Post by iank9 on May 20, 2007 6:24:50 GMT -5
Hi everyone,
In April 07 we were fortunate to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary in Paris. I get ribbed off friends for being a bit of a romantic, but hey life needs romance! I proposed to Karen on the Pont des Arts 12th April 1981, and we were married exactly one year later. We have managed at least one visit a year ever since.
We honeymooned in Paris for seven days, at the Hotel Mayfair, just off the Rue de Rivoli, and we considered booking that hotel again for our anniversary. However we have fallen in love with a hotel on the Rue de Seine, The Prince de Conde. We had stayed at the hotel for the past six years, got to know staff and the neighbourhood, so we booked again, and were not disappointed.
img246.imageshack.us/img246/5350/20070415paris070057hm2.jpg[/IMG]
The hotel was undergoing some restoration, with the addition of some lovely art work from nearby galleries. We had a good stay, were well looked after, (champagne in our room on arrival for our anniversary) and we consider the price very reasonable for the service, room with balcony overlooking the street, breakfast and importantly location (160euros a night inclu. Breakfast booked direct with the hotel). The hotel is about 100m from the river and the Pont des Arts, behind the Institute de France, 25m from La Palette, an old, but lively Paris Café, and 100m from the food markets and restaurants of the Rue de Buci. So, we didn’t have to venture far!
This year the weather was exceptional.
12/4 our anniversary we had (another) dinner cruise on the Seine, and probably agree that we have now done this bit to death. We had other meals at Les Bouquinistes which was excellent (the lamb main course was out of this world), and a small wedding cake and a glass of champagne was produced at the end of the evening; a fantastic and well appreciated touch. We dined one evening at “Fish La Boissonnerie” on the Rue de Seine, with an up and coming American chef at the helm. The clam risotto was very good, and price wise very reasonable. We dined at "Allard"on the Saturday and had herring, followed by coq au vin. Has anyone finished a meal at this restaurant? The portions are truly enormous! We were seated in the rear salon, which was very busy, but the staff, starched whites and aprons, although hurried, always had time for us.
Each afternoon, following a gentle stroll to the river and along the Quais and through the Tuillerie Gardens
we took up residence at the Café Mabillion, on Boulevard St Germain, people watched, read a book or a newspaper and enjoyed a bottle of Sancerre! Then back to the hotel, a snooze and a shower then out for our evening meal. Later we strolled along the river, enjoyed the atmosphere created by the youngsters on the Pont des Arts, and then made our way to the by now buzzing and hectic La Palette where we greeted like old friends and a table found no matter how busy it was. Here, the waiter Giroux(?), recognized us from previous stays, sat us at a table that he cleared for us and produced our drinks, “un sauvignon et un calvados" without being asked- he remembered from previous years! IMG]
We fitted in a visit to the Rodin Museum, sat in the garden and remarked on the oasis that this spot is in an otherwise busy Paris.
We took a morning trip to Versaille and were there for the switch on of the music and fountain show. Very good if the exact opposite of Rodin! Too busy!
On Sunday whilst enjoying lunch at L'Atlas a couple of old friends from the UK, who we had not seen for nearly a year strolled by! Sunday became a hazy day!
A great time was had by both of us and we have booked already for spring ’08 (26/3 -30/3). If we are lucky a short break in October as well.
Best wishes
In April 07 we were fortunate to celebrate our Silver Wedding Anniversary in Paris. I get ribbed off friends for being a bit of a romantic, but hey life needs romance! I proposed to Karen on the Pont des Arts 12th April 1981, and we were married exactly one year later. We have managed at least one visit a year ever since.
We honeymooned in Paris for seven days, at the Hotel Mayfair, just off the Rue de Rivoli, and we considered booking that hotel again for our anniversary. However we have fallen in love with a hotel on the Rue de Seine, The Prince de Conde. We had stayed at the hotel for the past six years, got to know staff and the neighbourhood, so we booked again, and were not disappointed.
img246.imageshack.us/img246/5350/20070415paris070057hm2.jpg[/IMG]
The hotel was undergoing some restoration, with the addition of some lovely art work from nearby galleries. We had a good stay, were well looked after, (champagne in our room on arrival for our anniversary) and we consider the price very reasonable for the service, room with balcony overlooking the street, breakfast and importantly location (160euros a night inclu. Breakfast booked direct with the hotel). The hotel is about 100m from the river and the Pont des Arts, behind the Institute de France, 25m from La Palette, an old, but lively Paris Café, and 100m from the food markets and restaurants of the Rue de Buci. So, we didn’t have to venture far!
This year the weather was exceptional.
12/4 our anniversary we had (another) dinner cruise on the Seine, and probably agree that we have now done this bit to death. We had other meals at Les Bouquinistes which was excellent (the lamb main course was out of this world), and a small wedding cake and a glass of champagne was produced at the end of the evening; a fantastic and well appreciated touch. We dined one evening at “Fish La Boissonnerie” on the Rue de Seine, with an up and coming American chef at the helm. The clam risotto was very good, and price wise very reasonable. We dined at "Allard"on the Saturday and had herring, followed by coq au vin. Has anyone finished a meal at this restaurant? The portions are truly enormous! We were seated in the rear salon, which was very busy, but the staff, starched whites and aprons, although hurried, always had time for us.
Each afternoon, following a gentle stroll to the river and along the Quais and through the Tuillerie Gardens
we took up residence at the Café Mabillion, on Boulevard St Germain, people watched, read a book or a newspaper and enjoyed a bottle of Sancerre! Then back to the hotel, a snooze and a shower then out for our evening meal. Later we strolled along the river, enjoyed the atmosphere created by the youngsters on the Pont des Arts, and then made our way to the by now buzzing and hectic La Palette where we greeted like old friends and a table found no matter how busy it was. Here, the waiter Giroux(?), recognized us from previous stays, sat us at a table that he cleared for us and produced our drinks, “un sauvignon et un calvados" without being asked- he remembered from previous years! IMG]
We fitted in a visit to the Rodin Museum, sat in the garden and remarked on the oasis that this spot is in an otherwise busy Paris.
We took a morning trip to Versaille and were there for the switch on of the music and fountain show. Very good if the exact opposite of Rodin! Too busy!
On Sunday whilst enjoying lunch at L'Atlas a couple of old friends from the UK, who we had not seen for nearly a year strolled by! Sunday became a hazy day!
A great time was had by both of us and we have booked already for spring ’08 (26/3 -30/3). If we are lucky a short break in October as well.
Best wishes