Map:

The nuraghes

Nuragic structure – a nuraghe

Since the first time we heard about the ancient cultures of the Ozieri and the Nuragic civilizations, who used to live on the island of Sardinia, we knew the remains of their imposing buildings, temples and burial sites would be the highlights of our road trip in North Sardinia. One of the symbols of Sardinia is the nuraghe – a circular tower built by the Nuragic civilization around 3,500 years ago. You can use your imagination to guess what they were used for, because historians have no idea – only hypotheses (military bases, ruler’s residences, religious spots etc.). There are more than 700 nuraghes left on the island and you will see many brown signs pointing to them while you drive. Visit one (or several) and feel the ancient vibes they exude. Some of the best-preserved examples in the northern part of Sardinia are Palmavera (near Alghero) and Nuraghe Santu Antine (near Torralba).

Alghero: the Catalonian city

Alghero, Sardinia

This is the most Spanish city in Sardinia – it was colonized by Catalonians in the 16^th century and has maintained this special atmosphere ever since. The old town of Alghero is encompassed by a historic citadel with imposing towers and gates, some of them turned into museums or accessible for panorama-lovers to take a look at the roofs of Alghero from above.

Detour idea: Hop on a boat from Alghero’s port and visit Neptune’s grotto, which hides a massive salt lake in its bowels. Boats leave several times a day.

The fairy houses: Necropolis of Anghelu Ruju

One of the highlights of our trip – the Necropolis of Anghelu Ruju (pronounced An-gheh-loo Roo-you) – is a complex of 5000-year-old, underground, rock-hewn tombs that you can explore and even enter (if you feel comfortable in narrow spaces!). For many years the locals, being unable to imagine how these hollow rocks had appeared, believed they were the houses of fairies, and that’s how they named them: domus de janas (homes of fairies). There’s a very fairy feeling here, though the site is actually an ancient graveyard. Who knows, maybe tourists will walk on and wonder about our graves some 2000 years from now.

Read more about Anghelu Ruju.

Sassari: the city of the nine giant candles

Sassari, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

If you can be in Sassari on 14 and 15 August, you will witness a particularly quirky Sardinian festival: Candelieri, when nine gigantic wooden candles pass through the city in a solemn procession to honor the Virgin Mary, who saved the city from the plague. The old part of Sassari is quiet and inhabited mainly by lazy cats who, on a hot summer day, won’t even make the effort to turn their heads in your direction. For a good chat and a creative atmosphere, sit and sip a coffee at one of the student cafes around the university (in the city center).

Basilica della Santissima Trinità di Saccargia

Basilica della Santissima Trinità di Saccargia, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

We had no intention of visiting this basilica, but the contrasting black basalt and white limestone facade blazing in the sun forced us to pull over by the road. If it reminds you of Tuscany, that’s no surprise because it was built in Tuscan Romanesque style. It’s a 30-km (18-mi) drive from Sassari on the way to Ozieri and Thiesi (see the map above).

Sant Andrea Priu Necropolis near Bonorva

Sant Andrea Priu Necropolis near Bonorva, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

You might feel like you’ve seen too many burial sites already, but this one is worth the road traveled (plus the route cuts between scenic hills and plains). One of the domus de janas (remember, the fairy houses = ancient rock tombs) at Sant Andrea Priu Necropolis, the Tomb of the Chief, looks like a 5000-year-old luxury apartment with its 18 rooms sheltered in a cave. Near the main group of rock chambers, there is a headless stone bull believed to represent one of the gods of the Ozieri culture.

Thiesi: a random stop with beautiful street art

Thiesi, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

There was one time when we had been driving for so many hours and got so hungry that we started imagining each other as hot dogs. So we stopped in the first town – Thiesi – where according to the old traveler’s tradition all restaurants were closed. After all, it was before 4 pm and Italians take their resting time seriously. We rambled through the streets, discovered some amazing murals and finally stopped at the only bar open at the time, where we were the only customers and were fed with the last two sandwiches available. That’s what I call luck!

Ozieri and the San Michele cave

Ozieri, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

We visited the town of Ozieri with the intention to see the San Michele cave, known for its domus de janas and some ancient rituals that took place there. Unfortunately, it was closed that day and we had to go on.

Detour idea: Nuoro, the literature town. We didn’t have enough time to go to Nuoro but if you do, plan a stop here – it’s one of the cultural hubs in Sardinia. It also contains the house of Grazia Deledda, a writer who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1926 for her exquisite texts describing life in Sardinia (if you want to fully immerse yourself in island life, read some of her works before you hit the road).

