Bonsoir!
It has been another busy day here in lovely Paris. This morning brought a beautiful day! I opened the curtains this morning to enjoy the sunshine and low and behold, building scrapers staring me in the face!!!!Goodness!! Very nice looking but I'm sure I was a sight!
Anyway, we have found out that to wash clothes in the french washer/dryer combo that is in our apartment is a day long ordeal. We can place approximately 3 items of clothing in the machine and turn it on. Two hours later we need to set the dryer to dry for another hour then voila! almost dry clothes :-))))).
So we start the machine then start our day. Our days have been starting the truly American way.....Starbucks! The first couple days I visited the cafe across the road and had Cafe Creme but those cost me 5 euro every time. Starbucks much cheaper and I can have my froo froo drink. Andy will even have a Chai Tea Latte. So our days have begun at a different Starbucks each day and we review the map to see what we need to do to get where we need to go. Today was the Archeological crypts of Notre Dame. So we started quite low. It was a wonderfully educational experience. An entire area was uncovered and preserved below the Notre Dame.
We then walked around the area. Yesterday we stumbled over a side alley (there are many) and some very french, authentic local cafes that we wanted to try and find again. Stubborness takes over again! After we went the way Andy said we turned around and went the way I remembered and voila! Again we find what we are looking for......so we go back the apartment to set the dryer again, then go back to the alley ( oh joy, gotta find yet again!) and have dejeuner at the Le Bistro 30. I want to try the french frog legs while here and one of the cafes had on menu but the wait was silly so we ended up at Le Bistro 30. I ordered my beloved goat cheese salad, duck breast in orange sauce with frites and profileroles with choc sauce for dessert. The goat cheese salad was old tasting but the duck was good, although served luke warm. The dessert, as always was marvelous. Andy had French Onion soup which he said was perfect temp for eating right away and very tasty. He had steak and frites which looked very tasty. His dessert was once again creme brulee. One of my all time favorites but I don't seem to be ordering it here in France....too many other choices.
The it was off on the RER to Arc de Triumphe again! This time we made it!!!! If you have never been, you cannot understand the feit it was to get up all those circular steps! Everyone starts our energetic and have a pretty good pace, then.........oh boy!!! Well, we made it! What a view. We saw all angles of Paris and even saw Sacre Coeur! Absolutely breath taking and perfect weather for a seeing a distance. I wish I could upload my pics so you can all share in the splendor!
After the Arc we again let stubborness take over as we tried to find Tiffanys again! Again no luck so we went back on the RER to the apartment. Along the way we stopped for local chocolates. Our new mission is to try a chocolate at several chocolate shoppes and decide which are best. We are still trying to find a GOOD croissant! Blackbird backery in Rocky River clearly spoiled me! These have all been manufactured. I found where the Gordon Ramsey chef is located and hopefully we can find the boulanger. If not I found what can be a secondary pastry to bring back for Colleen, my fellow cook.
We are now in for the night, having stopped again for dinner. Tonite's dinner consisted of gelato on waffles (AGAIN). Big lunch makes it hard to have normal dinner.
Well, off to plan another adventure for tomorrow! A bientot!!!!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Armitice Day in paris
Bonjour!
Well, this morning started off with a walk to the Passettiere (bakery mispelled). I found a good local place when we arrived and have been coming almost daily since. Boo Hoo because their croissants are not the best. To date my mission of finding the perfect true french croissant have been a disappointment. Thanks to Gordon Ramsey's F word I know they exist but I also know most are making manufactured croissants. That is truly what I have found so far. I am so glad I lost weight before coming to Paris because every where you look there are bridges, beautiful old buildings/architecture and food, food and more food!
We ventured off to visit the archeological crypts of Notre Dame and they were CLOSED due to the holiday. We wondered around then decided to try again to locate Tiffanys. It has become a very stubborn mission of ours! We made our way to the Opera area and a very swank street with Chanel jewelry, Arpel & Van Cleef, etc and Tiffanys. All with door men which intimidated me far too much to walk in. Andy is sure there is another Tiffany on Champs Ellyssee so I am sure stubborness with result in us trying again tomorrow. We went to Jardin gardens and to O Chateau wine tasting. Very educational.. I don't know if I can identify wines in the future but did learn the proper way to determine today!
