Saturday, July 8, 2006
We arrived in Orly after 10:00 PM from Barcelona, Spain. Clearly we are not going to hit the town tonight, so we get our luggage and meet the guy from the shuttle service. Although it was in the dark, the first glimpse of Paris has gotten me really excited. We first go to St. Germain to drop off the first crew, than we were on the way to my boyfriend’s friend’s vacation apartment in Montmarte, the 18th.. The apartment was nice and comfortable, it was a studio but more than adequate considering the small hotel room we had in London and it was free, so can’t beat that. Starving as we were, it was close to midnight by the time we got to the apartment, and the restaurants didn’t appear to be serving food, so we went to the corner store. What was our first Parisian meal? Cereal – Coca Pops! We go to bed because we have places to go and things to tomorrow.
Sunday, July 9, 2006
We’re up early as we wanted to be at the Eiffel Tower before 10:00 am. We head out and little did I know that our apartment, the nearest metro station was LaMarck Caulaincourt, was just a few steps away from stairs that led to Sacre Coeur, a real artsy Parisian neighborhood feel. So, we stop at the local boulangerie for croissants and take a table at Sacre Coeur Brasserie Café for café crème. It started to drizzle a bit and decide to head to the Eiffel just in case it starts to pour.
We get to the Tower just before 10:00 am and the line wasn’t long at all. From the time we got in line to the time we got on the first lift, it was about a 25 minute wait. We go all the way to the top first, snag a few pics and work our way down. By the time we leave, it’s about 11:45 am, the sun comes out, it’s hotter than hot and the line is so long. If I can remember, it was way past the carousel. I wouldn’t have stood in that line.
For some reason, we’re hungry again so we stop by at Café Le Dome, again we’re in a café crème and croissants mood; however, stay away from any tourist spot near the Eiffel Tower. In fact, don’t buy anything there at all! I saw an ice cream truck near at the Eiffel Tower and it was 4 Euro. Our bill came to 15 Euro, the exact same we got earlier in our hood came to 8.50 Euro. Ridiculous! The pre-fix lunch menu looked decently priced though. Disgusted with ourselves that we got had, we paid the bill and walked to Les Invalides.
Les Invalides was magnificent and we stayed longer than expected, we still didn’t get to see everything. The WWII exhibit really was interesting, it was the first time I have seen real Nazi propaganda – it’s all interesting stuff. After 2 ½ hours, we leave and head towards Pont Alexander III, what an amazing site. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. In fact, Paris is just beautiful, truly the most beautiful city in the world, a well-deserved title. Sorry San Francisco!
Next stop…. Musee de l’Orangerie because I heard it was free on the 1st Sunday of the month. Well, vacation really does a number on my brain because the 1st Sunday was last week when we were in London. The line was long and it got really hot, so we decided to skip it for a walk through Jardin des Tuileries and Place de la Concorde. We were in a shopping mood and I wanted to go to Hermes to get a scarf but it was closed. In fact, all the stores and little restaurants were closed in the area. So, we were getting really irritable with each other, hey… we’re been together for 7 straight days now, it was hot and we were hungry. We decide to head back to our area of Montmarte and have lunch at some brasserie that had the best cheeseburger. I wish I could remember the name, but it’s right off the LaMarck metro. We head back to the apartment to chill before heading out on the town.
It’s the night of the World Cup and we head out but it’s quiet in the neighborhood – folks take their soccer seriously. The Super Bowl has nothing on the World Cup. Anyway, we head to Notre Dame to see it at night and watch a couple of the street performers, some boys doing dangerous tricks on rollerblades. We’re a little hungry, so we stop for some crepes at La Bolangerie de Papa, and I had the best Nutella and coconut crepe. We go to the Guillotine to watch Jason’s friend play jazz with is band but the owner of the bar canceled the gig because France lost the World Cup, so we had a few drinks before we head home.
