|
Post by Sandy M on Nov 29, 2011 7:34:35 GMT -5
It's good to hear form you Sandy! Glad you're having a nice time and the weather has been halfway decent. I'm going to drag Darryl to Jazz Me while we're there, and we might have to go to the circus, too! You would enjoy both!! I was going to try to write some more today but it is SOOOOOOO hot in this Internet Cafe today!!! I asked them to prop open the door and that's helping a little but then someone comes along and closes it so will have to wait until I get home to write more - I've taken off all the clothes they will allow me to!!! Just too hot in here!
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Nov 29, 2011 11:14:42 GMT -5
Just popped in to the office to take care of a few things before going off to visit my mom and then go home and try to ward off a threatening head cold and the @$#% jet-lag that just kills the buzz when you get home from Paris! It was interesting (and delicious!) enjoying Thanksgiving at the Relais de l'Isle. Excellent restaurant enjoyed with good company (Denise and Sandy). Jazz Me was fun. Weather was very cooperative. Just two bouts of light drizzle for about an hour a couple of days. But mostly cloudy and warm. The flight home was uneventful until somewhere over Labrador, when I realized I'd left my house and car keys on the same ring as the apartment keys, which I'd left on the dining table in Paris. Yikes! I forget how fun it is to unpack all the fun stuff you buy....it's kind of like Christmas morning PS. Am looking forward to my first taste of Speculoos. I bought a jar on the recommendation of all you people who have waxed lyrical about it for so long.
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Nov 30, 2011 17:45:28 GMT -5
What is Jazz Me? Missed that....
Sandy..we do need more detail..esp. about the T-Day feast..but don't overheat yourself..or spend precious time in cybercafes if you are tired or they are not comfortable..we'll wait! Just enjoy!
|
|
|
Post by PariS on Dec 1, 2011 1:55:52 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by suzanne on Dec 1, 2011 12:48:27 GMT -5
We are here to. We enjoyed having breakfast with Sandy Denise Gayle and Peter on Saturday.
We are staying in the 4th, which is an arrondisement we have not spent anytime in before. It has been a bit of an adjustment finding things we need here and we have been a bit discouraged at times. Now that we are settling in, it is nearing our time to leave Why oh why do we have to work so much??
We enjoed a delghtful lunch with Sandy on Tuesday at Valentines. Sandy is special and she is also my very first internet frind. So it is always a treat to spend time wiith her.
Valenines is special for us because we stayed in the hotel Roncerey Mecure on our 2nd trip to Paris and I might add one of our most memorable trips. (Ask Geordy about the spells) It was the time we first fell in love with Paris.
|
|
|
Post by jo on Dec 1, 2011 13:39:33 GMT -5
I love that all these OPRers are meeting up in the city they love and sharing stories, interests and ideas. The power of the internet to bring people together never ceases to amaze me.
Thank you all for sharing your time in Paris with us.
Jo
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Dec 1, 2011 13:48:14 GMT -5
Um Suzanne...have you been into the same stuff those Irish chaps behind us were into? We actually had breakfast together on Sunday.
We enjoyed breakfast at Breakfast In America, along with some very drunk Irish chaps...I then proceeded to take a long, slow walk back to my neighborhood, along the river. I stopped at Bazin and bought a lemon tart, a Paris Brest and a café éclair. I ate them all Sunday afternoon. And suffered not one bit of guilt about it. ;D
|
|
|
Post by suzanne on Dec 2, 2011 1:51:40 GMT -5
Funny things happen to me in Pairis. Can't tell left or right, North or South or what day it is. Guess I'm trying to get an extra day out of this trip. By the way the Beaujolais we tried last nght was quite good. Not as tasty as your goodies though, Happy .
Just reading about a powerful windstorm at home. Hope everyone is ok there.
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on Dec 2, 2011 5:58:41 GMT -5
That breakfast GTG must have have fun. So glad that a number of you had the opportunity to be together.
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Dec 2, 2011 11:14:43 GMT -5
. I stopped at Bazin and bought a lemon tart, a Paris Brest and a caf� �clair. I ate them all Sunday afternoon. And suffered not one bit of guilt about it. ;D Sounds like a great Sunday! ;D Glad you enjoyed your memories Suzanne!
|
|
|
Post by Sandy M on Dec 2, 2011 12:08:48 GMT -5
We enjoed a delghtful lunch with Sandy on Tuesday at Valentines. Sandy is special and she is also my very first internet frind. So it is always a treat to spend time wiith her. Thanks, Suzanne - I enjoyed it too - hard to believe that we first met 5 years ago at Thanksgiving - and you and Jim are the first TA/OPF members that I met in person, so getting together with you two will always be special to me!
|
|
|
Post by suzanne on Dec 2, 2011 12:30:47 GMT -5
What exactly is a Paris Brest?
