Montmartre in Paris is Perfect

Bonjour!!  We arrived safely on Sunday morning and although it was a very long flight we were both too excited to worry about catching up on lost sleep.

So.....our adventure began immédiatemont/immediately.

We hit the streets of Montmartre........it is absolutely perfect.

When we arrived the sun was shining...the sky was cobalt blue...and it was a crisp 2 degrees C.  

Spring was everywhere....chestnut trees were sprouting, cherry blossoms were flowering and families were out and about doing their thing.....sitting in cafes, enjoying the sunshine and just...being.  It was perfect.

If you haven't ventured to Montmartre I would recommend that you come and have a look...it has a lovely village atmosphere, lots of bistros, cafes, boulangeries and there is a quaint Montmartrobus that takes you around those hilly streets.  And yes.....there are lots and lots of stairs.....but then you have a really good excuse to indulge in those delicious chocolat pains!

Here's how we spent the first few days in Montmartre.

The sun was shining and Parisians were out and about.

Those iconic green Morris advertising columns are an easy way to keep up with all the new shows and exhibitions. 

Cherry blossoms are in flower all over Montmartre.

Families, with their very well behaved children were enjoying a Sunday arvo in Montmartre.

Madame (centre top balcony) was tending her garden box on Sunday.   I thought this was a wonderful idea....and went searching for the nearest fleuriste.

This is the view from our kitchen window.......can't wait to see those well pruned trees in flower.

Following Madam's lead, this is my pot of hydrangeas for the window box.

Lots of shade at this window...so they should do really well.

This is the fleuriste just across the road from our apartment...what a temptation!

Pierre thought that these electric cars on rue Caulaincourt were shocking?  Such a comedian!

On the way to Le Moulin de la Galette...a man who could walk through walls!

It's a long way up...but at the top there is the best patisseriere in Montmartre!

Still navigating the Metro.....will tell you more about it in a later post.

Pierre doing his thing on rue Caulaincourt!

The lovely mural at the entrance to Le Moulin de la Galette

Le Moulin de la Galette...one of two remaining moulins in Montmartre and the subject of wonderful paintings by Renoir and Van Gogh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moulin_de_la_Galette.

Just had to see Sacre Coeur without all the tourists....so we headed off at 7am one morning.......oh no, those dreaded steps!

You can see the basilica in the distance....wonderfully lit.

Obviously someone loved visiting Sacre Coeur.

You can see how beautiful it is.....and not a soul about.  

The view of the whole is Paris is amazing from Sacre Coeur.

Here comes the sun (7.30am)

Beautiful little parks and fountains are everywhere in Montmartre.

Montmartre is gorgeous.....a little bit away from the madding crowd.....but, if you want the madding crowd, then the Metro will take you there in about 15 minutes.  


We did this yesterday and were slap bang in the middle of it (at Tuileries) in no time at all.  Wanted to check out that gorgeous little artisan shop, Astier de Villatte http://www.astierdevillatte.com/......Wow!!!  You could see the artists' hands at work on all their gorgeous pieces.  I think this shop is going to be one of my favourites.

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter......Pierre and I plan to go Easter egg hunting on Saturday!!

A bientôt.

You may also like my post on:
http://parisallons-y.blogspot.fr/2012/02/parisian-arrondissements.html