Monday, July 10, 2006
There’s a ton to do today, so we head to the corner boulangerie for croissants and the local café for a cup of café crème. A few short steps and up the hill we go to Sacre Coeur and it is an awesome sight. Despite being 9:00 AM, it is already crowded with people. Take some pics and walk around the little town and buy some trinkets. I found a little bell I bought at the Effiel Tower for 9 Euro, its 4 Euro here… amazing!
Off to Notre Dame… it’s so crowded by the time we arrive but we’ve got a few pics and we’re off to site-see, Jason wanted to see City Hall up close. We walk over to Conciergerie and planned to see St. Chapelle as well but it was closed and set to reopen a few hours later, so we just went with the Conciergerie which has amazing architecture but smaller than I expected, so we were done within 45 minutes. We wanted to see the Catacombs but it was closed and my boyfriend was really bummed. So, we go to St. Germain for a little lunch and decide to head to Champs Elysses. We do all the usual, pics of Arc de Triomphe but mecca was calling me, Louis Vuitton. It was getting late, around 5ish so I had to go and get a new bag.
We make it to LV and the store is crowded with tourist, the last time I saw the LV store this crazy was in Oahu, Hawaii. I know exactly what I want and was afraid they may be out of it because there were so many people, mostly lookiloos. So, I make my way to one of the red scarved greeters, I get my sales person and get my bag. The sales associate was really nice, she completed my VAT form, gave us a glass of champagne and out the door we were with my new tote.
I see Laduree and we decide to go in for a snack. I had a chocolate filled éclair and lemonade, forgot what my boyfriend had but it was all delish but I was slightly disappointed with the interior. It is a beautiful place but there’s some wear and tear. Then, back to the apartment to drop off my bag and out to the Guillotine, in the Latin Quarter, to see Jeff’s jazz band and we stay out very late, having to take a cab back to Montmarte.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
We’re up early and head out to Versailles. We purchased the one day pass which included the round trip train ticket, admission and audio tour. It was kind of a let down because of the construction, I couldn’t get a good clear pic on the front but it was easy as pie to get in since we had advanced ticket purchase. We stay in the Palace for almost two hours, there’s just so much to see and it’s so well preserved, I just wished the Hall of Mirrors was completely open.
We head to the grounds and wanted to take a golf cart but we needed a driver’s license, which I did not even think to bring and there was no sign asking for a DL. After 20 minutes in line, we head to the tram line and it took over 45 minutes just to get tickets and I just don’t understand what the hold-up was because the line wasn’t that long. Considering we got our tram tickers in about 2 minutes, standing in line that long was just puzzling. Marie Antoinette’s estate was just marvelous; we spent over an hour just walking the grounds. We get back on the tram and make our way to every stop. We have some sorbet and relax at the pond and pondered taking a row boat but we didn’t have enough time. And with those HUGE FISH (whew… what are they?), I wasn’t up for it.
By the time we exit Versailles it was 2PM, we have lunch in town and some place that had the best shwarma gyros. On our way back to Paris, we make it to the apartment and just crash. I think traveling for days (London and Barcelona before Paris – a total of 5 planes) is finally starting to catch up to us.
After a brief nap we head out to do the Vedettes Boat Tour and this was one of the trip highlights. The tour was during sunset, which is around 8:30 PM. I got the best photo of the Eiffel Tower, a different view of Pont Alexander, it was just gorgeous – I realize right there that I’m one lucky person. While Paris sees many visitors, so many people never get to see Paris, and I’m one of the lucky ones.
The tour ends and we head to Il Saint Louis for dinner at La Chaumiere, and decided on the pre-fix menu at 15.50 Euro each. The food was delish and with two glasses of wine and coffee, the bill came to only 46 Euro. Although we had dessert, we head to Berthillion for sorbet. The line was long but it was worth the wait for cassis sorbet. We walk down to the Siene and relax, many locals are having a picnic and they were so nice to us. We hear this string quartet, so we decide to listen to them play for a bit before we call it night.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Train to Reims for our 11:30AM tour at Veuve Clicquot, my favorite champagne. The train ride, about an hour and a half, was relaxing considering we’re starting to fade towards the end of our trip. We arrive at the station and take a cab to Veuve and I get my second wind. The tour guide was really nice and took us through the history of Madame Clicquot, the name behind Veuve Clicquot (Widow Clicquot) and the fermentation process first discovered by the Madame, for which is used to this very day to make champagne.
