Post by Sandy M on Dec 8, 2011 17:47:19 GMT -5
THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2011 - THANKSGIVING DAY!
Arrived at CDG on time at 09:40 - my luggage arrived quickly and after that long flight, it was so good to see the Shuttle-Inter driver there waiting for me! Not much traffic so we got to the 11th in good time and Olivier was there waiting to let me into the studio I had rented. After he showed me what I needed to know about the studio, I decided to unpack everything as I knew I would be too tired to do it later. Was soon out the door and headed for the Grand Magasins as I wanted to see their animated windows as well as visit Cafe Pouchkine which is located in Printemps. Loved the windows at Printemps of mini Karl Lagerfeld's
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2eBTWy-FVw&NR=1&feature=endscreen
Before I went on to Galeries Lafayette, I stopped at Cafe Pouchkine inside Printemps - it's a small place and was quite busy - wonderful pastries so I sat down at the counter and had a Cafe Creme and a Mille-feuille - yummy! Carol from Paris Breakfast and David Lebovitz have both had several posts about this place so I just had to go check it out!
parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/2011/11/rendez-vous-at-cafe-pouchkine.html
www.davidlebovitz.com/2011/09/cafe-pouchkine-paris-pastry-pastries/
From there walked to Galeries LaFayette - inside to see the tree before I looked at the windows. I must say, I was disappointed with the tree this year - their holiday theme is "Noel Rock'n Mode" the windows were very cute with all their little Rock & Rollers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm0zGAw_IV8
the tree was not much to talk about at all, compared to other years.
english.cntv.cn/20111123/112495.shtml
After I left the stores, walked across and down the street to have a look inside Hotel Banke which was formerly a bank and now a hotel! Quite nice inside and a good spot for a much needed restroom break. Sat for a while in the lobby and then walked down to the Societe Generale to use the ATM - of course I received all 50's so went inside the bank to get some change!! Big mistake!! Took me forever and I kept being passed from this one to that one and then they had to make a telephone call and then talk to someone else - well, you get the idea! Finally, they sent me down to Madame at the far end of the counter and inside a little room and I had to explain all over again that "no, I am not a customer - but may I please have some smaller bills?" She looked at me and said it would be okay so I shoved my money through the slot - I could see a form on the counter to her right and it went through my mind that she surely wouldn't fill out a form to give me some small bills - would she??? Yup, that's what she did!!! I just couldn't believe my eyes but was grateful to get the small bills so just said Merci and went on!!
Decided to go back to the studio and get some much needed rest before I met Gayle and Denise for dinner - got off the Metro and was walking down rue Amelot and who should I bump into but Denise!!!! She had just had a Cafe but we decided to sit down to chat and each had a Cafe Creme and visited for awhile - each went back to our own studio to freshen up and met later to go meet Gayle for dinner, which was at Le Relais de L'lsle! What a delicious dinner! So glad we choose that place - it's small so you do need a reservation - I have wanted to go there for a long time and it was certainly worth the wait! Denise had the Salmon, Gayle had Shrimp and I had Sliced Pork - each had wonderful accompaniments and every bite was delicious! Of course, we each had dessert which was also delicious!! As I mentioned, it is a small place with only 24 seats so the tables are close together - a couple was seated next to us and when I got up to go to the bathroom, the lady started talked to Gayle and Denise about where they were from, etc, etc, - I found out when I returned to the table that the husband is from Des Moines, IA originally and he and I exchanged names and we do know some of the same people and his sister is in my gym class!! Small world! It was a delightful evening with good company, and delicious food that is so reasonably priced - highly recommend that you go there!
More later - have to go to Mass as it is a Holy Day - will try to finish reports tomorrow!
Arrived at CDG on time at 09:40 - my luggage arrived quickly and after that long flight, it was so good to see the Shuttle-Inter driver there waiting for me! Not much traffic so we got to the 11th in good time and Olivier was there waiting to let me into the studio I had rented. After he showed me what I needed to know about the studio, I decided to unpack everything as I knew I would be too tired to do it later. Was soon out the door and headed for the Grand Magasins as I wanted to see their animated windows as well as visit Cafe Pouchkine which is located in Printemps. Loved the windows at Printemps of mini Karl Lagerfeld's
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2eBTWy-FVw&NR=1&feature=endscreen
Before I went on to Galeries Lafayette, I stopped at Cafe Pouchkine inside Printemps - it's a small place and was quite busy - wonderful pastries so I sat down at the counter and had a Cafe Creme and a Mille-feuille - yummy! Carol from Paris Breakfast and David Lebovitz have both had several posts about this place so I just had to go check it out!
parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/2011/11/rendez-vous-at-cafe-pouchkine.html
www.davidlebovitz.com/2011/09/cafe-pouchkine-paris-pastry-pastries/
From there walked to Galeries LaFayette - inside to see the tree before I looked at the windows. I must say, I was disappointed with the tree this year - their holiday theme is "Noel Rock'n Mode" the windows were very cute with all their little Rock & Rollers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jm0zGAw_IV8
the tree was not much to talk about at all, compared to other years.
english.cntv.cn/20111123/112495.shtml
After I left the stores, walked across and down the street to have a look inside Hotel Banke which was formerly a bank and now a hotel! Quite nice inside and a good spot for a much needed restroom break. Sat for a while in the lobby and then walked down to the Societe Generale to use the ATM - of course I received all 50's so went inside the bank to get some change!! Big mistake!! Took me forever and I kept being passed from this one to that one and then they had to make a telephone call and then talk to someone else - well, you get the idea! Finally, they sent me down to Madame at the far end of the counter and inside a little room and I had to explain all over again that "no, I am not a customer - but may I please have some smaller bills?" She looked at me and said it would be okay so I shoved my money through the slot - I could see a form on the counter to her right and it went through my mind that she surely wouldn't fill out a form to give me some small bills - would she??? Yup, that's what she did!!! I just couldn't believe my eyes but was grateful to get the small bills so just said Merci and went on!!
Decided to go back to the studio and get some much needed rest before I met Gayle and Denise for dinner - got off the Metro and was walking down rue Amelot and who should I bump into but Denise!!!! She had just had a Cafe but we decided to sit down to chat and each had a Cafe Creme and visited for awhile - each went back to our own studio to freshen up and met later to go meet Gayle for dinner, which was at Le Relais de L'lsle! What a delicious dinner! So glad we choose that place - it's small so you do need a reservation - I have wanted to go there for a long time and it was certainly worth the wait! Denise had the Salmon, Gayle had Shrimp and I had Sliced Pork - each had wonderful accompaniments and every bite was delicious! Of course, we each had dessert which was also delicious!! As I mentioned, it is a small place with only 24 seats so the tables are close together - a couple was seated next to us and when I got up to go to the bathroom, the lady started talked to Gayle and Denise about where they were from, etc, etc, - I found out when I returned to the table that the husband is from Des Moines, IA originally and he and I exchanged names and we do know some of the same people and his sister is in my gym class!! Small world! It was a delightful evening with good company, and delicious food that is so reasonably priced - highly recommend that you go there!
More later - have to go to Mass as it is a Holy Day - will try to finish reports tomorrow!