Saturday, October 07, 2006

Back

We were tremendously excited at the prospect of a week in Paris, plenty of time to relax a bit and see things at a more leisurely place then on our previous visit and a notion that we wouldn't spend outrageously. Where for to start? The airport I guess security procedures a bit tighter than June, with the no liquids thing. Fortunately though, they previous day saw some relaxation of the cabin baggage size. After cleverly being first in the queue for checking in, we then made our way to what we knew to be a rather humungous queue to go through the security screening. Fortunately for us, the queue had shortened significantly and it wasn't long before we were through. Unfortunately, we had to lose the quiche I had made specially for our trip, to keep us going between lunch and a probable late evening meal. Quiche seemingly can be dangerous. I'd have eaten it if it wasn't for the fact that we had just had lunch. So we'd have to have something on the way if necessary. Picked up a couple of bottles of gin as aperitifs, knowing that Paris drinks in cafes etc were pretty dear. Flight delayed but eventually we're on, we're up, we're off and onto the bus towards Paris. Its pouring, I'd looked at the long range weather forecast which said rain late Saturday, chance of showers during the week, but nevertheless still quite warm. Bus drops us at Porte Maillot

On to the RER, only the ticket office is closed but we have enough coins for two tickets then its a short walk from St Michel - Notre Dame to the hotel. Unfortunately by now it is really chucking it down and we arrive drowned rats. Fortunately we're minutes getting up to our first floor room, dried and back out into the rain as far as the Vietnamese Restaurant two doors away that provides me with a fabulous bowl of Pho, caramelised ham and thewife with some langoustine fritters and the chef's special crispy chicken with a bottle of Cote du Rhone for a ridiculously cheap price. Then back to the hotel where we had several gins for a nightcap. and bed.

Next day, weather was nice and bright, we explored the surroundings of the hotel which we hadn't done before, visited the Pantheon and the Luxembourg Gardens. We had dinner in a Tunisian Restaurant that night which was bloody good and again fairly reasonable.

Monday we went to the Caveau De La Huchette, where the music was brilliant but the "dancers" were shite.

Tuesday we wandered round the market and were shocked at the fabulous range and quality of the food you could buy there. Beat the shit out of even the finest farmers' markets at home.




































After that we headed off to Pere Lachaise, where anybody who didn't quite make it into the Pantheon is buried. Very impressive indeed, and on a nice day, despite having busy bits it was nevertheless a really tranquil place, beautiful just to wander around.In the evening we went to a fabulous French restaurant near Notre Dame, where I had an amazing Duck Confit and thewife had Breast of Duck with a wonderful sauce and for pudding, I had Tarte Tatin and thewife had the best double chocolate mousse cake with white chocolate sauce an raspberries ever.















Tuesday night we went to see Mogwai at the Olympia. Were they good, nope they were fucking absolutely brilliant, Even thewife enjoyed them and as a rule she can take or leave them, she likes the quiet stuff quite a bit, but shudders sometimes at the noise. Live though she got them big style. Lights were superb, concert was superb and we got chatting to a big guy who spotted me pointing out his Celtic strip to thewife. One of the best bits though was the fact that we had seats, good seats too, so no standing for ever or stretching up and down to see over the big guy in front of us. Then home via Opera which was pretty outstanding at night.



Wednesday morning Eiffel Tower, up to the top where thewife phoned mumsy who advise her to stay clear of the edge. Wednesday PM the Louvre. We'd looked at it before but not gone in this time we would. We did the normal stuff, like Venus De Milo and La Giaconda which I was surprised at being able to see and to look at for pretty much as long as I wanted. Then we went to have a look at Napoleon III's chambers and the Islamic art section. And that was it, any longer and we would have been all cultured out.



















At night we went back to the Vietnamese, cos we were knackered and couldn't be bothered going too far.

Thursday we went to Giverny by train, bus and foot. I'll let the pictures give you an idea of just how fabulous it was.



































To cap a fine day off we went to a Persian Restaurant which I have to say dragged us in by its menu and stunned us with the simple beauty of its decor and the sheer joy of its food. Chez Bibi, 15, rue Fréderic Sauton if you are ever in the vicinity
















Friday we went to Le Grande Arche. Don't fucking understate things do the French! Grande? It was fucking Ginormous, surrounded by shops which we had to go into. Surprisingly out of the 250 shops on 3 floors of a sort of supermall, thewife fortunately was sated by a brief stop in about 4 of them. Then we went for lunch miles away to the boulangerie which makes the best quiche on planet earth. Well worth a trip out of your way, to Abbesses.


















Friday night, we had to eat out, local French Bistro where they had a Soiree Menu, expensivish, but interesting nonetheless 4 courses with wine included, and coffeeand an accordionist thrown in to boot, who managed to play all but the most obscure of thewife's Piaf requests.

Saturday and its a case of last day blues, packed, suitcase in basement and a last tramp around the Latin Quarter, buying wine cheese and extremely tacky stuff for mumsy. Lunch at a place that specialised in Moules, and then slowly heading back to the hotel to get our stuff and get moving towards the airport.


















A fabulous time was had by all and we hope to get our pennies gathered so we can go back soon. I've looked at the Ryanair site and we can get 2 returns for fifty quid inclusive for March of next year and I am tempted.

Did I mention that I brought a Quiche back into the country? True, you can't take them out but you can bring them in.

I think we are definitely turning Francophile which gives us a problem later today Allez Les Bleus! Actually, that we would be Le dark Bleus
posted by timesnewroman at 11:19 AM  

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