🙂
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Oh thank you so much xx I will be writing lots about Paris when I go back. Again thank you x
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