We had lunch at a rather stuffy place but needed to eat something before the wine tasting. Jennifer Joy told me about a Pig Cafe that has the best French Onion Soup and low and behold we walked around the corner and there it was! unfortunately it was very crowded and we didn't feel we could eat and be at the Wine tasting at designated time so we opted for the stuffy place. French Onion Soup was good but not great. Andy also got a pot of mussels and frites. When they say pot, they arent kidding. A very large pot was brought over with many, many mussels. Very good!!!!
We just got in for the evening after having some baguette, mozzarella and tomato, finishing off with gelato on what can only be described as a belgium waffle. Not what they called it but that's what it appeared to be. Glorious by whatever name!
I am planning my day for tomorrow. Its the last day we can use our Paris Pass so we need to go back to the placed that have been CLOSED....the Arc, the archeological crypt of Notre Dame and we will be going back to Musee D'orsay because we missed Whistlers Mother and the Chat Noir, both of which I really want to see.
Well, a bientot!
Well, this morning started off with a walk to the Passettiere (bakery mispelled). I found a good local place when we arrived and have been coming almost daily since. Boo Hoo because their croissants are not the best. To date my mission of finding the perfect true french croissant have been a disappointment. Thanks to Gordon Ramsey's F word I know they exist but I also know most are making manufactured croissants. That is truly what I have found so far. I am so glad I lost weight before coming to Paris because every where you look there are bridges, beautiful old buildings/architecture and food, food and more food!
We ventured off to visit the archeological crypts of Notre Dame and they were CLOSED due to the holiday. We wondered around then decided to try again to locate Tiffanys. It has become a very stubborn mission of ours! We made our way to the Opera area and a very swank street with Chanel jewelry, Arpel & Van Cleef, etc and Tiffanys. All with door men which intimidated me far too much to walk in. Andy is sure there is another Tiffany on Champs Ellyssee so I am sure stubborness with result in us trying again tomorrow. We went to Jardin gardens and to O Chateau wine tasting. Very educational.. I don't know if I can identify wines in the future but did learn the proper way to determine today!
We had lunch at a rather stuffy place but needed to eat something before the wine tasting. Jennifer Joy told me about a Pig Cafe that has the best French Onion Soup and low and behold we walked around the corner and there it was! unfortunately it was very crowded and we didn't feel we could eat and be at the Wine tasting at designated time so we opted for the stuffy place. French Onion Soup was good but not great. Andy also got a pot of mussels and frites. When they say pot, they arent kidding. A very large pot was brought over with many, many mussels. Very good!!!!
We just got in for the evening after having some baguette, mozzarella and tomato, finishing off with gelato on what can only be described as a belgium waffle. Not what they called it but that's what it appeared to be. Glorious by whatever name!
I am planning my day for tomorrow. Its the last day we can use our Paris Pass so we need to go back to the placed that have been CLOSED....the Arc, the archeological crypt of Notre Dame and we will be going back to Musee D'orsay because we missed Whistlers Mother and the Chat Noir, both of which I really want to see.
Well, a bientot!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Another day (or days) in my Paris life
Bonsoir!
Well, we have been busy, busy! I last left you Monday evening after our day at the Louve. Tuesday was rather adventuresome. We started the day on the Hop On Hop Off bus tour. For those of you unfamiliar with the Hop On Hop Off concept, it is exactly that. The bus is double decker so you can sit on top and take pictures or be inside bus enjoying the ride. Since it was rather chilly and rainy we elected to stay inside. The bus went all over Paris, from the Musee D'Orsay where we picked it up at to the Opera House, thru Champs Ellysee to Arc to Eiffel to Louve to Notre Dame, where we ended. We lit candles, enjoyed a portion of mass, signed the guest book and just enjoyed the moment. We decided not to do the Towers since it was quite drizzly and we were short on time. We had a mission! Andy and I ventured onto the RER, one of Paris' many rail systems. Once we figured out what gate to go thru and that the ticket machine spit your ticket back out for you to use for the day, we were off.......we got to the nearest station to the Eiffel Tower and walked the rest of the way. We found it!!!! So we went back and got ready to go again for dinner at the Eiffel Tower.
I must say that my the time we were seated for dinner we were soaked! The ride up to the restaurant was painless and the view was spectacular, even thru the rain clouds. Thanks to Mike and Michele, my trusty arrangers of the dinner, we had very prime location seating front and center at a window.