Olbia: the happy town

Olbia, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

The Ancient Greeks called Olbia ‘The Happy Town’ and all the tourists practicing dolce far niente (literally translated as ‘sweet doing nothing’) did indeed look happy. Olbia is a port with laid-back cafes and plenty of cork tree souvenirs (you will see the cork trees while you drive).

Detour idea: La Maddalena is probably the most beautiful archipelago in Sardinia – with unreal blue water and myriads of tiny rocky islands accessible by boat tours, it creates the perfect atmosphere to lay back, bask in the sunshine and imagine you are Robinson Crusoe. Or how does a lonely island picnic sound? The resort area of Costa Smeralda is just a stone’s throw away if you need a few days of concentrated sun intake.

Necropolis of Li Muri: the ancient stone circles

Li Muri in Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

This late Neolithic funeral dolmen will remind you of other stone circles seen all over Europe. Follow the brown road signs and you will reach a small widening of the road, where you can park and climb a shaky wooden ladder to get across a barbed wire fence. We weren’t sure if this was really legal, but why would they put the ladder there if you were not supposed to use it to trespass on someone’s private property?

Santa Teresa Gallura: the gate to Corsica island

Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia

This city was founded in 1808 as a base to cope with the large numbers of smugglers landing on the island, whereas today only tourists from Corsica set foot here. Climb the city’s highest tower – Torre di Longonsardo – for the best view around, and if you haven’t visited the island of Corsica yet, take the ferry (one hour) for a day trip.

Detour idea: If you want to stay longer, Spiaggia di Rena Bianca is the best beach in the city.

The island of Corsica (optional)

Bonifacio, Corsica | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

Ferries leave several times a day to Bonifacio, Corsica, from Santa Teresa Gallura. The Corsican town has a postcard-like harbor, an old town full of cobbled streets, souvenir shops and restaurants with tiny, tiny tables. Climb the Staircase of the King of Aragon and if you crave fresh air, follow the marked hiking paths that will take you out of the town to some rocky outcrops offering breathtaking views. Don’t miss the graveyard-town of Bonifacio, which consists of tens of family tombs resembling real-life houses. All of these tombs are colorful, with roofs, windows and flower pots in front of them.

The Elephant-shaped rock

The Elephant Rock, Sardinia

On your way south, just a few kilometers before the coastal town of Castelsardo, stop by the road to take a photo with an elephant. The Roccia Elefante (Elephant Rock) is 100% created by nature and makes an impressive backdrop for a photo.

Castelsardo: the colorful seaside town

Castelsardo, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

This colorful coastal town has so many beautiful vantage points that you can spend a whole day walking from restaurant to restaurant sipping the local Vermentino wine or mirto liqueur. Start with the old town and its rock-perched Sant Antonio di Abate Cathedral. Roam the steep streets and talk to the nice old ladies selling their handicrafts, then soak your feet in the warm, shallow water of the tiny beach.

Read more about Castelsardo.

Monte D’Accoddi – step back into ancient Mesopotamia

Monte D’Accoddi, Sardinia | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

It’s time to check out a (supposed) piece of Mesopotamia in Italy! This more than 6000-year-old megalithic pyramid is amazing for the fact that there is nothing like anywhere else in Italy or in the whole Mediterranean. At the same time, it very much looks like a Mesopotamian temple (ziggurat), which leads scientists to wonder how the two places were connected in those ancient times. Nobody has yet discovered the secret – maybe it’ll be you who unearths the key piece of evidence! Take an information brochure about the monument in your language and learn more about the mystical rituals that took place here.

Driving in Sardinia

I found driving in Sardinia rather care-free – the drivers didn’t seem as anxious as those on the continent, and the traffic wasn’t bad at all. Most of the roads are narrow and curvy as they follow the hills and rocks of Sardinia, and you can’t drive at high speed, so plan enough time to get from one point to another. The best part about driving in Sardinia is that the landscape changes all the time – from high, red-colored mountains and rugged coastlines to endless fields and colorful towns. And don’t forget about the long lines of old men sitting on benches in the town centers watching you as you pass by them:

Is that you, the granddaughter of Anna Maria? | © Maria Angelova/www.203challenges.com

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One hundred years of Solitude, published in 1967, quickly became one of the most iconic novels of the 20th century. The masterpiece written by Nobel prize laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez enchants the reader with pinches of what is known as ‘magical realism’. Rumor has it Garcia Marquez was inspired by his hometown, Aracataca, when describing the mystical village of Macondo.

