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Post by geordy on Nov 29, 2011 7:12:15 GMT -5
Can't see photos either..and I do want to see Gizmo! Glad you enjoyed the Wilde exhibition...what did you think of the new look of the restaurant? It was only half done when we were there and looked rather odd The food sounds great.......as always.... Your trip will be here before you know it George..though I don't like writing that because the trip I haven't even finalized yet will be over then Scotland's been on my list for too long.....
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Post by Jody on Nov 29, 2011 9:14:46 GMT -5
The photo link and all of Kodak have been acting up but it worked just fine for me a few minutes ago.
Sorry Nancywe did not check out the restaurant in the D'Orsay , didn't think of it.Nice to see the exterior uncovered at last. Now St Paul at St Louis is all covered up so if you want to see the outside save it for another trip
I love Scotland . I have a friend in Aberdeen who is an expert on that part of Scotland and she is loaded with suggestion on what to see and do. She also has a house in France!! Lucky lady
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Post by Jody on Nov 29, 2011 13:26:48 GMT -5
THE ENDING
Sunday means Richard Lenoir market, Lots of goodies to see and eat. Stopped at my regular salt man for some fleur de sel. I told him I had forgotten it last trip and he hadn’t been there on Thus when we stopped briefly at the market. I told him I call him my salt man and he said he is Le roi de Sel! Picked up a big basket of figs and some proscuitto to enjoy later with some wine on the terrace if it is warm tonight. Stopped at the Village St Paul brocante but it was most uninteresting . I’ve never been that impressed with the shops at Village St Paul.
I wanted//needed to go to Cite Pharmacie so we set off for St Germain. Dumb Jody forgot she was in France and all pharmacies are not open on Sundays. Oh well another day ! David is hungry so we stopped in at Del Papa and shared a pizza and some wine. Before heading home. Decided to stay close to home for dinner so checked out the places on Sq St Catherine right around the corner from us. It was full of screeching kids running around and lots of motorcycles which I could hear roaring away as we at so headed to our hangout Le Bouquet St Paul. .I had a beef dish and David Salmon. Shared a cheese plate instead of a sweet. Delicious
Mon day and we will get to the Grand Palais. .Broke down and took the metro , it is right across the street from us and takes you right to the door on the museum. Arrived a bit early and the lines are quite small ..what a change from last time! Got the 2 for 1 deal as expected and set off to see. The show is huge and it was a bit crowded but very beautiful . There was also a room of Cezannes that belonged to another collector in addition to the Steins. What a life those Steins must have led in Paris !! One thing that utterly amazes me is people that go to an exhibit and stand directly in front of a masterpiece . Blocking others from seeing and the are on the phone or texting. I first thought they were taking forbidden pictures before I realized what exactly they were up to!. After several hours there David wanted lunch and fast! Turned left as I could see a lot of cafes on the adjoining street, I think it is Blvd Franklin Roosevelt, and stopped in the first place we came too. We both had omelets mixte . I have been craving eggs this trip. I think it was call=ed Café Francaise. Also noticed a part of the Grand Palais We’ve managed to miss before. Musee de la Decouverte Next time!! Walked to a bus near the Petit Palais and headed to St Germain . I have to get my hand cram today >I am flaking away in the wind. Bought 6 tubes and some voltaren gel , hope that holds me until the next trip or I’ll be asking someone to pick some up and send it to me. I’ve not seen it at home or in London and it is the BEST!
Back to apt to change for dinner and relax a bit before heading off to Chez Fernand . We really like this place and get there every trip. I do miss the Hugh Grant look-alike waiter since he left. Would love to know where he and Nono went! I had beef bourg and David kidneys,
David expressed a desire to go back to the Musee de la Chasse et Nature, And I wanted a chance to look at Rue de Archives and they can be accomplished together. Spent a bit of time in the musee. There was a new installation in the courtyard. Glass flowers, lots of blown glass sculpture in the museum, something new.
He kept looking and I walked along the avenue. I should have looked up KOKo’s address at the apt. As I had no idea where I was going. Never did find it, oh well next time wanted to go to the silvers smith too but also forgot that address. Rejoined David and looked for a place for lunch. There was a nice café nearby, Café Marais and I got a French Burger after seeing the one the man next to me had! It was super delish!! Walked around that area a bit more then headed for home. I have a bit more laundry to dote hold us until we leave for home. Back to Del Papa for dinner. Saltimbocca for me and a fish dish for David. Really quite good. I was disappointed they no longer have the roasted squid salad as a starter though.