The caves were amazingly cold even though it was hotter than asphalt outside. We have a tasting which quickly got me drowsy, so I drank only half the glass. I bought a bottle with a nice carrying case and walk over to G.H. Martel for more tasting, then we walk the remainder of the way into town for a quick bite at Paul’s, tour Notre Dame and take off back to Paris.
Out to St. Germain for dinner and we were craving Mexican food, we both had dreams about Mexican food. Being from Los Angeles, Mexican food is a dietary staple. However, we just wanted something to eat and we planned dinner at Le Petit Zinc but couldn’t find it. We stumbled on Indiana and saw Spanish rice, beans, tortillas and margaritas – it looked good to us. Yes, it looked good but bland…bland… bland. I thought it was hard to have bad Mexican food but I finally had it. We head back towards our place in Montmarte and have drinks at Aux Noctambules, met a local couple who were very engaging and kind, we finally leave around 12ish and head back to camp.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Our last day in Paris and we saved the Lourve for last. We already had tickets so very easy to get it but once we headed to the Egyptian (disappointing) %26amp; Roman Antiquities, the da Vinci paintings and, most importantly, the Napoleon’s Apartments. I’m not a huge museum person, so two hours was enough for me. Then, we headed to some of the museum shops and I buy books for my nephews. We head outside to take pics and the line at the pyramid was long. So avoid at all cost and look for the other entrances where there’s little to no waiting. Off to the Galleries Lafayette for a little shopping and just walk around the neighborhood taking in the lovely city – a lovely city we have to leave.
We go back to the apartment to pack and clean, and then out to dinner at La Mascotte on Rue des Abbesses for some delicious seafood and the best chevre cheese baked in a pastry shell over mixed greens – I can still taste it. After dinner, we meet up with my boyfriend’s friend’s (the guy who let us use his apartment) girlfriend at her very Parisian apartment for a couple of drinks. She’s a doctor and such a worldly person, I enjoyed our time with her and it was a nice way to end the evening and our visit.
Sleepy time… we had a 6:00 AM shuttle to Charles de Gaulle and back to the London for a full day, then home to the US on Saturday!
I have some pics from our trip. We visited London and Barcelona first, so the Paris photos begin on #115. But you’re welcomed to view all the photos:
London: 1-59
Barcelona: 60-114
Paris: 115-253
www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp Uc=px3vr0j.3y9k9up3%26amp;Uy=-19nhp7%26amp;Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode 3Dfromshare%26amp;Ux=0%26amp;UV=486902182542_589930639303
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Not sure if the link to the photos are working. One last try:
www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp…
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I visit TA regularly and am always excited whenever I see a new trip report posted so many thanks for sharing (and spending time) to post your trip report and photos. It was a pleasure to read, and I enjoyed viewing the photos.
You mention your (boyfriend%26#39;s) friend%26#39;s jazz band. I love jazz and plan to visit a few jazz clubs when I am in Paris in December...would you recommend the club where your friend performs?
Thanks very much.
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What a fantastic report. I am going to Paris and Barcelona next week, so I especially enjoyed your pictures.
It looks like you had a fantastic time!
Thank you for sharing!
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Hi dewtrell, thaks so much for sharing your fantastic trip report. And thanks also for sharing those beautiful photos of your trip. Was in Paris last year July and it was my first summertime there. So your Paris photos brought back lots of memories of summer in the city. It%26#39;s so different in summer than in winter when I usually go. I see you caught the street musicians on the Pont St. Louis. It%26#39;s always a great thing to go there and see what%26#39;s new and everyone-locals and tourists-has fun.
