Art and Food Experiences in Paris
I've always imagined walking around Paris with gelato in hand or sitting in a cafe overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Wishes do come true. If you imagine something again and again, sooner or later it will materialize in front of you and all you have to do is believe.
We wanted something different for Paris, not just the normal tourist site attractions. I knew exactly what we needed to do. I've always wanted to study art and I thought to myself why not explore that possibility in France. Let’s go!
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Check-in: Ibis Budget Paris Porte De Montmartre
October 12–16
Address: 45 Rue du Docteur Babinski 18th arr. 75018 Paris France
5 days, 4 nights: 275 euros (2 pax)
Next Destination: Siena, Italy
We chose Ibis Budget Paris Porte De Montmartre for the location and it's cheaper compared to most hotels in the area.
Tuesday, October 15
Activities for the day: Art Class, check out Sacre Couer and dinner in Montmartre
My husband and I along with a close friend of mine made up our travel group for this trip. We took Uber for all our activities in Paris as it saved us considerable travel time around the city. Every minute counted! We divided the cost of each ride between the three of us. Uber rides: 15-25 euros
Art Class at Eiffel Tower
Address: Place du Trocadéro et du 11 Novembre, 75016 Paris, France
Class fee: 20 euros
In my previous blog post, I mentioned there that the original plan was to have the art class the next day we arrived from the airport. However, jet lag kicked in and we slept through the alarm. Believe it or not, we ditched our art class teacher. She was mad but the goodness of her heart shined through and she gave us another chance to retrieve our glory.
We purchased our Art Class Voucher with GROUPON
The day has come to unleash our creativity to the world. We wanted to paint the Eiffel Tower; our teacher was confused and asked why. I answered well, of course, why not?! just like that short and straightforward. It was a sunny, windy day and tourists of all sorts flocked to the attraction site. Our teacher proposed to meet up at the Trocadero Cafe where we can walk to a good vantage point of the tower.
A sweet French lady with lovely
eyes and a cherry voice. She brought with her 3 canvasses, brushes, and a
variety of acrylic paints, which she distributed to us. We found a
spot near the fountains that sat perfectly in front of the tower.
It was a short class; we had to
decide what angle of the Eiffel Tower appealed to us right at the
moment. It's funny as each one of us had a unique idea for our painting. My
friend wanted to paint hers as a happy, sunny day. I chose the sunset
scenery. Lastly, my husband imagined a starry night. It was a perfect showing of The Tower from start to end.
Our paintings looked exquisitely
cute, they deserved to be in the Louvre Museum. Our art was painted with so
much love and excitement. Back when I was still in Singapore, I'd always wanted to pursue my love for the arts and painting. This art class in Paris unlocked that fantasy. I'll be painting more this year and maybe one day I'll get to show my love of art to the world, fulfilling my dream of being an artist.
Montmartre
The last place we want to see is a small town up on the hill of Paris called "Montmartre."
Montmartre Address: Parvis du Sacré-Cœur,
75018 Paris, France
We didn't take the usual tourist route. Instead, we wanted to take our time and climb some stairs to reach Montmartre. It's a fun way to see a foreign place.
Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur
Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur
Overlooking the view of the city.
Respect the locals
This is a great place to see real artists doing their craft. You can also purchase paintings here and, even better, meet the artists themselves. I didn't take a picture of their privacy. One artist said she did not want to be photographed even if just her back, especially her paintings. Most of the other guys were cool about it.
Most photographed crosswalks in Montmarte.
Make sure to get your souvenirs here, they're handmade and unique for your collections.
We took a different route when we went down the hill.
I love seeing apartment verandas here in Paris.
The Famous Escargot
For our last day in Paris, we made sure to try the must-eat foods on our list. Not every day, you get to try food made in the country itself. Seize the moment and satisfy your appetite!
Snails it is.
Baguettes and Croissants
There's only one slice of baguette left on our table and the croissant is all gone - the bread is that good! Paris is a bakery mecca for bread lovers out there.
French Macarons
More macarons, please.
Crepes and Gelato
Must try! Crepes and Gelato.
Duck Confit
Crème brûlée
Random Bookstore
A random bookstore along the way and look at what I found! One of my favourite authors is here; who would have thought. One of his famous quotes about travelling is “Travel is never a matter of money but of courage.” One of these days I'm going to make my "Top 35 Inspiring Quotes by Paulo Coelho." Be mind-blown how this novelist gets to your inner core with wise words and a distinct love for life.
This building right here reminds me of a structure in Toronto, Canada. I love how Paris brings back memories of my life in Canada.
This ends our tour in France. Another memorable travel experience with my partner — my world's one and only champion. Walking around Paris was just like walking around another city — or that's what I thought. But there is something about these places that brings you back to when men opened doors for ladies, guys serenade girls, and, moreover, where conversations are more important than in today's digital era of texting and video chatting. Paris is truly a romantic city.
Also, take a look at "Must-Have Travel Planner for Travelers". The planner also serves as a keepsake of your trip, allowing you to look back on your adventures and relive the memories. Whether you're an experienced traveller or new to exploring the world, a travel planner can help ensure that you have a smooth and enjoyable journey.
Have fun and be safe ^__^
Where am I going next?
My next adventure is Taking the train from Paris, France to Siena, Italy.
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