Montmartre

The most authentic part of Paris. But also the most artistic. 

At least, some would say so. The reason? 

Well, in the center of the 18th arrondissement where Montmartre is located, there is this artist square where portrait artists sit all day and draw tourists as their job. Weird, right, well, you would think, but this has been happening since the 1630s. Because of the long history and the meaning behind the square, artists must apply for a spot, which usually takes about ten years. The artists can only paint Paris scenes, portraits and caricatures of people in the square.

So, like any tourist, I had to get one. And that's precisely what I did. When my roommate Kate came to visit me, I took her to the artist square and we got our portrait done like anyone does when they go to Paris. $120 later, the portrait of us turned out absolutely fabulous. 

Montmartre is a transformation from a busy city located by the Sacre Coeur, Cathedral, 300 steps, and a few hills from the main Paris streets. It doesn't seem like too many steps, but sweat starts dripping once you reach 200 steps in the steepest staircase you've ever seen. I was out of breath by, like, the second hill. I mean, there is a tram, but my broke self was not about to pay for that. The steps it was. 

But all those stairs were worth it; the view of the city was unforgettable. You could see everything from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe. If you've ever seen Monte Carlo, the movie, there is this scene where Selena Gomez says, " Paris, nobody pinches me." That part of the movie was from the lookout at Montmartre; let me tell you, it's a pinch-me moment. The first time I ever went was with my French co-worker; from that moment, I knew I never wanted to leave. The art, little town, adorable cafes and views felt like a place I belonged. 

The town almost reminds me of an old storybook town in the quietest part of Paris. The noise was much duller; you could tell those neighborhoods were for Parisian families and locals covered the streets. Besides the tourist cathedral and the crazy artist square, the town screamed authenticity and I fell in love with it. Once I found this place, my friends and I would walk around the streets, meeting locals and enjoying night outs. It was truly a Parisian experience. 

bisous bisous <3