Montmartre Artists and Sacre Coure

No, there’s nothing unscrupulous about that title. Anyone who has been to Paris and went to visit Sacre Coure and Montmartre know about the artists that wander around Place Du Tetre very willing to do your sketch for half price. These are the charming men who will do your sketch in about 15 minutes while they flirt and flatter the ladies into believing that they are the most beautiful thing on earth and worthy enough to take a rightful place next to the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.

So on day five of our Paris trip we we made our way to one of my favorite places in all of Paris. Not really for the hoards of tourists which were there that day, but to wander around the quiet hilly streets beyond all the crowds. After climbing up to the top and seeing that famous church, we made our way around to the artists square. On our way we stopped to enjoy a trio of street artists who were very good. So good I ended up buying a CD they were selling after their performance.

First one of those Monmartre artist caught Renee and started doing her sketch. She gave in thinking what the heck. Seeing me stand there another artist came over and started to do mine. Well let me tell you, what they say about French older men is true. Smooth as silk as he flirted and caused me to blush. It was all in good fun though and I got a kick out of it. I could not believe I fell for the trap and went through with getting my sketch done. When he was done and showed me the sketch he told me this is how I see you beautiful with the cute hair and I thought who is that creature in that picture. She sure wasn’t me!! Looking back, he had a point. We are usually our own worst critic and it may have been words just for show, but I had extra spring in my step the rest of the day.

After we had our sketches safely in the protective tubes, we took a seat at a cafe and had a glass of wine and a dessert to recharge for the rest of the day. The rest of our time in Monmartre was spend walking to the vineyard, finding Picasso’s studio, and taking a ton of pictures. We purchased some art back at Place du Tetre on our way back to remember this day. My trip to Paris five years earlier I had my daughter’s sketch done by one of the artists in the square. It is framed and proudly hangs in the entrance in my house. Now I have mine to go beside it.