Wednesday the weather was very nice. Not exacly warm but sunny with beautiful blue skies. Since Jim is a musician I thought it would be fun to go to the Musse Musique. We both enjoyed the museum. We stopped for lunch at a little place near there. We had very good food for a very reasonable price.
Yesterday (Thursday) was chilly and drizzling. We have spent a good deal of his trip figuring out how to ride the Paris buses. Coming from So. Ca, where public transportation is non-existant we were a bit frightened to get on the bus, however, his knees and my hips are beginning to object to the metro stairs and long corridors in the stations.
So we got on the bus and ended up at the Parc Citroen. It was a big modern looking park. Interesting and empty in the rain. We were hungry so we stopped at a cafe near the parc. Jim liked his duck Conft. I ordered a dish from the black board which included the word Veau. So I thought how can veal be bad. Well, it tasted like Bush's Baked Beans with some chunks of meat thrown in. A little strange to say the least. Jim usually scarfs up anything left on my plate but he took one taste and gave it a pass. Live and learn.
Today was clear and cool. I decided that I needed some reading material for the flight home and since we are not too far from there, I would go to the bookstore called "Red Wheel Barrel". As we came down our street to Hotel De Ville we saw a line of folks waiting to go into the Hotel De Ville. We discovered they had an exhibition by Sempe. Since we are both big fans of the New Yorker magazine. We joined the line. It was a very interesting exhibit. We are glad we came upon it.
We continued walking to Rue St Paul to the litte bookstore. We arrived to find it closed with a sign n the window that said something about closing for Rabbit day. I have no idea.
We had really nice lunch at a plce called Comptoir on Rue du Temple.
Then we walked down to Re Di Rivoli and got a bus to Bastile. Got up on the Promenade Plantee and walked fo a very long time. Finally got bus 29 back to our neck of the woods. We walked to the end of street and found a cute Christmas Boutigue going on. It seemed to be put on by the Lion's Club. Lots of nice hand made goods on offer. Across the steet was one of my favorite stores, Fragonard, I got my sister a cute makeup bag and some lavender soap. Her birthday is coming up. I purchased my face cream.
We have stopped by the apartment for a rest, Since Jim is lounging on the couch and I'm on the internet I somehow doubt we will be going out again tonight.
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Dec 2, 2011 12:46:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the link on Jazz Me Annette.....reaction seems a bit mixed on TA...and here! Anyone here ever do that How to be Parisian in an hour or something like that? Saw it has hit #1 on the Attractions list on TA..don't go over there much...at least not for Paris...did post for Tours info and such. Rabbit day..very interesting....but it seems like that kind of place A stab at Paris Brest it is a creme puff like pastry shaped sort of lie a bagel with creme filling...mocha? and vanilla?? It is named for a famed Bicycle race btw Paris and Brussels Quite tasty!
|
|
|
Post by denise on Dec 2, 2011 13:47:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the link on Jazz Me Annette.....reaction seems a bit mixed on TA...and here! Anyone here ever do that How to be Parisian in an hour or something like that? Saw it has hit #1 on the Attractions list on TA..don't go over there much...at least not for Paris...did post for Tours info and such. Dear Geordy, As I said I really enjoyed Jazz me. It is a small venue so sit near the back. Her voice is very powerful and I would like to see her in a larger venue with an orchestra.....sometimes when things are recommended your expectations are high. I saw How to be a Parisian in an hour last year. I thought it was so funny, but be prepared to laugh at yourself particularly if you are American. Olivier explains that he had difficulty finding a venue that would put on an English language show in Paris. Theatre Main d'OR is the only one that would take him. It is small and scruffy. I must tell you there is some controversy about the owner of the theatre, I don't know about the validity of these rumours, but as it is not the artist, who is just trying to earn a living by entertaining people and I saw the show beforehand I don't connect it with the show. A lot of places are owned by unscrupulous people.... but if you want to see the show do not investigate this. In January I tried to get tickets to see the show again as I enjoyed it so much but it was fully booked so book early and of course the price has gone up! Denise Love from England
|
|
|
Post by Sandy M on Dec 2, 2011 13:59:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the link on Jazz Me Annette.....reaction seems a bit mixed on TA...and here! Anyone here ever do that How to be Parisian in an hour or something like that? Saw it has hit #1 on the Attractions list on TA..don't go over there much...at least not for Paris...did post for Tours info and such. Dear Geordy, As I said I really enjoyed Jazz me. It is a small venue so sit near the back. Her voice is very powerful and I would like to see her in a larger venue with an orchestra.....sometimes when things are recommended your expectations are high. I saw How to be a Parisian in an hour last year. I thought it was so funny, but be prepared to laugh at yourself particularly if you are American. Olivier explains that he had difficulty finding a venue that would put on an English language show in Paris. Theatre Main d'OR is the only one that would take him. It is small and scruffy. I must tell you there is some controversy about the owner of the theatre, I don't know about the validity of these rumours, but as it is not the artist, who is just trying to earn a living by entertaining people and I saw the show beforehand I don't connect it with the show. A lot of places are owned by unscrupulous people.... but if you want to see the show do not investigate this. In January I tried to get tickets to see the show again as I enjoyed it so much but it was fully booked so book early and of course the price has gone up! Denise Love from England Well, I enjoyed Jazz Me very much - I agree that her powerful voice could probably be better enjoyed in a bigger room but she sure did fill up the space with her voice - I thought she was just darling - cute and sexy without being over the top! And I did enjoy the pianist also - good team in my opinion. I would like to hear her again, next time in a larger room and with a full orchestra! That would be outstanding! How to be a Parisien in an Hour sounds like so much fun - goes on my list for next trip!