The food was wonderful and as we made our way back to the tram after dinner the poor waiter came chasing after us! "Oh madam, you forgot something" he said as he placed his hand over his mouth in embarrassment. Apparently, even though we had paid our dinner well in advance we did not receive a voucher so management had to look up our payment, so back to the dining area we go until it was cleared up.
Wednesday we took the RER (now that we are pros) to Versailles and spent the day viewing the splendor and oppulence that it brings. Many, many pics were taken and hopefully some day I can get them off the camera onto the computer. After Versailles we sent to the Pantheon and wondered around St Michel area.
We took a short break at the apartment to catch a second wind. The weather was so wonderful we decided to just walk along the Seine. We walked for quite some time and went across a beautiful bridge. We found an area over near Pont Neuf that was hopping so we went to dinner at Cafe Pont Neuf. I had a wonderful salad of walnuts, goat cheese on toast with tomatoes and greens. Fabulous! Dessert was a wonderful gateau Chocolat. Andy had steak and frites with creme brulee for dessert.......anyone who knows us knows that the desserts were backwards for our typical choices. Wonderful service with one of the waiters being a comic, albeit in french. Still good for a laugh!
Today (Thursday) started us out on the Parisian Bateaux with a follow up to lunch at Laserre. Laserre was by far the most wonderful (and expensive) lunch either of us have ever had. This was so upscale I was afraid to take out my camera and capture the moment. I just sat back and enjoyed. The lunch started with an elevator ride up in the smallest elevator I ever was in. We entered a room that was magnificent where the rooftop opened periodically to the open air and a topiary (I did get the nerve to hide my camera and snap a quick pic). I had fois gras, leg of lamb served with legumes, figs and some other things with a dessert that was puff pastry filled with caramel with caramel flavored something or other and all was shaped like a kings crown. Andy had lobster bisque, leg of lamb and dessert of choc something or other. I had the most expensive (yet esquisite) glass of wine (25E) that I will ever have. Only in France!!!!! After all that, we were give a plate of madelines and a silver tray of chocolates to enjoy along with our cafe creme and tea. All in all, the most expensive and worth every penny!
We then decided to go to the Arc and venture down Champs Ellyssee a bit. Andy saw a Tiffanys out the Hop Off Hop On window and we really wanted to go there. We get to Arc and low and behold CLOSED!!!! July 11th is a big big day in France and there are ceremonies galore. The Arc was closed for about 2 hours or so and will be again tomorrow morning. So we started down the Champs to find Tiffanys. On and On we went.......no Tiffanys. We ended up walking almost to the very end, which is quite far. We decided to just keep walking and go to the Musee D'Orsay since its open late Thursday evenings. Another wonderful museum containing impressionism art and some of the most wonderful Art Nouvoeau furniture, etc. Exhausting yet worth every minute! We took the RER back to our stop and walked to a sandwich shop, got something to bring home and here we are......comatose! We are already planning another adventure for tomorrow!
Until then, a bientot!
Well, we have been busy, busy! I last left you Monday evening after our day at the Louve. Tuesday was rather adventuresome. We started the day on the Hop On Hop Off bus tour. For those of you unfamiliar with the Hop On Hop Off concept, it is exactly that. The bus is double decker so you can sit on top and take pictures or be inside bus enjoying the ride. Since it was rather chilly and rainy we elected to stay inside. The bus went all over Paris, from the Musee D'Orsay where we picked it up at to the Opera House, thru Champs Ellysee to Arc to Eiffel to Louve to Notre Dame, where we ended. We lit candles, enjoyed a portion of mass, signed the guest book and just enjoyed the moment. We decided not to do the Towers since it was quite drizzly and we were short on time. We had a mission! Andy and I ventured onto the RER, one of Paris' many rail systems. Once we figured out what gate to go thru and that the ticket machine spit your ticket back out for you to use for the day, we were off.......we got to the nearest station to the Eiffel Tower and walked the rest of the way. We found it!!!! So we went back and got ready to go again for dinner at the Eiffel Tower.
I must say that my the time we were seated for dinner we were soaked! The ride up to the restaurant was painless and the view was spectacular, even thru the rain clouds. Thanks to Mike and Michele, my trusty arrangers of the dinner, we had very prime location seating front and center at a window.
