After visiting the Eiffel Tower, Marc and I proceeded to see the Montmartre area of Paris. Given that it was summertime when we were there, the place was packed with tourists from all over the world. As usual, there were artists galore painting Montmartre scenes and selling their work to tourists. I actually still have the lithographs I bought from this area during my very first visit. The Sacre Couer was indeed impressive and the view of the City of Paris from there was spectacular.

Although I didn't know it until I got there, Montreal actually also has a metro station with the same name. What's interesting about it is that the name is printed out in the same font.

From Montmarte, we passed by the Moulin Rouge in Pigalle. I must say, walking in the streets of Pigalle was a bit scary even during the day. There were touts literally pushing tourists into their clubs against their will. Of course, that only meant danger. We knew of these scams in many countries in Europe. Once you get in, there were bouncers who would milk you for all your cash and more.

It was really just by luck that we passed by some of the attractions as we walked all over the city. We even passed by the hotel my friends and I stayed in Paris in 1988. It was the Hotel Vintmille then owned and run by a Vietnamese immigrant family.

The hotel seemed to be under renovation and remodel during the time we passed by it by accident. It was a very budget hotel and I remember sharing the room with three of my friends. For a student on a very tight budget then, it served me just fine.