|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 16, 2013 15:04:46 GMT -5
Well,we are here in my city,I adore Paris.
This is #9 for us,finding so much more to see and do,and new restaurants to try..
Arrived Sunday,settled in our apartment,this time we chose the 18th.
Unpacked a little and out the door.
Looked for the neighborhood Monoprix,went to Notre Dame,just walked over to St.Isle Louis,had an Amorino cone,..Really trying to stay awake...
Monday..recharged our Metro pass,went to the St Lazare train station,just to find our way there.We are taking the train Sunday to Bayeaux.
As long as we were at the train station,my husband said let's go out to the Grand Arch-la defense.I had this on my list for one day,and nice we had no definite plans,today was the day.
Cloudy and windy,but not bad.We decided to walk to the Arc..Lots of pretty flowers blooming ,not a very touristy area,just office workers ..
We stopped for a little sandwich along the way,finally making it o the Arc.
As we wandered down the Champs,I noticed more police and ambulances than ever before.
Lots of lung men racing down the street,hanging out of the windows.
All of a sudden ,there are a few hundred across the street from us,starting to run.We really wanted o get out of there fast.Evidently they were celebrating Paris s win in soccer.We hurriedly walked down faster and faster.police were in gas masks,it was chaos.
As we walked down toward Concord ,,we heard some popping sounds,didn't look back..
Monday,much quieter..
To b continued
Elaine
|
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 16, 2013 15:33:55 GMT -5
I should say Tuesday was much quieter. We went to my favorite museum,the Musee d'Orsay.
I love this place,there were lots of school groups there listening to the teachers.We always like to have lunch up in the second floor restaurant.
It is a beautiful room,paintings on the ceilings,lots of gold and sparkling chandeliers.
Bill had the special of the day,salmon with vegetables.This comes with dessert,floating island.
I had the crab and Mango with avocado,and their dessert Le cafe gourmand.It is a cup of expression and 3 mini desserts,a pannecotta,a baked fruit crumble, and a mocha cream on a tuile.
I know it sounds like a lot,but it is 2 bites each.
We sat next to a charming Parisian lady,and enjoyed our conversations itch her 2 hours flew by.
Then we were off walking.
Bill wanted to go to Bon Marche and I promised to pick up rosaries and medals from the Chapel of the Miraculous Medal on rue du Bac.
After that,we headed over to see the Eiffel Tower.
Aw, I always love the first time I see it again.
We just love to wander wherever the road takes us.
|
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 17, 2013 1:20:50 GMT -5
Tuesday, we also decided to go to the Tour Montparness,it has been on my list.
It was a wonderful,although windy night.
Everything looked like a miniature monopoly game.it was fun trying to pick out parks,etc.
Wednesday . We did a cooking class at Reed,a small restaurant in the 7th.Catherine is a delight,we learned how to cook a fish coated in sea salt.a delightful way to spend 4-5 hours,meeting new people,laughing ,chopping,
Thursday..off to Versailles ,haven't been in 10 years.lots of tour buses.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on May 17, 2013 11:42:17 GMT -5
 Nice to see your live report from Paris! Re the soccer victory celebration on the Champs, we too experienced such a scene several years ago. I remember seeing shirtless guys cheering excitedly as they drove by. What a wild bunch they were!  Enjoy your trip! How long will you be in Bayeux?
|
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 17, 2013 11:49:15 GMT -5
We will leave Paris Sunday am for Bayeaux,then return Tuesday evening.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on May 17, 2013 11:51:03 GMT -5
Lovely town. We stayed at the Churchill Hotel......very charming.
|
|
|
|
Post by saintgermain on May 17, 2013 16:07:58 GMT -5
Elaine,
I'm enjoying your trip report:-) I feel like I'm walking along with you. Looking forward to reading about your trip to Bayeux. We'd like to go there by train sometime. Have you taken that trip before?
Sandy
|
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 17, 2013 16:31:09 GMT -5
Never been to Bayeaux before.We are looking forward to it.
Today we met our friends Lucien and his wife for lunch at the restaurant outside,across the street from Galeries Lafayette.
All 3 had the plat du jour,octopus with grilled veggies.I opted for a chicken Caesar .
Desserts were so pretty,Marie and I had one that resembled the dome inside the store,an edible chocolate dome,covering a creamy inside with some tiny berries,sitting on a shortbread.
We had reservations for the Fashios show at the store at 3.
First we had to look at all the shoes by Chanel,Gucvi,Prada..Amazing,expensive,crazy.
Fashions were not that exciting,looked like some things in my closet..kind of boring.
In years past,they had much nicer selections.
Then up o the roof or some great photo ops.
Wish I knew how to post them here.
Later my husband and I wandered over to Parc Bellville,then to a late dinner.
|
|
|
|
Post by geordy on May 17, 2013 21:14:12 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the reports..we don't get enough these days!
I was in Paris long ago when they won the World Cup in 1998...and part of the run up to it...with no negatives...just peaceful, happy fans..from both sides! Wonderful memories! Too bad things appear to have gotten out of hand. In '98 things had gotten a bit rough in some of the other venues before paris..to the point where they banned booze at some events! But the days before.and after..the final were divine!
Also Stayed at the Churchill in Bayeux...only one night but a delightful side trip!
Keep them coming!
|
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 18, 2013 10:52:53 GMT -5
Today was a relaxing am,up later than usual,breakfast in our apartment.
Off on the metro to Alma Marceau,as we wanted to go to the Woodrow Wilson market.
Great place,lots of vendors selling their fish,cheeses,meat products.We spent a lot so time here,just admiring the freshest food items. I bought a mango,strawberries, and a Mekong.
After we finished I insisted we walk right over to the Princess Diana memorial,it's just down the street.