© Lina Kirilova

You can find Aracataca by the Magdalena River in the province of Magdalena, near the Caribbean coast. Nestled among the banana plantations, the small town drips with Caribbean heat and scenic beauty. Locals, maps and bus drivers will tell you its real name is Aracataca, even though the magic of Macondo awaits around every corner!

© David Grabowski

The only noted attractions in town are the house where Gabo was born and the church where he was baptized. Nevertheless, the dirty, narrow streets still exude the spirit of the novel. The well-curated Casa Museo Gabriel Garcia Marquez is located in a reconstruction of the house where Garcia Marquez was born in 1927; the original house was sold by the family and knocked down years ago. However, the buildings have been carefully restored to resemble their original state.

© Lina Kirilova

© Lina Kirilova

Useful information

Today Aracataca remains a small town on the side of the only highway connecting Santa Marta, Bucaramanga and Bogota. The easiest way to get there is to follow the coastline, either from Santa Marta or Barranquilla, then turn towards the banana plantations. What should be an hour-and-a-half-long trip turns into a three-hour journey thanks to heavy traffic and the chaotic nature of Colombian driving. Make sure to fill up your fuel tank and bring lots of water, snacks and patience! Entrance to the house-museum is free of charge and the address is Carrera 6 No. 5-46. You can visit it Tuesday through Sunday from 8 am – 1 pm and 2–5 pm.

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L’église de la Madeleine

6 pm – I take the metro and go down to the banks of Seine to enjoy the lovely sunset. I exit at La Madeleine and marvel at the extraordinary church for a while. Then, I head down to Place de la Concorde, one of Paris’s main squares. It is not dinner time yet, so I decide to satisfy my sweet-tooth with a 150 year-old French classic.

Ladurée, a 150-year old macaron bakery

6:15 pm – Luckily, Ladurée is on my way. The luxury Pâtisserie established in 1862 and it has become the world’s best-known seller of premium macarons. They sell an average of 15 000 macarons every day! I had to make a quick stop!

Coconut, pistachio and rose macaron

6:30 pm – Only 3 macarons later, I walk out the store. The winners were Coconut, Pistachio and Rose. So sweet and tender! Anyway, I would love to see the sun set over the Seine, so I hurry up to the closest bridge. I stop only to snap a couple of photos of the Obelisk and the Arc de Triomphe in the background.

6:45 pm – I walk over Pont des Arts just in time. The river, the colors, the amazing architecture around…What a stunning view! I sit in awe here for a second admiring the sunset.

Sunset over the Seine

7 pm – Pont des Arts is also famous for the love locks attached to it. The tradition started back in 2008. Couples used to attach padlocks marked with their names and then throw the key into the Seine river below as a romantic gesture. This tendency grew so popular that the bridge became structurally weaker carrying the weight of all that love. Unfortunately, in 2015 the Parisian authorities took drastic measures and began detaching sections of the bridge railings together with the padlocks. They have replaced them with love locks inspired graffiti.

The love locks on Pont des Arts

7:30 pm – I walk along the river until I reach Île de la Cité,  the famous island where the city was founded. I cross over Pont Neuf and go on gazing around until I end up in front of the magnificent Notre-Dame de Paris. The cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world. I take my time to admire this elaborate work of art – sculptures, stained glass, rose windows. It is difficult to take your eyes off Notre-Dame, especially in the twilight.

Our Lady of Paris

8 pm – I need a break to recover after devouring all that beauty. I find the perfect spot across the street – Shakespeare and Company Café. Time for some French hot chocolat!

The Bohemian Café

8:30 pm – Overwhelmed by this gorgeous spring day, I realize I am starving. I head back to Monmartre. Looking for a good meal as well as a good time to end up the night right, I walk upon a truly unique bistro. Le refuge will serve you wine in baby bottles while you are eating fondue. It is also great value for money. If you choose the fixed menu, you’ll be served an appetizer, cheese or meat fondue (go for the cheese!), dessert and wine for as much as 22 euros. A pretty good deal, right?

Dinnertime!

9:30 pm – On my way to the hostel, I cannot stop myself from walking by Sacré-Coeur once again. A quick night photo shoot and I am done!

Sacré-Coeur by night

10 pm – Time to call it a night. Merci Paris and a bientot!

