I introduced the Montmartre neighborhood yesterday by featuring some architecture. The buildings looked distinctive but might not have appeared noticeably different from the more affluent areas of Paris. This picture tells a different story.

I shot this picture because of the cute pinkish car, the sort of vehicle you don’t see in Texas. Our most popular vehicles are stout, full-sized trucks and giant SUVs. Beyond the car, however, is a good example of Montmartre’s grittiness. I didn’t see graffiti and posters plastered on the walls in Les Halles, where we stayed. Such a place would not be ideal for my wife as a hotel location.

The car looked unfamiliar to me, and with no prominent signage, I assumed I couldn’t identify it. However, zooming in, I noticed 500 on the wheel covers. I knew then that this must be the famous Fiat 500. They sold these tiny cars in Austin a while ago, but the dealer seem to have gone bust. These may work for small European city streets but would be scary on the American interstate.

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