In the north part of Paris there is a neighborhood called Montmartre, the mount of the martyrs. This is the artist’s area of the city. The famous bohemian movement and the infamous Moulin Rouge can-can dances started in this area. Paris’s famous red-light district borders on Montmartre.
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- I am sorry, but I don’t do smile.
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- This is the famous Cabaret de la Boheme, where Jim Morrison, singer lead for the Doors, used to make surprise appearances.
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- This lady is an organ grinder and whistler, sans monkey. I wish I had a recorder she was great. People sit in cafes nibble on French cheeses and sip wine, while enjoying the street. The French enjoy their wine. I think it is the secret to their thinness. Only the tourists are fat in France. That is how you tell who is a tourist and who is a native.
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- This is a typical Frenchman of Montmartre. In a rare moment he is going for Evian instead of le bon vin
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- Is this a statue? It sure looked like it! But put a Euro in the box…
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- And you get a big smile. Montmartre is filled with statues of this kind.
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- This is a typical mime with your average British tourist. She paid the Euro and I got the photo. Thank you mum.
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- In the artists area you can have your portrait made for $30. Most of the artists are first class. They will do your sketch in about 15 minutes.
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- The man on the right is Heni and the man on the left is Michael. The hook is Heni and the artist is Michael. Heni came up to me in the street and sweet talked me out of 25 Euros for a portrait. He brought me to Michael who did the sketch. Michael told me that the portrait business used to be better a few years ago. Since 9/11 there were less tourists and the ones that come do not spend as much.