Next time you end up in Paris with a day or two on your hands, make sure to hit a few of these places, but do not hesitate to explore and find your own favorite spots in the city. After all, that is what the true Paris experience is all about!

Bon voyage and bon appétit!

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I am passionate about traveling and backpacking. My usual itinerary is as eventful as possible. As an avid traveller, when it comes to accommodation, hostels are my first option.

What do I look for in a hostel?

In general, I look for a good location, relatively good reviews and a variety of services that the hostel offers free of charge or in exchange for a small fee. After all, you’ve got to make your money count, especially when traveling on a tight budget.

During my recent trip to Colombia, the hostel that combined all three in the best possible way was:

Hostel Masaya in Santa Marta

©Masaya Hostels

Located in the heart of Santa Marta, the second oldest city on the Caribbean coast, Hostel Masaya offers the most perfect hostel experience you could ask for!

The hostel is situated in a National Heritage listed Colonial house with a spacious inside patio, three floors, and wooden staircases. The atmosphere takes you back in time. That’s not all – you can enjoy the two pools, a rooftop that has one of the best views of the Cathedral, relax-zones, hammocks, deckchairs, and a cozy bar where you can sip on late night drinks or have breakfast in the morning.

A place to gather and to share

© Masaya Hostels

Masaya aims at being not only a comfortable hostel, but a social place. The hostel offers a different 100% Colombian cultural activity every day. There are salsa lessons, cooking classes, live music and Spanish parties!

The first time I walked in Hostel Masaya I truly thought it was the hostel with the most unique atmosphere I have ever been to. I ended up staying there twice during my trip – once in a dorm, once in a private room. Both are comfortable, spacious, with nearly 5-meter tall ceilings. The private rooms are named after famous Colombians such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Shakira, Carlos Vives, Juan Valdez and more, and there is a catchy colorful theme going on in each one of them.

© Masaya Hostels

© Masaya Hostels

My stay at Masaya made me reconsider the way I travel. I decided that from now on I will put aside more time to dive in the local atmosphere and just to relax. Even for as little as two days, I enjoyed every minute of my Masaya experience drinking mojitos at the rooftop and swinging in the hammocks. The staff was friendly and helpful.

No breakfast is usually a deal breaker for me

I would definitely cross off my list a hostel that does not offer free breakfast (Cheap deals are acceptable). No wi-fi would also be an issue. It is the 21^st century, right? However, one of the best hostels we stayed in Colombia was a wi-fi free zone and it was just great. If you would like to tune off and relax, I highly recommend:

Casa Loma in Minca

No Wi-Fi, no problems | © Lina Kirilova

Casa Loma is the place to chill, relax, detox and go offline! It is an alternative hostel with open-air dorms and hammocks situated on a hill overlooking Santa Marta and the Sierra Nevada National Park. In order to reach the hostel, you first have to hike about 10 minutes up cobblestone stairs.

The view at the top is totally worth it, particularly at sunset!

The view from the top | © Lina Kirilova

The hilltop wooden house is the main building of the house. You will find the kitchen (maybe with quality kitchen counter or other stones for kitchen) and common area there, as well as a couple of terraces and a few hammocks to enjoy the view. Casa Loma is surrounded by tropical forest and you can hear birds singing everywhere! With no roads, cars, shops or noisy neighbors you will be able to fully enjoy the peace and quiet, reconnect with your inner self, just lie in a hammock, drink a beer or take a nap.

The hostel serves only vegetarian food and it offers a delicious set breakfast menu and a daily lunch and dinner menu. They are famous for their curry and Mexican nights.

Breakfast | ©Lina Kirilova

I was happy to arrive in time for sunset (I had a time for yoga retreat), so I could join the dozen lucky people on the terrace for happy-hour cocktails with an amazing view.  A couple of passion fruit Mojitos later we all watched in awe as the sun set behind the mountains.

Sunset vibes | © Lina Kirilova

The third place I would like to mention here is:

Casa del Ritmo in Santa Marta

© Casa del Ritmo

Casa del Ritmo is a typical colorful house located near El Rotadero – one of the famous beaches on the Caribbean coast. I spent only one night there on my way back from Minca. It was towards the end of my Colombia trip but the setting and atmosphere, and especially the friendly service made me feel at home.

The hostel was not busy at the time, so I was pampered by the staff’s full attention and hospitality. Sandra showed me around and recommended dinner and drink options. She is funny and just great! Every room is named after a different music genre – Pop, Jazz, Bossa Nova, Tango, Salsa and so on. I got Salsa!

