Day at Montmarte

Go down early to have breakie and speak with a Brazilian guy and an Argentinian woman, shower and then pack up my stuff to move to the other Youth Hostel.  It is good that I have some of my stuff in the locker in Montparnasse Paris so I can go and get that later.

My Artist in Montmarte 3

I find my way to the new Youth Hostel and I as I am getting there notice that the area is sooo much nicer.  Then I see the Youth Hostel and it is far nicer than any of the others.  I am glad I decided to upgrade.  I am in a room with 4 people and we have our own shower and bathroom.  It is really clean and feels safe.  I check in but am unable to go to my room until 4pm so I put my bag in the luggage storage and then head off for the day.

Artist in Montmarte

I buy a baguette and head to Montemartre.  Montemartre is the highest point in Paris and has the Bascilica of Sacre Coeur on its top.  It is also an artists enclave and has small cobbled streets.  I get the funicular to the top as the steps are steep and I have done a heap of walking.  There is a magnificent view from the top and this is where I decide to eat my lunch and look at the view.  Its a bit warm so I get a bit red but it is worth it.

I then go and explore the artists enclave, there are about 2/3 portrait artists 1/3 landscape.  There are many different styles and some are amazingly good.  Others, not so good.  I speak with some of the artists and watch.  I soon become entreuged by one man who has amazing talent.  He really captures something within the people he paints, it is amazing.  I keep walking around and come back to the same guy and watch as his masterpieces take shape.  In the end I watch him for 3 hours,  there is a Ukranian girl I speak with who watches him for an hour also and an Australian family who watch for an hour and a half.  We all get caught up in it.  The Ukranian girl is an artists and decides to get her portrait done.  It is fantastic to watch him complete the work from start to finish.  The Australian woman who has had portraits done by other artists decides she wants him to do her picture.  And then after 3 hours of watching I decide that I would regret it if I didn't get my picture also done.  It is amazing to sit there to watch him study you.  The strange thing is to see that other people walk by and then stop and watch as he is drawing, they all smile and give reassuring glances and some take pictures.  This is really wierd thinking that I am in some persons happy snaps.

My Artist in Montmarte 1

A guy comes up and watches for about 20 minutes then he says in French "Vous avez un tel visage de bébé et la chambre à coucher observe" or in English "You have such a baby face and bedroom eyes".  I ignore him. The stupid idiot sticks around.  He finishes and I love it.  Okay I know its the highest form of loving yourself getting your own portrait drawn but as the Australian women pointed out to me before I decided to do it.  It is a memory of a moment in Paris and is something special.  Now only to build the house and to have it put on the entrance hall wall!

When I leave creepoid follows me speaking to me, I try ignorning him and being polite at the same time.  Answering his questions with one word answers and not getting into conversation, he thinks he has found a friend I think I have found another conman.  I find a vendor selling a tube and head back.  He says he will walk me to the station.  I know where it is but he wont leave.  He asks me what I have seen, where I am staying, who I am travelling with etc, etc, etc. I say I am travelling with 4 people, 2 girls, 2 guys and I have seen everything.  He wants to take me out to dinner.  I say no.  He then hops on the train with me I say I am now going somewhere else.  I ask where he is going and then prompty eject him from the train when his spot comes.  I then look behind me when I get off the train.  Freakin stoopid ugly French men.

My Artist in Montmarte 2

Oh a strange thing I notice, maybe its a public transport thing or maybe not.  The women are gorgeous, absolutely immaculate dressed fantasticlly look amazing and the men are just ugly.  Nothing handsome about the at all, well that's Paris.

I then go back to pick up my bags from the station and head to the Youth Hostel.  There is an English guy, a Hungarian girl and a Korean girl staying in my room, they are all pretty nice.

My artist and Me

Self indulgent portrait in Montmarte