|
|
|
Post by Happygoin on Dec 2, 2011 14:14:13 GMT -5
I definitely would go see the Jazz Me duo in a larger venue. She really did have a good voice....and honestly, the only things I didn't care for were some of the arrangements. I'd go see her again though, hopefully in a larger place where her voice would really soar.
A Paris Brest is, as geordy said, is a cream puff or pate à choux pastry filled with hazelnut praline pastry cream. Mmmmm! They're delish. They can be found in either a round version or shaped oblong like an éclair.
Suzanne, one of the greatest joys of walking around Paris is when you stumble on an exhibit, shop or restaurant that you didn't know existed and it delights you. It sounds like you and Jim have enjoyed a few of those....good for you!
|
|
|
Post by denise on Dec 2, 2011 16:21:56 GMT -5
Mossie has done us proud with his pictures. An exalt to him. He has done a good job of capturing the Champs Elysees. I did not dislike the lights. I thought they gave a festive air to the place. The street art is amazing Mossie. Sadly I took very few pictures, I don't know why, it just didn't occur to me. I have hundreds of pictures I never do anything with! These days I find photobucket such a pain to use. However I did grab one pictuire of a lovely sunset near Pont Alexander while waiting for a bus. This was a very relaxing trip I just wandered about the local area, sat and drank coffe, people watched, window shopped and was happy in my own little world. I ate out with friends and went to the circus just nearby. I had a lovely walk with Mossie et Al. and learned a few things I didn't know. I have never actually walked through the Parc de Belleville before. Far from boring me I found Mossies commentry very interesting. He obviously is knowledgeable about this area he loves. I can give him a second exalt for this. Breakfast in America was a new experience for me it was a bit surreal to be sat in an "American diner" in the middle of Paris with the cheery American waitresses. I now know where to get a good cooked breakfast in future if I am craving bacon and eggs. Great idea for a Sunday morning because that is when we usually have them at home. While Mossie went off to the Vanvers flea market I want to Marche au Puces to seek out Chez Louisette. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6ti_gUYG8I An amazing place where they sing traditional chansons and serve Sunday lunch. The food did not get good reports on TA but actually my bœuf bourguignon was delicious, very winey and garlicky with tender beef and two British girls next to me reported that thier Moules Mariniere were stunning. Three different singers entertained us and fantastic female jazz singer passing by who didn't even take her coat off! Thanks to butterflyfree I rented a tiny ( but perfectly formed ) attic in the 11th arrondissement which I fell in love with. www.vrbo.com/332016 I didn't want to leave and I cannot wait to return to sip my morning coffee sitting on my tiny balcony watching the sun rise overlooking the rooftops of Paris. Denise Love from England Apologies to Truffant, time went so quickly, I never got to call and meet him. I am sure his new decorations are coming along wonderfully.
|
|
|
Post by geordy on Dec 2, 2011 18:27:52 GMT -5
Where are Mossie's photos posted??? Am I missing something..again??? Thanks for all the info ladies...I'll check to see if Jazz Me will still be around in Feb (still haven't committed to plane ticket) and think I'd also like to check out the "Parisian" thing....questions about theatre owner??? I hear nothing.....and small and scuffy is fine with me...off or off off Broadway anyone! That attic does look lovely....
|
|
|
Post by denise on Dec 3, 2011 5:31:50 GMT -5
:)Hi Suzanne, seems like you are doing a good job of riding the buses. Once you figure them out it is not difficult. Don't know if you have a map bok but L'Indispensable make a good one. Blue with white and red writing like the 3 plans par arrondissement.
Nice to see you and great you have introduced me to Breakfast in America!
Denise Love from England
|
|
|
Post by Jody on Dec 3, 2011 7:58:00 GMT -5
most recent hotel is right next door to BIA and we still have not tried it. Almost always a line outside and an almond crossiant is always calling my name!
|
|