© Casa del Ritmo

Talking about food, this is another veggie hostel that offers fresh local food. Don’t miss the happy hour of the Art bar! They use real fruit for their Mojitos, Margaritas and Caipirinhas. Casa del Ritmo is also one of the few places where I was able to find the limited addition coca-infused beer Happy Coca from the Nevada brewery.

© Casa del Ritmo

© Casa del Ritmo

If you have an extra day or two, consider joining some of the different activities the hostel organizes. They include sunset yoga for women on the beach, zumba classes, live music and open mic jam sessions, movie and popcorn, poker nights, salsa parties and many more.

© Casa del Ritmo

© Casa del Ritmo

“Life is not what one lived, but what one remembers and how one remembers it in order to recount it.” Gabriel García Márquez

Note: I was not paid to write this review and I did not receive a free stay in exchange. I paid for my room just like you… but I loved it so much that I felt it deserved this write-up!

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Brauerei Fässla works both as a brewery and a hotel. So if you fancy spending a few nights in a building where the bed is just a short stagger from the bar, this is the place to be. They offer a pilsener, two types of wheat beer, a lager and an extra-strong beer called ‘Bambergator’. You know you want to drink this one, if only because of its name!

Fassla Brewery in Bamberg.

Schlenkerla is probably the most visited Bamberg brewery, famous for its smoked beer prepared by drying the malt on an open fire. It features three types of smoked beer, each stronger than the last. Their strongest beer is so heavy and filling that you won’t need chips as a side dish. The brewery also makes a schnapps (liquor) using the same smoking process. If you’re a fan of Jägermeister, you’ll like Schlenkerla’s homemade equivalent.

Schelnerkla brewery in Bamberg.

The Kaiserdom brewery is the biggest in Bamberg, offering a range of beers that are special in their own way. Step into this charming old building and a selection of pilseners, dark, unfiltered and wheat beers await you. You might want to come for the special Winterbock beer, which is served in special festive cans and is available between October and March.

Klosterbräu brewery has been on the map since 1533. Their specialties include two strong beers of up to 7% alcohol: the Bockbier Hell and Maibock Hell. Both of these are seasonal beers – the Bockbier Hell is available from the middle of October and the Maibock Hell between February and April. 

Klosterbrau brewery in Bamberg.

Mahrs brewery is top of the class when it comes to the breweries in Bamberg. The beers crafted here have been awarded with several medals in a range of competitions. Among the winners are their light beer, pale ale and wheat/white bock, which comes in at a heavyweight 7.2% alc. The latter has been described by its makers as an ‘elixir’, with a dark brown color and a reddish tint. As a special touch, the brewery creates personalized bottles for special occasions. so you can see your own name on a bottle. 

Mahrs Brewery in Bamberg.

Anyone interested in visiting the city in August will witness the Sandkerwa, a five-day long kirmess (fair) which is celebrated by… drinking beer, of course! So pack your bags and set sail for a city where the beer flows and time stops.

This map shows the locations of the breweries mentioned above:

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1phngX3gya2mJnRzxRMTSBOqqKkc&w=640&h=480]

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There is probably no other city in the world that has as many comic book stores as Brussels. There is also hardly any other city where comic book characters have escaped the pages and scattered themselves around the facades of the buildings in the city center like they do here.

Lift your head up, keeping your hat in your hand, and enjoy Brussels in comics.

The love affair between Brussels and comic books has a long history. The city’s two most famous magazines – Tintin and Spirou – sprang up in the beginning of the 20th century. Some of the most beloved comic books of several generations were created here: The Smurfs, Lucky Luke, Tintin, Gaston Lagaffe…

Brussels, of course, has a comic book museum – the Belgian Comic Strip Centre, where you can learn useful and interesting information. But it is much more inspiring to just walk down the streets of the Belgian capital and get acquainted with your favorite characters in person.

The murals are so well integrated into Brussels’ architecture that you might not even notice them.

Apart from the graffiti on the walls, comic book characters are revived here in 3D form, too. A prime example is the statue of comic book hero Gaston Lagaffe on Pacheco Boulevard.

You can join some of the paid guided bike tours and walks along the comic strip route, but probably the best way to immerse yourself in comic culture is to start your own journey with a map in your hand (a perfect map is available in the bottom of this page) and enjoy your treasure hunt.