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Travel Gal Boston - I%26#39;m so happy to hear that you are excited about your trip. I read your recent post and could so relate to your concerns about travel, and I was very touched by the supportive replies you received. Have a wonderful time and I look forward to reading your trip report when you return. I%26#39;m going to Paris solo in December so I am especially interested in hearing your report. Have a fantastic time!!
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Dewtrell - I%26#39;ve just finished reading your report while sipping my morning cup of coffee. Both are delicious. Incidentally, you needn%26#39;t apologize for your report being lengthy - you%26#39;ve given us something to enjoy, and we should be (and are) grateful. Thank you for posting it.
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Thanks for sharing your trip report and wonderful pictures!
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Buckeye -
Yes, I am so excited now - it is finally sinking in that in less than a week I will be sitting in a Parisian cafe sipping my coffee and watching people go by.
I am overlooking the actual %26quot;flying%26quot; part - I%26#39;ll be tuned into my music and may probably pop a Tylenol PM to get me through it. :)
Dewtrell%26#39;s post was exactly what I needed to read to get me in the right frame of mind.
I%26#39;ll let you all know how it went when I return.
Diana
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Thanks for the wonderful replies!
buckeyeinla,
I did some research and found some information about the Guillotine on the Time Out website. It%26#39;s a wonderful little bar but watch out for the steps leading down to the cellar, they are steep but it%26#39;s a cool place and the jazz is really good too
Le Caveau des Oubliettes
52 rue Galande, 5th (01.46.34.23.09). M° Maubert Mutualité.
Open 5pm-2am Mon-Thur, Sun; 5pm-5am Fri, Sat.
Credit MC, V.
Considered primarily as a music venue , this historically themed brick bar of Irish character attracts a good Franco-Euro mix of punters to its street-level pub before people venture down the stone staircase to the clammy cellar with its small stage and separate bar counter. Upstairs is best known for its tatty turf floor, scuffed by the soles of too many Doc Martens and spotted with too much Beamish, and its genuine guillotine from 1793. Not surprisingly, upstairs is called the Guillotine Bar. No barman has yet been executed for the odd burst of Guns ’N’ Roses, nor banished to the similarly authentic medieval dungeon, now the music cellar. Atmosphere is provided by the sense of drinking in the heart of the Latin Quarter, in one of the oldest streets in all Paris. Sports TV, too.
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TravelGalBoston,
Barcelona is such a wonderful city and the food is to die-for. There%26#39;s a tapas place in the Barri Gotic called Bliss (Placa Sant Just 4 BCN 93-268-1022) and the food is really good.
You can see the city all within two days. If you have time, go to Sitges because its an adorable beach town, great shops and very relaxing.
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Shoesy,
I do feel bad for writing such a long report because I know some people don%26#39;t have the attention span. LOL... but I like to share and I%26#39;m a former journalist major - my teacher always gave me great feedback when I would write a report but my broadcast journalism professor just killed me because I could never cut anything down to a 10 second news story.
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WOnderful report, Dewtrell! I can empathize with the tired (and sometimes cranky!) feelings and times you had--hubby and I spent three weeks on our trip, and sometimes the exhaustion made us quite cranky!
Am enjoying your pics, also...especially as hubby and I preceded our time in Paris with a week in London.
By the way, you%26#39;re beautiful and your sweetie is no slouch, either--you two make a gorgeous couple!
I%26#39;ve never been to Barcelona--or any Spanish-speaking country, yet Spanish is the only foreign language I%26#39;ve ever studied in any depth!
I know what you mean about Mexican food--it%26#39;s a staple for us here, also. We didn%26#39;t eat any Mexican for the three weeks of our journey, as I knew it would most likely be incredibly bland in Ireland, London, and Paris...when we came home, we ate something Mexican-y and spicy nearly every day for a week and half!
Thanks for a great and entertaining report, you (former, didn%26#39;t you say?) journalism major you!
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