Montmartre for Artists, Art, and the old Paris

A hill that reaches a height of about 130 meters (427 feet), located in the north of Paris in the eighteenth arrondissement, Montmartre has long been known as the premier artist's enclave in the city. The word Montmartre is translated to mean "mountain of the martyr" and was derived from the martyrdom of Saint Denis - the bishop of Paris - who was decapitated atop the hill in 250 AD. 

I see artisitc heritage, windmills, moulin rogue, concert posters, and post cards. 

Je vois patrimoine artisitc, moulins à vent , moulin rogue , affiches de concerts , et des cartes postales.

Saint Germain des Pres for Boutiques

The official "center" of the area is the church of St. Germain des Prés (metro St. Germain des Prés).The original foundations were laid in the 3d century A.D. but the church standing today was built in 1163 and is the remnant of what was once a rather large monastery complex. Visible remains can be seen in the ivy-covered areas inside the wrought iron fence that surrounds the building. 




I see sunglasses. shoes. bookshops, clothes, and figurines.

Je vois des lunettes de soleil . chaussures. librairies , des vêtements et des figurines .

The Latin Quarter for Cheap Eats

Someplace Tom likes to go to a lot because it's always good, usually friendly, and feels just a little bit homey is Balzar, 49, rue des Ecoles (01 43 54 13 67, photo at right). This is one of those "last of the neighborhood bistros" that newspapers like the New York Times like to write about, and we seem, oddly enough, to be finding more and more of them. You'd think that this apparently dying breed would have fewer survivors, but there you have it. Balzar is very, very good, indeed. The service is attentive and sometimes wry, and the owner is extremely cordial and will greet you warmly, especially if you return. 





I see bread, cofee, cake, wine, cheese, and pastries.

Je vois le pain , café, gâteau, vin, fromage et pâtisseries .

Catacombs

The name of ‘Catacombs’ was given to this ossuary in reference to the Catacombs of Rome, a name originally given to an ancient cemetery situated not far from the Appian Way. The Cemetery of the Innocents (near Saint-Eustache, in the area of Les Halles) had been in use for nearly ten centuries and had become a source of infection for the inhabitants of the locality. After numerous complaints, the Council of State decided, on November 9th 1785, to prohibit further use of the Cemetery of the Innocents and to remove its contents.

skulls, dead bodies, bones, brick walls, secret entrance

crânes, des cadavres , des os, des murs de briques , entrée secrète

j.ai mange

la bouillabaisse, la crèmebrûléele