The food was wonderful and as we made our way back to the tram after dinner the poor waiter came chasing after us! "Oh madam, you forgot something" he said as he placed his hand over his mouth in embarrassment. Apparently, even though we had paid our dinner well in advance we did not receive a voucher so management had to look up our payment, so back to the dining area we go until it was cleared up.
Wednesday we took the RER (now that we are pros) to Versailles and spent the day viewing the splendor and oppulence that it brings. Many, many pics were taken and hopefully some day I can get them off the camera onto the computer. After Versailles we sent to the Pantheon and wondered around St Michel area.
We took a short break at the apartment to catch a second wind. The weather was so wonderful we decided to just walk along the Seine. We walked for quite some time and went across a beautiful bridge. We found an area over near Pont Neuf that was hopping so we went to dinner at Cafe Pont Neuf. I had a wonderful salad of walnuts, goat cheese on toast with tomatoes and greens. Fabulous! Dessert was a wonderful gateau Chocolat. Andy had steak and frites with creme brulee for dessert.......anyone who knows us knows that the desserts were backwards for our typical choices. Wonderful service with one of the waiters being a comic, albeit in french. Still good for a laugh!
Today (Thursday) started us out on the Parisian Bateaux with a follow up to lunch at Laserre. Laserre was by far the most wonderful (and expensive) lunch either of us have ever had. This was so upscale I was afraid to take out my camera and capture the moment. I just sat back and enjoyed. The lunch started with an elevator ride up in the smallest elevator I ever was in. We entered a room that was magnificent where the rooftop opened periodically to the open air and a topiary (I did get the nerve to hide my camera and snap a quick pic). I had fois gras, leg of lamb served with legumes, figs and some other things with a dessert that was puff pastry filled with caramel with caramel flavored something or other and all was shaped like a kings crown. Andy had lobster bisque, leg of lamb and dessert of choc something or other. I had the most expensive (yet esquisite) glass of wine (25E) that I will ever have. Only in France!!!!! After all that, we were give a plate of madelines and a silver tray of chocolates to enjoy along with our cafe creme and tea. All in all, the most expensive and worth every penny!
We then decided to go to the Arc and venture down Champs Ellyssee a bit. Andy saw a Tiffanys out the Hop Off Hop On window and we really wanted to go there. We get to Arc and low and behold CLOSED!!!! July 11th is a big big day in France and there are ceremonies galore. The Arc was closed for about 2 hours or so and will be again tomorrow morning. So we started down the Champs to find Tiffanys. On and On we went.......no Tiffanys. We ended up walking almost to the very end, which is quite far. We decided to just keep walking and go to the Musee D'Orsay since its open late Thursday evenings. Another wonderful museum containing impressionism art and some of the most wonderful Art Nouvoeau furniture, etc. Exhausting yet worth every minute! We took the RER back to our stop and walked to a sandwich shop, got something to bring home and here we are......comatose! We are already planning another adventure for tomorrow!
Until then, a bientot!
Monday, November 7, 2011
A day in Paris
Bonsoir!
We have arrived and are happily situated in our Paris apartment. We are located in the St Germain arts area, directly with the locals. I would say we are blending in but we are true Americans....totally not looking local.
Today we visited the Louve....would love to attach pics but all the Internet/computer info is in French and we cannot figure out how to upload the pictures to the computer. If we ever do, I will be posting many sights and Louve pics. Yes, We did see the Mona Lisa. We roamed Napoleon's Apartments and I may have gotten a pic or two of architecture along the way. We ate dinner at a local Cafe and sat next to a couple currently residing in the Bahamas, previously from Louisville KY, Cincinnati and St Thomas.
Tomorrow brings us the Hop On/Hop off where we will get a better idea of the lay of the land so we can visit Notre Dame, Monparsee and the cemetery where Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are resting. We have so much to do!!!!! Dinner at Eiffel Tower Tuesday evening.
A bientot!
We have arrived and are happily situated in our Paris apartment. We are located in the St Germain arts area, directly with the locals. I would say we are blending in but we are true Americans....totally not looking local.
