The Hodgkinsons Ben, Kristy, Eliza & Reese: Paris Day 2

We got to Paris at about 11 in the afternoon. We were so so tired but ready for some fresh air and Paris. We took the train to our hotel and checked in. We freshened up and bit then took the metro to Montmarte for a food tour. We are so glad we did the food tour. We got to try so many yummy things and see so many things. Our tour guide’s name was Baptiste. When he told us his name I was thinking why is he telling us his religion? I was pretty tired. I started writing down everything Baptiste was telling us and was missing out and seeing things. Luckily he told us he’d email us all the information so I could just enjoy Montmarte, which I really did. I loved the little cafes, the few cherry blossoms that were in bloom, the drinking fountains, the architecture, the fruit and flower stands, the cute little old men, and the charming doors and scenery. During the tour we stopped and tried cheeses, crepes (with lemon juice and sugar), chocolates, baguettes, meats, and macarons.

We saw the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur which means the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. It was our first area but it was definitely a good one so I can see why it’s called the Heart of Paris. Sacré-Cœur is the second most visited monument in Paris. It is at the top of a hill, the highest point in the city, and is just beautiful. Sacré-Cœur is a catholic building and monument for the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War.

We saw The Wall of I Love You. You can see the words “I love you” written or carved in every language of the world. We had to make a loving heart with our hands for Reese.

Gregos is a street artist with graffiti paintings and sculptures all over the world. He is known for his 3D self portraits. He has over 1000 face sculptures around the world, mostly in Paris.

The Bateau-Lavoir, Washhouse Boat, is the nickname of a building that is famous in art history as the residence and meeting place for a group of outstanding early 20th-century artists, men of letters, theater people, and art dealers. Some of the artists that I love that lived there are Henri Matisse, Henri Rousseau and of course, Pablo Picasso.

The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris where the Bastille prison was until it was destroyed during the French Revolution. The July Column commemorates the July Revolution in 1830.

We walked through the red light district where Moulin Rouge is. It was during the day and seemed pretty low key. Baptiste told us it has been cleaned up and regulated and isn’t as bad as it used to be.

After the tour we went to a wine cellar and ate more of all of the things we tried in addition to lots of wine for the rest of our group, delicious chocolate filled eclairs and the best coarse salted butter ever. Really, the best butter ever. By this time we were fighting to keep our eyes open. We dragged ourselves back to our hotel and crashed.

This is the email from Baptise with all the info on the food we ate.

Hi Ben and Kristy,

Hope you are doing well!

It has been a pleasure to show you around Montmartre and share bits and pieces

about Paris, France, fantastic albeit peculiar French people and etiquette,

and last but not least food !!

Please find below the list of places we went to and food we had on this tour:

-Maison George Larnicol, 7-9 Rue de Steinkerque, 75018 Paris = Chocolates

(Best Craftsman of France)

-Christophe Roussel, 5 Rue Tardieu, 75018 Paris = Macarons

-Alexine, 40 Rue Lepic, 75018 Paris = Bakery (4th best baguette of Paris in 2016)

*Bread (Tradition baguette) and Eclair (chocolate and coffee choux pastry)