Post by grndma on May 9, 2008 5:49:01 GMT -5
Some of you may have read some of this before
:)Grndpa and I go to the races at Longchamps every year to attend the Prix de L'arc de Triomphe. This is a prestigious international horse racing and social event attended by the President of France and other hoy falloys and lots of famous international people. (including me and grndpa!!
)
Grndpa is a racing fan, but I go for the cultural events and the people and fashion watching. It's fascinating to see the cream of French, British and Irish society in their glad rags. The atmosphere is one of fun and it is a thoroughly good day. The "arc" is held the first Sunday of October and the weather has always been good with the occasional shower, It can get very hot mid afternoon so I usually take a jacket and wear a light dress underneath. I have an umbrella in my bag just in case and I always wear sunscreen as I have been sunburned before.
I always get dressed up for the event, including hat. People dress in various stages of formality but (despite my current tag line) I always feel like a mumpty next to all the chic Parisian women and finding my outfit for the "arc" is part of the pre-trip fun. Last year I wore the dress I am wearing in the picture on "Grndmas training for Paris" with a Fuchsia jacket, black feathery fascinator hat and black patent high heels and bag. I carried some black patent ballet pumps in my bag so I could save my feet on the metro but still look smart. Grndpa wore his best Armanii Suit in a light grey colour and pink tie to bend with me. ( and looked very sexy!)
The first race is at 2 pm, but it is good to get there about an hour before. The band of the Welsh or Coldstream Guards gives a display of marching and music on the green near the entrance.
There is also a fashion show of hats by some well known French hattier.
During the day, there are other musical events, jazz bands and other bands. There are also stalls selling souvenirs, hats, jackets and lots of other things, pony rides for children etc.
There are two restaurants that you can book for a meal on the Internet but we usually get our food from the crepe stands or stalls selling baguettes. They sell champagne and alcohol but as Grndpa and I are Tea total (yes even in France!!) we do not partake. When we have been with friends they report that drink is not expensive. Never try to get a cup of tea at Longchamps, twice I have queued for 20 minutes for a cup with teabag then milk and hot water added.....like dishwater ugg!! I should have learned my lesson the first time. This year I will take a flask in my fashionably large bag!!
The racecourse is open to everyone but there are boxes and a special VIP village "La Balance" near the glass weighing room. We have twice been in this section at the invitation of a journalist friend and it is interesting to be up close to the hoy falloy. You can buy tickets on line which I have seen advertised from £55 to £150. Personally I think it is not necessary as you can see the people in the VIP area from the parade ring and they mix with the rest of the people anyway. Normal adult fee to get into the race course is 8 euros which you can pay at the gate, there is not usually much of a queue. I have seen ordinary tickets advertised on line for £40 which is a complete rip off.
Because the normal charges for British racecourses are similar people don't know any better. Grndpa goes on Saturday also which costs 4 euro. He has now discovered that it is only 2 euro for over 60 years of age.
To get there we always take the metro line 10 to Porte d'Auteuil (Dressed in our finery!)
The French are very well organised. When you get off the train, follow the crowd and there are free buses outside the metro station to take you to the course through the Bois de Boulogne. It could not be easier. You can of course take a taxi or a special trip.
Other ways of getting to the course are detailed on the special website. Click on the Union Jack on the left for English translation.
www.prixarcdetriomphe.com/2008Histogb.htm
Coming away is equally well organised with free buses taking you back to the metro.
There is also the horse racing going on!!! I like a little flutter and I am usually lucky. I pick winners because I like the names or colours and not through any skill or knowledge, much to Grndpas chagrin! : 
Betting is done at the special windows, like the British "tote" The tellers understand English and the betting is easy. There are no independent bookmakers at the course. You can bet to win "ganant" or place "place". There are other more exotic bets but I rely on Grndpa for that.
If we are lucky we win the cost of the holiday if we are not we've just had a good day out for very little cost.
