7/10/2023 The Hillcrest of Paris

The first spot we stayed in Paris was nice. We stayed at a Hostel in the 15th Arr. about a mile south of the Eiffel Tower. The hostel had a nice courtyard with live music on the first night, there were plenty of nice cafe’s within a walk’s distance and we were close to the metro.

The second area we stayed in made the first seem like a cabin in the woods. We upgraded to a hotel in the 9th Arr. slightly less than a mile south of Montmartre. This area was poppin’ and reminded me much of Hillcrest in San Diego. The daytime felt like a habitual farmers market. Fresh produce was sold up and down the streets. Sidewalks were nicely landscaped with trees, bushes, flowers, and small parks. The cafe’s here were busy throughout the day and night. People smiled, laughed and the overall energy of the area felt good.

This area even has a history of being on the risqué scene. There were about half a dozen sex shops, Moulin Rouge for those familiar, and a bar, Dirty Dicks, which gave us a punch bowl lit on fire. For a bar with that name, the interior design was actually quite boujie. Funny enough, the owner of Dirty Dicks helped start False Idol in downtown SD.

Lastly, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris on the hill in Montmartre was beautiful. Surrounded by pop-up art vendors, cafe’s with large connected patios, and medieval architecture, a local told us that Montmartre is the most Parisian embodiment of the city. It sure felt like it.

We ended the day with a sunset cruise down the Seine river and marveled at the views of some of Paris's most notable sites (the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, La conciergerie, Hotel de ville, the American Church of Paris, and Musee d'orsay).

~ J