Felt like sitting in a garden today so headed to the Rodin. Getting off the bus I wasn;t sure which way to head so David said he’d walk up the street a bit and I could wait in the little square near the bus stop. Saw something that looked huge moving thru the bushes turned out to be a really well cared for cat who was very friendly. He especially liked David . I’m sure he was someone’s pet. I hope he was just on the prowl and not lost. He had the longest legs I’ve ever seen on a cat! Can’t read my own writing so don’t remember just where we had dinner. I had a veal dish with a citrus sauce and David Lieu with a pepper sauce. I’ll have to rack my brain to remember because it was very good. Last day and we headed to the Isles . No lines at Notre Dame so went in for a refresher look. Last few trips the lines have been horrendous. They were playing choir music which made it seem more church like with all the tourists milling about. Bought a holy medal for a friend and headed out. Stopped and peeked in at the Hotel Dieu courtyard on the way to St Louis. No buskers on the bridge . It is being repaved. But did see some men fishing in the Seine. Stopped in quite q few shops and chatted a lot to various antique dealers, lunch in a nearby café and then more walking. David did peek into the fishing store he likes near Pont Sully and caught the bus back to tidy apt and pack. for London tomorrow. Wanted to go the Les Bar des Huitres again so headed toward St Germain and Blvd St Michel. We had an excellent dinner here last trip . Not at all crowded when we arrived but it took the guy forever to acknowledge and seat us. He placed us near a window which was nice but the table was jammed right up next to the next one and this is not a small space . There could be room to avoid this. David was mashed in. Then he presented menus. They were kindles or I pads and not at all a good way to chose your entrée and plat. We both like to look what is available and what it will compliment. David especially could not stand it so we left and walked up to Vagem=nade where we had the evening special..liver for D and fish for me. He should have had his oysters at the market like I told him! Off to bed a bit early as I want to get this place in order and still have a last breakfast in Paris. Paul across the street opens at 7 but Miss Manon a few doors down is ready to go at 6:30 so I’ve mostly been going there for croissants and paid au chocolate. I’ll miss them both. There is a taxi stand right up from apt. so we headed that way but just as we stepped out of apt. an empty cab stopped for the red light so we hopped in and headed to Gare du Nord a bit early but there are shops and coffee there. Train boarded right on time and were are off!!
2 hours later we are pulling into St Pancras and in a taxi headed back to the Gloucester. Room ready again so I purchased the club privileges and retrieved my suitcase/Went up to King’s Rd to have a look and lunch at Partridges. Lots of food goodies but I have not got room! Had a walk around the road admiring shop windows that were already set for Christmas. Back to hotel for some canapés and wine and then set off for Venosi. This is a lovely restaurant we discovered on our last trip, I was stunned to see it had closed down. They weren’t doing a whle lot of businessd when we were there in the spring in spite of excellent reviews. Guess it was too far off the beaten path . A real los to the London restaurant scene. So jumped back on the bus and went to Brasserie Gerard on Kensington High Street. Always good choices on the menu for such a small place. David had fish again and I chose lamb. Both very good. Back to bed for another eary night. Saturday we had tickets for the Da Vinci exhibit at the National Gallery. Glad I bought them online ahead of time. The line to buy tickets was unbelievable It had to be doubled back on itself it had stretched out so long. The exhibit was heavy into religious subjects. I have trouble with all the symbolism and get Madonnaed out. It was interesting to see the painting picked up at a garage sale for 35 dollars and found to be worth 35 million, Hoped to get out in time to see Driving Miss Daisy with Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones but it was sold out when we got there. Better plan ahead next trip. Hope it is still running in the spring. So just hung out around Trafalgar , had some lunch at museum and stopped at the V&A on our way back to hotel. Went to Carluccio’s for dinner. Their food is so good but the noise level is deafening. David wanted their venison tortellini and I had a veal dish.
Sunday morning there is an antiques fair at the Royal Horticultural Hall so hopped a bus and got there just at opening time. Immediately saw a painting we both liked, turned out to be by an American artist and had already been sold. Looked for some jewelry for my niece’s Christmas present but didn’t see anything that grabbed me. David did find an Old Sheffield Plated covered half pint mug that he just had to have. So we did end up with a purchase. WALKED ALONG THE Thames for a bit before heading back to South Kensington. Dinner this evening at Café Montepeliaano. I had their pasta with mushroom gorgonzola sauce. I am trying to perfect the recipe at home. David Had some kind of pasta but I forgot to write it down.