Here is another website with some photographs
ssa.paris.online.fr/pages/Longchamp.htm
Lots of love from England
Denise
:)Grndpa and I go to the races at Longchamps every year to attend the Prix de L'arc de Triomphe. This is a prestigious international horse racing and social event attended by the President of France and other hoy falloys and lots of famous international people. (including me and grndpa!!
)Grndpa is a racing fan, but I go for the cultural events and the people and fashion watching. It's fascinating to see the cream of French, British and Irish society in their glad rags. The atmosphere is one of fun and it is a thoroughly good day. The "arc" is held the first Sunday of October and the weather has always been good with the occasional shower, It can get very hot mid afternoon so I usually take a jacket and wear a light dress underneath. I have an umbrella in my bag just in case and I always wear sunscreen as I have been sunburned before.
I always get dressed up for the event, including hat. People dress in various stages of formality but (despite my current tag line) I always feel like a mumpty next to all the chic Parisian women and finding my outfit for the "arc" is part of the pre-trip fun. Last year I wore the dress I am wearing in the picture on "Grndmas training for Paris" with a Fuchsia jacket, black feathery fascinator hat and black patent high heels and bag. I carried some black patent ballet pumps in my bag so I could save my feet on the metro but still look smart. Grndpa wore his best Armanii Suit in a light grey colour and pink tie to bend with me. ( and looked very sexy!)
The first race is at 2 pm, but it is good to get there about an hour before. The band of the Welsh or Coldstream Guards gives a display of marching and music on the green near the entrance.
There is also a fashion show of hats by some well known French hattier.
During the day, there are other musical events, jazz bands and other bands. There are also stalls selling souvenirs, hats, jackets and lots of other things, pony rides for children etc.
There are two restaurants that you can book for a meal on the Internet but we usually get our food from the crepe stands or stalls selling baguettes. They sell champagne and alcohol but as Grndpa and I are Tea total (yes even in France!!) we do not partake. When we have been with friends they report that drink is not expensive. Never try to get a cup of tea at Longchamps, twice I have queued for 20 minutes for a cup with teabag then milk and hot water added.....like dishwater ugg!! I should have learned my lesson the first time. This year I will take a flask in my fashionably large bag!!
The racecourse is open to everyone but there are boxes and a special VIP village "La Balance" near the glass weighing room. We have twice been in this section at the invitation of a journalist friend and it is interesting to be up close to the hoy falloy. You can buy tickets on line which I have seen advertised from £55 to £150. Personally I think it is not necessary as you can see the people in the VIP area from the parade ring and they mix with the rest of the people anyway. Normal adult fee to get into the race course is 8 euros which you can pay at the gate, there is not usually much of a queue. I have seen ordinary tickets advertised on line for £40 which is a complete rip off.
Because the normal charges for British racecourses are similar people don't know any better. Grndpa goes on Saturday also which costs 4 euro. He has now discovered that it is only 2 euro for over 60 years of age.
To get there we always take the metro line 10 to Porte d'Auteuil (Dressed in our finery!)
The French are very well organised. When you get off the train, follow the crowd and there are free buses outside the metro station to take you to the course through the Bois de Boulogne. It could not be easier. You can of course take a taxi or a special trip.
Other ways of getting to the course are detailed on the special website. Click on the Union Jack on the left for English translation.
www.prixarcdetriomphe.com/2008Histogb.htm
Coming away is equally well organised with free buses taking you back to the metro.
There is also the horse racing going on!!!
I like a little flutter and I am usually lucky. I pick winners because I like the names or colours and not through any skill or knowledge, much to Grndpas chagrin! : 
Betting is done at the special windows, like the British "tote" The tellers understand English and the betting is easy. There are no independent bookmakers at the course. You can bet to win "ganant" or place "place". There are other more exotic bets but I rely on Grndpa for that.
If we are lucky we win the cost of the holiday if we are not we've just had a good day out for very little cost.
Here is another website with some photographs
ssa.paris.online.fr/pages/Longchamp.htm
Lots of love from England
Denise
it is such a lovely place in the sun.
hahahha