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Europe 2016: Trekking up Montmartre
posted : Saturday, September 03, 2016
Train was delayed for about half an hour and for a moment I feared the worse. Like maybe some train strike and the train got cancelled or something. And when I googled some scarier news like random stabbings or attacks on trains came up which honestly freaks ppl out.
But seems like it's just a plain old technical fault so boarded the train after a while.
Platform at Amsterdam Centraal
Got a first class ticket! Lol. Because I booked late, all cheap second class tickets have been sold out, leaving only those flexible kinds which are more expensive. Even more expensive than the cheapest first class ticket so that's how I ended up in first class. It was supposed to come with a meal but due to the so called technical fault they didn't manage to load the meals on board so ended up with just snacks. 
Maybe just more leg room as compared to second class, I duno?
Snacks. Sigh. Wasn't much.
Slightly over three hours and arrived to a gloomy looking Paris. My Airbnb apartment was a 10minute walk from Gare du Nord (deliberately chose one that is relatively near in view of the luggage I was carrying) and frankly speaking, the neighborhood looked pretty dodgy and rowdy. More minus points on first impression. 
Gare du Nord
And I realized I hadn't arrange how to meet my host so all I did was to wait downstairs and texted her using my Dutch number. It started drizzling even and after a while she replied with the security code and ask me to let myself in and come up to her apartment.
Brief introductions, I am pretty glad she spoke decent English though she did leave behind a self written note/guide to the neighborhood in French. Then she left me to my own devices and that's actually the last time I ever saw her hahah. Suits me.
I think it's just missing a TV hahaha. Found it unsettlingly quiet at night. Loved the bed actually. And the apartment is all the reason that I get inspired to maybe move to a studio.
Toilet/bathroom
Kitchen. Would be a really awesome perk if I decided to spend more time in the apartment for whatever reason. Had everything.
When you switch on the light at night hahahaha. Cool eh.
Anyway, after managing to get the message through that I am safe and sound in Paris, headed out! Considering I only have slightly less than half a day left I decided to do Montmartre which is pretty near. But first order of business is to get a SIM card so braved myself and entered one of the shops (which still looked pretty dodgy despite the two shopkeepers appearing friendly) and in my desperation to get things done quickly and leave I almost left my passport behind wth.
Headed down to Marx Dormoy station for a two stop ride to Jules Joffrin. Bought a book of 10 tickets for my three days stay and decided that I will restrict metro travels to this amount. First Parisian metro ride and promptly met with a train breakdown which I had no idea was happening until a kind passenger told me the train was "no more". What are the odds really, just two stops and train broke down after one stop. Even lesser first impression points.
Walked up slope in the drizzle. Guides I read all recommended to start from the back of Sacre-Coeur to avoid all the tourist buzz (read: tourist scams) in front. Found a walking self-guide and started following it religiously hehe.
Book of 10 tickets!
Up we go.
Despite the physical work and weather and (at this point) worry of being mugged...still found time to admire Paris. The whole vibe is just, relaxing? I really don't know how to describe it. But I started liking this city. Despite not even been to anywhere significant.
Sacre-Coeur is still soooo far away.
Here we are.
Mandatory selfie. At this point quite annoyed coz phone kept randomly shutting down because it's cold and had no choice but to permanently keep it hooked to the portable charger. Oh what will people do without portable chargers.
View from the top
Place du Tertre. Another one of my favourites.
Snuck out a photo. Kept seeing these around Paris and had to resist myself from buying one with the reason "where to hang"
Many cafes in the square and it's about time for dinner so decided to go inside one. Because the set meals all looked pretty affordable so why not. And it's really freezing outside so want to have something warm down my throats.
Menu. Actually went around the square a few rounds checking out all the menus before deciding on this one.
French onion soup! My only bowl in Paris though.
Went for the roasted chicken, which was so-so but the mashed potatoes are yum.
Chocolate mousse!
More exploring after dinner. Going downhill now, this wasn't the actual Moulin Rouge which I couldn't find and was getting a bit restless.
A Parisian apartment block.
Place des Abbesses and the carousel
Looking up to Sacre-Coeur. This is the point where tour usually starts.
Gotta love the station exit designs. Simple.
Decided to head back as it was getting late and I kind of felt that there's no point hanging around outside in this weather. So went back to do a bit of planning for the next day. And laundry lol.
And made a mental note: survived day one of Paris without losing anything.
Montmartre would have been even more fabulous had it not been so cold and rainy. Was shivering most of the time. But all the same, it was breathtaking from the top.
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