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Post by mez on Sept 4, 2013 18:25:07 GMT -5
Hi everyone. I am on a 2 week trip to London and decided to fit in a day trip to Paris. You always hope for good weather and while I had no rain, it was soooooo hot! I was on the 7am Eurostar train. We were meant to arrive around 10.15am Paris time but we were late and got in about 10.40am. The main purpose of the trip was to see the Ron Mueck exhibition at the Fondation Cartier. It's really fascinating. There are only 9 sculptures to see but there's also a 50 min video playing on a loop than many people watch all the way through - myself included. The sculptures are so realistic. The wrinkles and crinkles of skin, how it falls when you are sitting in a certain position, nails, hair and expressions are all so life like. It's mesmerising. Apart from the exhibition, all I wanted was to sit down and eat a meal. I had chosen La Closerie des Lilas because I could walk there but when I arrived, I saw it was enclosed with lots of high plants and other greenery. While it looks nice, I wanted to people watch so I ended up at the brasserie just across the road. Well laid plans and all that. :-) The photo below is my salad. Ham, lettuce, tomatoes, walnuts, warmed goats cheese on toast and those lovely potatoes. While. It the weather for the potatoes I made good inroads into the pile. I had a pichet of wine and settled in for a few hours. A walk would have been nice but it really was beastly hot. I did a bit of shopping, pushed and shoved with the commuters on the metro and stopped for more drinks. It was soon time to head back to Gare du Nord. I was catching the train to Amsterdam, where, tomorrow, I get to visit the newly reopened Rijksmuseum - cant wait! My one regret was no pastry or cake. At the end of the day the closest patisserie was Fauchon. As pretty as it looked, I was not spending €7 on a tiny eclair. That will all have to wait until my next trip. Mez  |
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Post by janetnj on Sept 4, 2013 19:37:26 GMT -5
Hi Mez! That salad looks great. Glad you were able to fit in a day trip to Paris.
I looked up the exhibition. It's been extended until late October so I'll be able to go. Looks fascinating.
Enjoy your trip to Amsterdam. Have an extra pastry since you didn't have one in Paris.
Janet
PS Was at the Open last week and thought of you.
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Post by Belladonna on Sept 4, 2013 21:25:35 GMT -5
Hi Mez! So great to read about your day in Paris. Sounds like you had a lovely day. Thanks for posting - it makes my 21 day wait a little easier  I thought of you yesterday while I watched Cadel Evans race in a time trial here in Edmonton during the first ever Tour of Alberta. I also watched him give an interview in front of the team bus at the end of the race. Such a personable guy with a huge fan base here - he did your country proud:) |
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Post by Jody on Sept 5, 2013 4:42:29 GMT -5
Glad you were able to get to Paris if just for a day! Enjoy Amsterdam ,we stayed near Vondel park and it was so easy to get around.Near the major museums. Loved the canal cruise. What have you been doing in London?? Try La FAmiglia for great Italian food and
pleasant sorroundings and staff. We have been regular patrons for 35 years!
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Post by mez on Sept 5, 2013 13:24:02 GMT -5
Yes, Cadel is down to earth. Just hope we don't see his name attached to drugs anytime in the future. Not saying he takes them but the sport is rife with drug takers.
Amsterdam was good but again, so,so hot! I slowly walked from my hotel near Central Station to the Rijks. I was there for 5 hours and did not even finish seeing one entire floor! I am back in London again at the end of the year and when I get home have to figure out where to squeeze in a few more days for Amsterdam again.
Jody, I am writing my London report on TA as I go.
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Post by Jody on Sept 5, 2013 18:00:39 GMT -5
\I checked TA but I don't know what name you post under or what topic to chose!!!
