St. Pancras to Montmartre | Cary Family Weblog

Saturday was a travel day and our first day exploring Paris! We had to be checked in at 05:45 in London St. Pancras Station to catch the Eurostar (via the tunnel beneath the English channel) to Paris Gare du Nord Station.

The day started at 04:30 getting up for our cab. We’d never reserved a cab for such an early our on our trip and didn’t know what to expect, but it worked out well. “Transport for London” authorized cabs are professional and we were able to get an online quote for the ride before the reservation, so we knew what we’d pay. So happy this went smoothly.

Wonderful cab was waiting outside our London room at 04:55 and dropped us at station at 05:30.

Cary looks excited in the Eurostar security line.

Shout out to The Man in @Seat61 for all the great train info.

Kim is stoked or that coffee is really powerful!

Front of Gare du Norde which I would otherwise rank between the L.A. and Richmond VA Greyhound stations.

We dropped our bags and walked the streets (aka stairs) to upper Montmartre and Sacre Coeur.

Walking the streets of stairs to Montmartre/Sacre Coeur

Looking back the way we came (graffiti retouched)

12 Sacre Coeur — Armed guards in fron to Sacre Coeur. We saw such guards several places.

The view from Sacre Coeur was hazy, but Cary help me pick out Notre Dame and other Paris sights. On a clear day it would be epic.

We were tired from the walk but saw this market street behind Sacre Coeur and went to explore – it was the tourist neighborhood of upper Montmartre – fun! Lots of people asking to sketch you, nic-nac shops and cafes!

Crepes! Pear for me and Nutella for Cary.

Our chosen cafe - you must sit outside! — Our chosen cafe – you must sit outside!

Then it was time to head back to pick up Meridith from the train station and get to our cozy apartment in Montmartre.

Now DOWN the stairs - somewhat better! — Now DOWN the stairs – somewhat better!

Back at Gare du Nord to pick up Meridith.

I think we did pretty well this day, managing an early transit, squeezing in some wonderful sightseeing (we couldn’t take pictures inside Sacre Coeur) and some local, if touristy, color sitting an hour in the cafe, a really good walk and successfully picking up Meridith and getting back to our apartment.

Our Paris cab from the station to the apartment in the evening cost 2.5 times the amount as in the morning just because of the hour of the day. I can imagine a reason for this, but it could be the cabbie just saw we were stuck. There was graffiti everywhere on our walk, glad it wasn’t on the monument itself. Those were the only bummers to an overall wonderful day. Our little AirBnb apartment was central, secure, quiet and cozy. Good day!