France Trip Chronicles - Part I in Paris!

Monday, 7/18 - Tuesday, 7/19/11:

After a long day of traveling from Connecticut to New York City's JFK Airport to Dublin Airport to Paris CDG Airport, we finally arrived at the Balmoral Hotel by the Arc de Triumph in the heart of the city. Yay! We took a three-hour rejuvenating nap to recharge, unpacked, and headed out to explore the city.

First stop -- the famous Eiffle Tower. As it was raining and I have many issues with heights, I opted to stay ground level while Greg, my husband, walked up the wet, exposed stairs to the second level. I experienced my first Parisian "self-cleaning" outdoor toilet, which I had to stand in line for 20 minutes to use. Fun, fun!

We continued walking for what seemed like forever looking for a special restaurant recommended to us in the guidebook. We finally gave up and settled for Le Royale, where we ordered steak, hamburger (Mine came topped with a fried egg!), French fries, and Chardonnay. Healthy? I don't think so!

It immediately struck us what an international city Paris continues to be, with many Russian and American tourists to spare. Downtown reminds us of M St. in Georgetown (NW DC), only with some less classy people thrown in the mix. We stopped at the George VI Cafe for hot chocolate (which was rich and delicious!) and dessert crepes. I had mine with Nutella, one of my fave "foods" in France.

Since we have now been up for almost 36 hours, it is more than time for bed. Goodnight!

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Wednesday, 7/20/11

After a nice, long sleep, we made our way on foot to the Lourve, where we saw several great art masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa (A given!). We ate a baguette lunch at the famous Le Deux Magots, waited in line for me to use the WC for 28 minutes, and toured the great Notre Dame Cathedral. We stopped for afternoon hot chocolate and sugar crepes at a nearby cafe before walking and metroing (for the first time!) to the War Museum and ridiculously elaborate tomb of Napoleon. Even gods are not honored so boldly!

Following a wonderful jetlag-induced siesta, we changed and metroed to the Bastille section of the city, which is famous for its amazing restaurants. Unfortunately, the restaurant Greg's colleague recommended, Ristorante de Paul Bert, was "full," so we lucked out at a nearby, less formal place, where the food was great (and cheaper!) and we loved our handsome, charming waitor. Oh la la! Yum!

The rain came back (Boo!), so we decided to wait it out at a nearby bar, K-FE, for creme brulee and white wine from Beaune. Greg and I also had a wonderful conversation in the process. I feel like all we are doing on this trip is eating and drinking -- luckily walking too!

Thursday, 7/21/11

Yay for sleeping in! Considering how exhausted we were, it was well-deserved. We metroed to LeHalle's market to buy fresh bread, cheese, cherries, and chocolate for lunch, where we ate in a park by the canal after walking a great distance. How wonderful it was to spend the rest of the afternoon reading in the park!

On the metro ride home, we stopped at Angelina's, famously known for the world's most amazing hot chocolate. And believe me, it was! WOW. We walked a long way home to work off the rich chocolate, thank goodness!

In continuing our tradition of eating with the Obamas do, we metroed to the Eiffle Tower neighborhood for a late reservation (10:30 p.m.!) at Le Fontaine de Mars, a famous, quinessentially Parisian restaurant. We enjoyed delicious white wine, bread, leeks soaked in tasty vinagrette dressing, salmon with lemon, to-die-for mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and vanilla creme brulee. Greg ordered the duck and raspberry sorbet, which were also scrumptious. We went home via the Eiffle Tower, always gradiose to view at night. Bon suah!