Sunday, September 26, 2010

Montmartre - Amelie's Neighborhood

If you lived in Montmartre, even for a very short week...




you might pass colorful wall art on your way to...




having a bowl of cafe au lait with a crispy croissant or a crusty baguette at a charming boulangerie and cafe such as Coquelicot.




You might pass by one of the many Wallace fountains in Paris that have been providing clean drinking water to Parisiens since 1872.




You might decide to take the metro and enter it at the Abesses station under one of the last remaining art nouveau style metro canopies or...




you could take the many stairs to get up and over la butte instead of through it. The funicular, would also get you to the top. Taking it is an interesting experience, and would give you the chance to say funicular repeatedly on the way to the top to amuse yourself.




If you choose to walk, you may pass poor St. Denis who, after being beheaded on the hilltop, accomplished the impressive feat of carrying his head for several miles preaching a sermon the whole way. He is the saint to call upon for headache relief. Really.




On your way back from a busy day of shopping, cooking and eating in the 18th arrondisement, you might pass little French boys who are either returning from school or perhaps... looking for their wayward Red Balloon.




At the bottom of the hill you might stop to enjoy a setting from the movie Amelie...




or perk up with a late afternoon espresso at Cafe des Deux Moulins where she worked.




Then you might pass by this fellow who doesn't really fit the typical profile of a graffiti artist...




and this minou peu on the Rue Des Abesses on your way to climb the three flights of stairs to your hotel room where nothing ever felt better than sitting on the edge of the bathtub and soaking your feet in cool water while sipping le vin rosé and recollecting your very busy and wonderful day in Montmartre.

1 comment:

Little Lulu said...

I think this might be the best blog entry ever.
P.S. Bought cafe au lait bowls in the city yesterday. Not so cute as those in Paris but the right size and shape.