It’s unfortunate that it has been a little while since I last posted. Turns out the demands of being of a law student are quite, well, demanding! Nonetheless, I’m excited to present my latest trip to Paris. Paris was the kind of place my parents traveled to when I was a child, so admittedly my memories are of going to Disneyland and chasing pigeons. I took French in school for 6 years and had the opportunity to learn about France through different books we read and movies we watched in class. As a young “adult”, Paris has grown on me in a way that I never expected. I’ve always seen Paris through touristy lenses, but I am now starting to see the real Paris. One of my favourite areas is beautiful Montmartre.
Of course, the area is most notable for its cathedral: Basilique du Sacré-Cœur. Up on a hill, the basilica looks quite grand and from the top of Montmartre you also get some great views of the city–for free mind you! No need to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Entrance is free and the Sacré-Cœur is open until 10:30pm everyday! The basilica is beautiful both during the day and the evening. Not only can you see the basilica from all parts of the city, it is also an architectural gem. The overall style of the structure shows a free interpretation of Romano-Byzantine features. A mosaic in the apse entitled Christ in Majesty, created by Luc-Olivier Merson, is among the largest in the world.
Montmartre is a nightclub district and also a LGBTQ-friendly community. What you probably didn’t know is that there are some awesome restaurants up here! I researched quite extensively before picking a place for dinner, and needless to say I was extremely happy (as was my stomach!).
Aux Trois Petits Cochons is an adorable restaurant south of the Sacré-Cœur. Though it may be cliché, this restaurant is a little gem! Victor started off with some kind of potato cake and I started off with oysters. Both dishes were delicious!
For our mains, Victor had the sautéed rump steak drenched in a delicious pepper sauce with mushrooms and a confit of potatoes. Though I couldn’t taste it, Victor said the meat was extremely tender and the mushroom gravy was amazing. I had scallops, my favourite type of seafood, and wow! These are the BEST scallops. Perfectly seasoned and cooked, these scallops are a dream.
For dessert, Victor and I shared an apple tartin, one of my favorite French desserts. It had just enough sweetness. I ate every last bite and drank every last bit of wine because everything was so very good. I can’t wait to come back!
You might ask, why is Montmartre so particularly special? I was naturally drawn to Montmartre because of my deep interest in art, particularly in surrealism, impressionism, and post-impressionism. Such famous artists as Dalí, Picasso, van Gogh, and Monet had studios or worked around this area.
In addition, Montmartre is just so romantic. The cafés are darling, and the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else in the city. Great art, food, coffee, views, what else could you ask for?
Next up, my visit to the Orangerie Museum–home to some of Monet’s finest works!
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