After my journey to Paris Gare du Nord and then a exploring the 5th this second day was when I planned to walked from Montmatre back to the 5th. This was the walk that I had completed before my last Parisian workshop with a colleague from that year’s workshop.
This was my second stay at the Hotel Design and I decided to try other places for breakfast rather than the hotel itself. This morning I walked down the street to the Place Sorbonne and had breakfast at the Pret a Manger there!
The bad news was that the rain started on my way back to pick up my bag.
Day 2: Friday 23rd January 2026: Montmartre
I walked to the taxi rank on the Rue Soufflot. This driver took me on a totally different route to Montmartre. Instead of heading up and past the Gare du Nord we headed West and crossed the Seine on the Pont de la Concorde and then wound our way around the 10th. Interesting but the ride cost me 10 Euros more!
The steps up to Sacré-Cœur were very busy with tourists taking selphies.
I think the rain had driven away a lot of tourists and the steps were quite empty.
The problem with being by myself was that I spent lots of time looking at street art rather than concentrating on my street photography!
Coffee time at “Au Cadet de Gascogne”
By the time I reached the Place du Tertre the rain was quite heavy and I went into the Au Cadet de Gascogne. If the weather had been dry I would have sat outside and watched the passers by. Luckily I did manage to get a table by a window.
After coffee I walked around the nearby streets and found even more art at the side of the Calvaire Street stairs.
At the top of the stairs…
In the Pl. du Tetre the artists were setting up and hoping for the rain to stop.
Down the hill
I walked down the streets but made a detour to check out the view of the church half way down.
Abbesses
The market next to the Abbesses Metro station was being set up. Sadly the “love Wall” was closed.
Boulevard de Clichy
A did more wandering than intended and missed where I wanted to be. As I neared Les Halles I spotted the first of the arcades and I went on an even longer detour.
Plus I spent as much time looking up for Invader or any other street art I could find – very distracting from doing street photography.
Place Dauphine
I skipped lunch and kept walking back to the 5th but after watching “Me before you” and the final scenes when Louisa visits Place Dauphine, on the Île de la Cité (near the Pont Neuf). In January it was definitely not the scene from the film.
I walked along the Île de la Cité till I reached “my bridge”, Pont Saint-Michel and the Bd. Saint-Michel. In the Pl Saint-Michel I joined the queue for the free drinks.
Late lunch was from Pret before the short walk back to Hotel Design.
Outside the Pantheon
After a much needed rest I left early for the introductory meeting with Valerie. Our meeting room was not available on Saturday morning so this workshop had an earlier start on Friday evening. At least the rain had stopped and I paused around the side of the Pantheon as I was early as usual!
Walking down to LEVEL
I make a point of walking past the first art by Mis-Tic that I had ever seen in Paris. Still protected by a screen at the side of the cafe door.
ENJOY YOURSELF TODAY
Introduction meeting
The building work on the opposite side of the street to LEVEL had some interesting gymnastics…
This is the same meeting place that we had met the year before. We were in the room downstairs for Valerie’s introduction.
It must be January but I was surprised at the junk that I had seen in the area and as we past on the walk to the evening’s restaurant.
“En Face de La Petite Périgourdine”
This was a new restaurant, En Face de La Petite Périgourdine, for the evening meal together. We had a table at the back of the very busy restaurant.
An easy walk direct to the Pantheon and Hotel Design.
Once back in my room I was busy preparing for the next day’s workshop and discovered that my batteries were flat in my laptop’s mouse. I dashed out to Rue Soufflot and managed to get into the Carrefour as it was closing. Batteries were behind the counter and eventually I managed to to explain what I wanted to but – AAAs.
The first day of the workshop would start with a meeting in front of the Pantheon.