We had no major plans,just walk where the road takes us,stopped for a coffee,walked some more.
We did stop in a cafe off rue du Bac ,I had an omelet,bill a club sandwich.
Off we go on the metro again. I wanted to go find Terroir Parisien in the 5th.
We made a reservation for next sat,our last night in Paris.
When we return from Bayeaux,I have signed Bill up for a bread baking class through Meeting the French.
I will go,just to take pictures.He needs help with his baguettes,he does ok making croissants.
Thursday we are taking our friends to lunch at Spring.
I know Paris food and wine has no calories. Good thing we are walking so much.
Well, I need to go pack a bag for our trip tomorrow .
au revoir..
|
|
|
|
Post by Jody on May 18, 2013 13:38:38 GMT -5
I am loving your reports. We do jut aqbout the same in Paris no firm itinerary.Just go where the spirit moves us!! I adore street markets we usually hit several always the richard Lenoir. and just sitting in a cafe is a treat. !!
|
|
|
|
Post by PariS on May 18, 2013 16:16:36 GMT -5
Elaine, what is a Mekong? I Googled it and all I came up with is a river and restaurants. Is it some kind of fruit? A melon maybe? I'm stumped  Be sure to let us know how you like Terroir Parisien for dinner. I had a light lunch there several weeks back and enjoyed it, but haven't done dinner. |
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 19, 2013 15:18:17 GMT -5
That's a typo,I bought mangoes
|
|
|
|
Post by PariS on May 19, 2013 21:12:23 GMT -5
Oh! I thought you had stumbled upon some new, magical fruit that I was going to have to try! lol
|
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 21, 2013 16:07:53 GMT -5
Sunday we took the train to Bayeaux,no problems.
Checked in the Reine-Mathilde,small hotel,our room had slanted ceilings,quaint.
We have reservations at Le Lion D'Or for Monday nite.Originally we were only spending one night in Bayeux,then decided 2 would be better,but the hotel was booked,so we took the room at the Reine Mathilde.
Bayeux is a quaint little town,we went to see the tapestries,then the cathedral,all in the rain...
Showered and out to dinner at Le Pommier This was our best meal so far.I started with a kir royale of course.
Bill had the escargots in a parsley,hazelnut butter ,OMG,they were so good,I could just soak up that butter with some bread.
They were served out of their little shells in a casserole type dish.
I had a green and white asparagus starter,yum.
Bill ordered the rabbit stew,more like a rolled piece of Lapin,stuffed ,cooked in a wasabi- mustard sauce.
I had the baked sea bass cooked in a ginger caramel sauce that just melted in your mouth.
I have been ordering the cafe du gourmand for dessert,you get 4 little bites of their desserts,with an expresso.
Just enough for us to share and not be totally stuffed.
A short walk,then to bed.off to Normandy and the beaches Monday.
|
|
|
|
Post by saintgermain on May 21, 2013 17:00:19 GMT -5
I love the look of your hotel  It's so pretty with the red and white colors. Your dinner at Le Pommier sounds mouth watering. Enjoy Bayeux! Sandy |
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on May 21, 2013 21:45:36 GMT -5
We had a dinner at Lion D'Or. Fancy place!
|
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 22, 2013 3:09:21 GMT -5
We met our tour guide (Overlord tours)at 8:15,Magali,and 6 others(,from Minnesota and Oklahoma,) and off we went in the van.
Not a nice day,wind and rain at times.
Magali was very knowledgeable and told us lots of history facts along the way.We went to Omaha Beach first,not a good day to go in the water..
It seems every time we would get out to look at another bunker or stronghold,it would rain..
We started at Longues-sur-Mer Battery,Omaha Beach,American Cemetery(how moving and emotional is that place), Sainte Mere Englise,point du hoc,Utah Beach,Angoville Au Plain,.
It is hard to put in words,all the emotions you go through,to think what our soldiers endured.
Well worth doing a tour,rain or sunshine.
I learned so much.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shoesy on May 22, 2013 21:10:58 GMT -5
It's a pity that you had such bad weather, but at least you found the tour very worthwhile. I felt the same about ours, and I truly believe that a guided tour is the best way to see those beaches.
|
|
|
|
Post by lainie2285 on May 23, 2013 1:02:59 GMT -5
Tuesday we met Maurice,who drove us out to Mont St. Michel.
Truly ,a marvelous trip.
I just could not believe something could be built like that so long ago.
Maurice ,himself was an interesting gentleman.
He moved his family from Quebec 20 years ago,to Bayeux ,opened a restaurant,played the accordian,after 20 years of cooking,he retired and now drives the Hotel Churchill van to Mont St Michel.
He told us many interesting facts about the area.
We returned to Bayeaux ,caught out train back to Paris.
Wed,we decided it was time to do Sacre Couer.
What a beautiful day,the sun was shining and there were gorgeous blue skies.
Went in the church and then wandered up one street,down more steps.
Bill wanted to go to the BHV ,he loves their bottom floor.
We then went to the exhibit at the Hotel de Ville.
I could just imagine wearing one of the Chanel or Dior gowns.
Last evening we had reservations at the Cordon Bleu for a cooking class entitled Chef'ss secrets.
Our chef instructor spoke in French and had a translator.
It was a fun evening,as he prepared cod,sweet potato purée,peppermint salad,and 2 chicken dishes.
We then got samples and a glass of wine.
|
|
Nice to see your live report from Paris!
Be sure to let us know how you like Terroir Parisien for dinner. I had a light lunch there several weeks back and enjoyed it, but haven't done dinner.
It's so pretty with the red and white colors. Your dinner at Le Pommier sounds mouth watering. Enjoy Bayeux!
hahahha