To complete a real themed day, finish at the Comic Strip Village (Stripdorp/Le Village de la BD, situated at Sablon Square) in the center of Brussels. Here you’ll find a gallery, a comic book store and a café, where you can have a rest surrounded by colorful comic strips.

You can buy a comic map from any Brussels Tourism Office (costs 1 euro), or alternatively you can take the route provided on this map below:

Pin it for later because you’re gonna need this map and it will get buried in the tons of information online:

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The Lycian Way is 540 km long and you will need around 29-30 days to walk it.

The route curves around the coastline in South Turkey and offers:

– a scenic route between the mountains and the coast

– old Roman roads and offbeaten paths

– some steep parts but with enough resting points

– local transport connection so you don’t have to walk all the way

About the route

The name of the route comes from the ancient name of this part of Anatolia – Lycia. The route was explored and marked by the Turkish-British non-professional historian Kate Clow in 1999. Since then, thousands of hikers have been following it every year and it has gained international popularity.

The coast is far from the major resorts, so you have great blue waters to swim or go kayaking. You’ll also pass through pine forests, mountain peaks, ancient ruins.

Start: Oludeniz (near Turkish resort Fethiye)

End: Geyikbayiri (20 km from Turkish resort Antalya) – the trail can be walked in both directions

Where to stay on the route: You can sleep in village guest houses or small hotels along the way. There are camping areas available, too.

What to eat: You can find groceries and shops in the villages along the way but sometimes the prices are unreasonably high.

Best time to do it: February – April or September – November. Summer is scorching.

Route marks: red and white stripes but have in mind that in many places the marks are poor and you’ll need a map and compass.

Self-guided routes and various options for the route here.

Photos: flickr/sunriseOdyssey

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Waiting for the train

12 pm – Arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport. I have about 20 hours to enjoy the city, so I rush out of the airport as quickly as possible.

12:30 pm – Take the train to Châtelet – Les Halles. All the trains from the airport to Paris make a stop first at Gare du Nord and then at Châtelet – Les Halles. You would not miss it.

40 years old

1 pm – Do a little sightseeing walk before checking in at my hostel. A great shopping opportunity at Les Halles or down Rue de Rivoli. I get overwhelmed by all the stores and boutiques. Pompidou Center is celebrating its 40-year anniversary this year. Deserves a visit!

Breakfast time!

2 pm – I am getting hungry. I have decided to snack until dinner time; therefore I head over to Du Pain et des Idées for an authentic French pastry experience.

L’escargot Chocolat Pistache

2:30 pm – Somebody get me out of here! Du Pain et des Idées is a breadlover’s paradise. Fascinated by bread from early childhood, the owners opened Du Pain et des Idées in 2002 to share their passion. A must try is Paris’s special L’escargot Chocolat Pistache.

3 pm – I make it to the hostel. Check-in. A quick shower and I am out and about to enjoy the Parisian sun while it lasts.

Coffee time!

3:30 pm – I need something to boost me up. There is always time for a cup of coffee. I grab one while I make my way to Monmartre.

Following the steps of Amélie Poulain

4 pm – I am at the bottom of the stairs that will take me up to The Sacred Heart also known as La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Monmartre. Sacré-Coeur for short, is one of the most impressive buildings in Paris. Located on top of the hill of Monmartre, the church overlooks the whole city. The stairs leading to it have turned into a hot spot for tourists to sit down, relax and enjoy the view.

View from the stairs of Sacré-Coere

4:30 pm – I carry on indulging the artistic vibe of Monmartre. In between the narrow streets right behind the Basilica, you will find the heart of Monmartre – Place du Tertre. Surrounded by little cafes and bistros, the square is home to famous painters and portraitists who work and exhibit their paintings here year-round. It turns out, artists are fighting over the scarce working place – the waiting list is about 10 years long.

5 pm – Place du Tertre is a reminder of the time when Monmartre was the mecca of modern art. I decide to freshen up with a drink and absorb the atmosphere a little longer. I choose one of the many cozy bistros.

5:30 pm – Reluctantly, I move on. Next stop, Le Mur des je t’aime. A wall of I love yous! What a brilliant idea, and what better place to build it than the city of love? It was inspired as a protest against violence. This wall’s purpose is not to divide, but to bring people together. It is not a border, but a mirror which reflects an image of love and peace downtown Paris. Counting more than 600 tiles and declarations written in 250 different languages, the wall has now become a meeting place for lovers.

So many “I Love You”s

To be continued…

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