Today we visited the Louve....would love to attach pics but all the Internet/computer info is in French and we cannot figure out how to upload the pictures to the computer. If we ever do, I will be posting many sights and Louve pics. Yes, We did see the Mona Lisa. We roamed Napoleon's Apartments and I may have gotten a pic or two of architecture along the way. We ate dinner at a local Cafe and sat next to a couple currently residing in the Bahamas, previously from Louisville KY, Cincinnati and St Thomas.
Tomorrow brings us the Hop On/Hop off where we will get a better idea of the lay of the land so we can visit Notre Dame, Monparsee and the cemetery where Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are resting. We have so much to do!!!!! Dinner at Eiffel Tower Tuesday evening.
A bientot!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
and awaaaaay we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG!!!!! we are on our way in about an hour!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you to all my faithful follower(s) for bearing with my inane babbling over the last 202 days. Hopefully I will figure out how to upload pics while in France. Friday, October 28, 2011
Holy crapola! Only 8 more days.......:-) :-) :-)
Bonjour!
Well, as is my typical fashion, French will not be rolling off my tongue while in France. I am really disappointed that my brain just isn't the sponge it used to be but it is what it is.
I have our voucher for the Paris Pass so now all I have to do is map out how to get to the pickup location once we are at our Apartment. Well, won't that be an adventure in itself :-)
I had dinner with Jennifer the other night and went thru 300 + pics she took while they were in France last month. I will hopefully be able to visualize many of the cafes she recommended. I know where to find the 'perfect' location for a pic with the Eiffel Tower in the background. I can go on and on....but need to move on as I have much to do!
I suspect this may be my last entry until I get to Paris. I have so much to do. I still haven't decided what to take in the way of clothes, shoes, boots, etc. I need to gather all our necessary papers and make sure all is in order.
A bientot!
Well, as is my typical fashion, French will not be rolling off my tongue while in France. I am really disappointed that my brain just isn't the sponge it used to be but it is what it is.
I have our voucher for the Paris Pass so now all I have to do is map out how to get to the pickup location once we are at our Apartment. Well, won't that be an adventure in itself :-)
I had dinner with Jennifer the other night and went thru 300 + pics she took while they were in France last month. I will hopefully be able to visualize many of the cafes she recommended. I know where to find the 'perfect' location for a pic with the Eiffel Tower in the background. I can go on and on....but need to move on as I have much to do!
I suspect this may be my last entry until I get to Paris. I have so much to do. I still haven't decided what to take in the way of clothes, shoes, boots, etc. I need to gather all our necessary papers and make sure all is in order.
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Final Countdown has begun.....
So, my loyal followers :-)
Only 20 more anxiety ridden days before we board Continental for our trip that took 26 years to take. My anxiety stems from more than one thing -
Yes, I have been 'trying out' outfit combinations of lightweight and wrinkle resistent fabrics for the last few days to see what will and will not work. I have developed a kinship with leggings and boxy tops (I feel like I'm back in the 80's), ankle boots and loafers.
As I carry on......we have decided to get a Paris Pass, which is good for entrance into 64 attractions (for lack of a better word), the Hop On Hop Off, Metro and discounts on several restaurants and shops. I also stumbled over a Ghost Tour that I would love to take as it sounds fascinating. You never know what we may get into. There are also catacombs under Notre Dame that we can get to with the Paris Pass.
Well, I am going to say a bientot to you all as I continue treasure hunting for things to do in Paris.
Only 20 more anxiety ridden days before we board Continental for our trip that took 26 years to take. My anxiety stems from more than one thing -
- will we be able to interpret our landlords directions to the apartment,
- will I make the right clothing/shoes/boots choices to take with me; and
- is our luggage big enought (yet light enough).
Yes, I have been 'trying out' outfit combinations of lightweight and wrinkle resistent fabrics for the last few days to see what will and will not work. I have developed a kinship with leggings and boxy tops (I feel like I'm back in the 80's), ankle boots and loafers.
As I carry on......we have decided to get a Paris Pass, which is good for entrance into 64 attractions (for lack of a better word), the Hop On Hop Off, Metro and discounts on several restaurants and shops. I also stumbled over a Ghost Tour that I would love to take as it sounds fascinating. You never know what we may get into. There are also catacombs under Notre Dame that we can get to with the Paris Pass.
Well, I am going to say a bientot to you all as I continue treasure hunting for things to do in Paris.
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