In 1979-80 Julie and I lived
just a few houses away from this ornate Metro station, Abbesses, in the
18th arrondissement in Montmartre. I had long vowed to live in Paris for
a year, and after I left my job at a newspaper (burnout city), this was my
chance. I had a good friend living in Le Marais who was able to put us up
while we looked for a place of our own. Steve also helped find a job for
me as a tutor at ECCIP, Ecole Commercial in Montparnasse. In the fall
I also took language classes at Le Sorbonne [no biggie, they were
the equivalent of adult extension classes] and was able to earn a
certificat de langue.
Meanwhile Julie enrolled in the pastry program at Le Cordon Bleu cooking
school. Even though her French was not the best, she was the most
talented student and ended with the highest grade in her class, tres
bien. She still practices here artistry today as a pastry chef at
a Seattle catering company.
To demonstrate the beauties of the Web, someone created a home page for
Le
Cordon Bleu in 1991, and its still exists with menus and pictures. Yumm.
It was a year to remember, even though we were dirt poor. So many restaurants, so many museums, so many old movies! We picnicked in the gardens of Versailles, saw Barizhnikov dance at Le Theatre des Champs Elyesee, and watched the funeral procession for Jean Paul Sartre. We even managed to take sidetrips to Provence and to London. But after it was all over, we were happy to get back to the USA to start our new life in Seattle.
Living in Montmartre
had its frustrating moments. We were halfway between the Sacre Coeur (left)
and Place Pigalle, home of hookers and Le Moulin Rougue. Germans in
particular loved the neighborhood, as did transvestite prostitutes who
hung outside a famous drag nightclub called Madame Arthur. We got to know
even the neighborhood bums real well. La vie en rose...
For the best Web tour of Paris, try Les Pages de Paris.