During my three-week vacation in Paris, I am staying in a small studio apartment that I rented through Airbnb. It is located on the top floor of an old building on Rue Montorgueil, a pedestrian zone in the center of the city that is lined with shops and restaurants.
One of the apartment’s wonderful features is that it has a balcony overlooking the street. Although I have had to bundle up a bit in the cool November weather, I love spending as much time as I can sitting outside, observing the people below. The first shot shows one of my first dinners here. I don’t usually photograph my food, but this image gives you a sense of the balcony setting as well as a look at some of my basic food groups here.
The second shot gives you an idea of the view from the balcony. Yes, it is a long way down, but it is literally not for the faint of heart, because you have to walk up 96 stairs in a narrow winding stairway in order to get this view.
The final photo shows one small set of the stairs I have to climb. On each of the six floors, there is a small landing and one apartment to the left and one to the right.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I love these pictures. I love how you can see the stairs warped down from years of use. Amazing view too! Must be nice 🙂
Great place.
Thanks for sharing — maybe I will make it there some day.
Well-worn stairs with a well deserved repast at the top.
Envious! Lived in Paris for 6 years. It’s an absolutely charming city. MZ
One of the places I lived in Paris in the seventies was Montmartre; I had a maid’s room on the 7th floor of an apartment building on the rue Becquerel. The closest metro stop was Lamarck-Caulaincourt, but on the occasions when I went home via the Chateau Rouge metro station, I had to climb around six flights of steps in the street, and then, when I reached my building, another seven flights, as the little elevator to the seventh floor shut down at ten PM. Of course, I was young then, in my early twenties. I’m impressed by your ability to climb all those stairs where you are now!
The first four flights of stairs are easy, but I start to feel it for the final two. Yesterday I walked up to Montmartre and walked up some of those famous flights of stairs. I am in pretty good shape (for someone who is not getting Medicare), but I do try to pace myself.
What a wonderful spot! The building and location remind me a lot of the apartment we rented this summer in Quebec. It was fun to be right in the city centre while having that ability to retreat to floors above to be out of the hubbub and noise. We also had to contend with a very narrow staircase there. Your shot of the food is so quintessentially French and makes my mouth water.
Thanks, Laura. I can’t say that I am eating very healthily, but it’s nice to eat some things I can’t easily get at home, like raw milk Camembert and fresh goat cheese. The bread is awesome as well–yesterday morning it was so fresh when I bought it at a boulangerie that it was still a bit warm. When you travel with a group, you have to make some compromises–being here by myself gives me the freedom to selfishly pursue my own interests and schedule.
Sounds perfect.
My kind of meal – bread, cheese and wine! 🙂 Feel free to share your cafe and restaurant fare, we can take it…drooling, of course! 😉
Six floors, aren’t you the intrepid traveler! Good thing you’re are in good shape (all those hikes around the preserves) because as I recall, one walks A LOT in Paris. 🙂
It’s simple, iconic, and a bit of a stereotype, but I have already consumed a considerable amount of those basic food groups already. I have been walking a lot, your recollection is good, even though I have a metro pass. I’ve already walked up to Montmatre twice already in my first five days.
It helps justify eating all that delicious, rich food! 😉
That looks like a charming place, Mike. Nice dinner, too.