Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Just Some of the Things I Miss

  • Going for walks every single day!  Always something to see!  Interesting people, beautiful buildings/churches.
  • Sitting outside at a cafe for a cup of expensive tea.  Worth every centime!  (I  certainly didn't go to a cafe just for tea every day at the very inflated prices, but when I did treat myself I'd spend at least an hour or more relaxing.  Waiters don't bother you. The table is yours until you get up to leave.)
  • The ringing of the bells from Saint-Merri Church. I'd hear them every hour when I was in my apartment as the church was right around the corner.  I kick myself
    now for never going into that church to visit.  I read recently that it contains the oldest church bell in Paris dated from 1331.
  • Grabbing a crepe from a street vendor - although the choices are numerous including with a layer of Nutella, I preffered mine sprinkled with sugar or with a thick layer of creme de maron (chestnuts).
  • H&M - We don't have any where I live.
  • Promod - Cute clothes at great prices
  • Pylones - They have the cutest gadgets ever!
  • Cafe Oz (Chatelet) - Go there on a Saturday night when everyone dances on the tables until closing at 6am.
  • Discovering new (to me) french singers.  Joyce Jonathan and Zaz are two that stand out.  I bought Zaz's CD while in Paris and have listened to it a lot since I got home!
  • France24 and NRJ - (France24 is a French news station but in the English language.  NRJ is an all music video tv station.)  Hey, when that's all you have to watch you become attached.  I'm actually putting together my own CD of various songs that were played on NRJ.
  • 100%mag - a daily French tv show with short stories - therefore easy to follow.  I watched this every day!
  • This is not something I miss exactly, but I followed very closely the rescue of the 33 miners in Chile.  A story with a fairy tale ending.  An ending that could have gone so badly but ended wonderfully!
  • My Saturday morning routine.  After breakfast I'd walk to Baudoyer Market.  I'd buy a (cooked) chicken and a bunch of flowers.  Then back to the apartment to take the still warm chicken off the bone and make my chicken-rice soup.  I'd eat my soup either for lunch or dinner depending what plans I had that day.
~ L

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Down to miscellaneous

And you thought your neighbours were close?


Saint-Merri Church


Nice job!


Seen in an art store.  Just lovely!  (Artist - Josepha)


Caesar's Head statue next to St-Eustache Church


Wrought iron everywhere





What jet-lag looks like



~L


Thursday, November 18, 2010

La Tour Eiffel and Ladurée

Visiting the Eiffel Tower was at the top of Alex's list of things to see in Paris.  We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.  It had warmed up a lot from the day before and the sun was shining brightly!

It's well organized with two separate lines depending on if you were taking the elevator or taking the stairs.  The line-ups were huge, but the one for the climbers moved very quickly. There are three levels.  You can walk up only as far as the second.  If you want to go to the top you have to take the elevator. It's my understanding the third level is very windy and the view is lovely but it's more difficult to pin-point specific sites of Paris.

Since I'd already been up the tower on a previous visit Margaret and Alex walked the stairs on their own while I sat on a bench to people watch.  Their whole "trip" took an hour which included the wait in line. 





For lunch that afternoon we decided to treat ourselves to lunch at Ladurée on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.  We had a leisurely three hour - three course lunch.  It's a lovely restaurant with a wonderful atmosphere and the food was delicious!  It was worth every Euro and I highly recommend it.





~ L

Monday, November 15, 2010

18th Arrondissement

Although not my first time here, this was a "must do" for us.  We'd been fortunate to have gorgeous weather almost every day but this particular day the weather didn't cooperate - I froze my little toes!  Alex and I took the metro the the 18th arrondissement where we met Margaret.  Basilique du Sacré-Coeur is beautiful!  Unfortunately no photos are allowed inside, but we did venture in to check it out (and to warm up!).








A block away is Place du Tertre.  A small square surrounded by cafes.  The interior has many artists selling their paintings; others just waiting to draw your picture and covered areas with heaters (thank goodness) to grab a bite to eat.



Waiting for a snack?


After lunch we left.  I would have liked to have stayed around longer but we were all so cold. Fortunately this was the nastiest weather we had and the following day was gorgeous - just in time for our visit to the Eiffel Tower...

~L