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Post by mez on Sept 5, 2013 19:55:52 GMT -5
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Post by Shoesy on Sept 6, 2013 0:19:15 GMT -5
Great looking salad, Mez! I think an itsy bitsy macaron would have been a perfect dessert.  |
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Post by mez on Sept 6, 2013 3:56:50 GMT -5
Great looking salad, Mez! I think an itsy bitsy macaron would have been a perfect dessert. This is true, Shoesy. :-) |
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Post by Jody on Sept 6, 2013 12:30:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the link,Mez. I enjoyed reading about your time in London. You sure cover a lot of ground!I love the street sculpture on King's Row of the children playing leap frog!!It's at Duke of York Square>
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Post by PariS on Sept 6, 2013 22:28:08 GMT -5
I can't think of a better place to spend a day than Paris! Glad you got to get in a visit and to see the exhibit. I know what you mean about the heat--we had a few hot days on our trip last month, so I completely understand not wanting to move around too much! Hope you get back soon (and to Amsterdam as well).
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Post by mez on Sept 17, 2013 6:28:58 GMT -5
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Post by Jody on Sept 17, 2013 7:55:17 GMT -5
Mez. I enjoyed your pictures but they made me "homesick" Can't wait for spring and London!!and Paris
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Post by janetnj on Sept 17, 2013 10:48:54 GMT -5
Great pictures Mez. Did you wait in that line to get a customs stamp? Care to share what you purchased?
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Post by mez on Sept 17, 2013 16:55:30 GMT -5
Thank you.
Janet, I bought a bag and wallet at Galeries Lafayette. A scarf and tie (for my brother) from Hermes. The scarf was my Birthday present to myself...like the trip wasn't enough! I also bought another piece of Lipault luggage.
That line threw my plans for a loop. I was hoping to get the stamp before checking in but the line was huge. I asked someone how long it would take and they said at least an hour. I wasn't prepared to wait that long and it was cold outside.
In the end I went inside, bought the cheapest piece of luggage I could find (there's a small store that plastic wraps bags and they also sell luggage) and did some repacking. I then checked my bags and went through immigration and security. The lines for customs stamps and VAT inside was short. I was asked to show the Hermes goods but they didn't care about the rest.
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Post by janetnj on Sept 17, 2013 19:47:46 GMT -5
Some great purchases. Of course you needed to buy yourself a birthday present!
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Post by Shoesy on Sept 18, 2013 1:26:17 GMT -5
Some of my best birthday presents have been the ones that I've bought myself. What can I say? I like my taste. |
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Post by mez on Sept 21, 2013 3:49:31 GMT -5
Mez. I enjoyed your pictures but they made me "homesick" Can't wait for spring and London!!and Paris Thank you. Jody, what is the name of the hotel you usually stay at in London? I have added a few extra nights in London onto the end of my next trip and thought I might stay around the Sth Kensington area since I'll be leaving from Heathrow, and I think this is the are you stay in - yes? Thanks, Mez |
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Post by saintgermain on Sept 25, 2013 9:32:02 GMT -5
Hi Mez,
Sounds like a lovely day trip to Paris! When my husband and I went to London, we were only there a week, but I suggested a day trip to Paris. My husband thought our trip was too short to fit in another long day trip -- we also took a day trip to Stonehenge and Bath -- but I couldn't be that close to Paris and not go there We went and had a very nice day. We stayed in a fairly small area and really didn't try to do too much. We headed straight for Saint Sulpice and Jardin du Luxembourg for a walk, and then, to Rotisserie du Beaujolais for lunch. After lunch, we caught the bus to go to Musee Rodin, where we always enjoy a walk in the garden. Next, we walked to Musee D'Orsay. We had bought a combined ticket for both museums online. After Musee D'Orsay, we had just enough time for a short walk in the Tuileries and a light supper at Les Deux Magots before taking a taxi back to Gare de Nord.
Sandy
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Post by saintgermain on Sept 25, 2013 9:36:35 GMT -5
Mmmmm...salad looks great! I eat a lot of salads in Paris, much more than when we're home. And I see why you didn't have lunch at Closerie de Lilas...so much nicer to be able to people watch :-)
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hahahha