What is London without a trip to the Imperial War Museum? I wouldn’t know because we always end up there. My little doorman who always recognized me from our many visits has retired and I miss him. He was always good for a joke and stories about the noisy school groups he admits. Had to have their Mac and Cheese for lunch! I had wanted to go to the Olympia Winter Antique Show but the tickets were 30 GBP a piece for this first day. Way more than I was prepared to spend just to look! Back to hotel to pack for tomorrow’s departure . Dinner tonight at La Famiglia. Alvaro is there tonight and sat and talked for d. some time. I had wanted to hear about his trip to NYC to celebrate his cousin’s 50th anniversary. I had also been carrying around a NYX article on his cousin’s restaurant, La Cirque, that I wanted to give him. I told him I had tried the recipes and his were better . For that we were rewarded with some vin santo after dinner. David had the liver again as it was so good the 1st time and I had Spiedini, a skewer with wild boar sausage, chicken , bread and fresh basil leaves grilled. I love the combination. Grabbed a taxi. I used to find London cabs easy to get in and out of but with the trick knee it has become harder. Fell flat on my butt trying to get out this time. Fortunately I was still in the cab so didn’t disgrace myself or get hurt except my dignity!
Had the shuttle ordered for 8 AM. I had made a bad mix-up when I booked it from Paris. I told them Nov 11th, which was the day we were leaving Paris not London. They were right on time on the 11th and we didn’t show up. When they checked at the desk they were told we were checking In later that day/ There was an email waiting when I got on the computer one call got it all straightened out and they only charged me the 10 GBP waiting fee. That’s more than fair. Traffic to Gatwick was very heavy I was glad I had left plenty of time. The gate was miles away from check in so I was glad for the cart ride. The driver looked about 110 years old! BA was on time but the flight was packed , I felt like I was wedged into the seat and was getting claustrophobic by the last 2 hours. Head rest was broken so no sleep either.
Orlando looked good. I think it is a disgrace they charge 4 dollars for a luggage cart. What a way to treat the tourists our town depends on. OI refuse to pay it, I would rather give 5 dollars to a porter. No problem with customs or immigration so were in the shuttle to the parking lot quickly, traffic not bad and the cat was so glad to see us! The boy next door loves him and took very good care of him. Next trip comes in March!!
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Post by Jody on Nov 29, 2011 17:06:24 GMT -5
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Post by mez on Nov 30, 2011 2:00:37 GMT -5
Great photos.
David definitely found an admirer in that cat, didn't he?
The line for the da Vinci exhibition is insane. I did read that all pre-booked tickets are now sold out until the end of Feb and that some of them are on sale on EBAY for hundreds of pounds - crazy!
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Post by denise on Dec 4, 2011 3:41:46 GMT -5
Jody just read this whole trip from beginning to end. Very enjoyable. Nice to be with you on your adventure, in my imagination. An exalt for you!
So glad you posted about the cruise and the bad day. Michael keeps trying to persuade me to go on a cruise but although it sounds wonderful to be pampered for a while I also get seasick
Denise Love from England.
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Post by mossie on Dec 4, 2011 4:15:02 GMT -5
Go for it Denise, just think of all the wonderful food. ;D ;D And if you are unlucky enough to be seasick, remember that it is just natures way of making room for MORE FOOD.
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Post by Jody on Dec 4, 2011 7:29:50 GMT -5
Yes go for it, Denise. Only reason D got sick it was winter in the North Atlantic. River cruising might be the way to go. I got D some seasick pills from the purser and he was okay then. He is really prone to sea sickness. If I stand in front of him and sway he can get queasy,
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Post by PariS on Dec 4, 2011 11:48:04 GMT -5
Denise, you really should try it if your hubby is willing! Cruises are a great way to sample a region--you only have to unpack once, wake up to a different destination each day (except for cruises with lots of at-sea days, like Jody's obviously!), and are fed and pampered along the way. You can take part in as many or as few of the activities offered as you wish. "The patch" is a very effective means of keeping motion sickness at bay, without the drowsiness you usually get with pills: www.transdermscop.com/transderm-scop-patient-information.htm Jody, I can't see your pics either, with either link but will keep trying!
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Post by geordy on Dec 4, 2011 13:12:29 GMT -5
Jody, I can't see your pics either, with either link but will keep trying! Me either! I'm still intrigued by the changing timezones..I now you've said you hit the ground running away but did gradually changing time make the transition in England any easier? Avoid that"its midnite by my clock and I'm ready to go to bed..why are all these folks acting like the day is beginning/" feeling and fuzzy headedness?
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Post by mossie on Dec 4, 2011 15:21:41 GMT -5
It is called "jet lag" for the reason that one is changing time zones too quickly for your body clock to be able to adapt. Chugging across at 25 knots is far more relaxing than jetting over at 500.
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Post by Jody on Dec 5, 2011 3:45:40 GMT -5
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Post by PariS on Dec 5, 2011 12:01:06 GMT -5
Okay, that worked! Nice pics, Jody! The ship looks gorgeous.
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