sebinah

Stu,

Have been anxiously awaiting your trip report about your trip to Paris in December. Hopefully, you returned home before Dec. 25.

Sebina
Los Altos

tod

Yes, we want to know!

StuDudley

I really don't do "standard" trip reports.

Paris was fantasatic, of course. The first few days it was warm, then it got quite cold - and snowed. We saw most of the Christmas decorations at the "standard places" - Galleries Lafayette/Printemps, Pl Madeleine, Garnier, Ave Montaigne, Champs Elyses, Pl Vendome, R St Charles (thanks kerouak), etc. The interior of Galleries Lafayetts was quite spectacular (without crowds) in the early morning just as the store opened. In the evening, there was a mob-scene around the grand department stores area. My wife took about 800 pictures. I don't think we used our umbrellas at all - so the weather was "perfect" for Christmas with the snow but no rain. Ate too much foie gras (is that possible?). Had a Fodors get-together with Joan Grace, Betty1, and friends. Spent an enjoyable evening with Anselme - kirs at our apt, watching the Eiffel tower "show" from our windows, then dinner at Fables de la Fontaine.

The day it snowed, we had morning tickets to the Renoir exhibit at the Grand Palais. The buses didn't run, so we walked along the Seine - which was a highlight of our trip (we don't get snow where we live). Took lots of pictures of the snow with the Eiffel Tower in the background, Grand Palais in the background, Pont Alexandre, etc. The pics will be the photos for our Christmas cards next year..

It's really enjoyable to visit Paris with a "do nothing" itinerary. We only dined at restaurants in the immediate area (there are many great ones). Had oysters shelled for us on R Cler, which we took home for an appetizer before cooking magrets for dinner at the apt. Later in the stay, our local market even had a guy outside selling & shucking oysters for people to take home. Prepared our "gite chicken", smothered with creme fraiche, mustard, etc - and I used the carcass to make chicken stock for risotto later in the stay.

A memorable experience

Stu Dudley

Ronda

Well Stu, for someone who doesn't do standard trip reports, that was an A+ report! Gald you had a nice time. The apartment sounds just lovely.

Nikki

Always a first time for those trip reports. Sounds great. Lots of get-togethers too, lots of fun.

I've been making good use of your San Francisco information, by the way, since my daughter has moved to the Bay Area. I'll be visiting again in February and am digging out your great notes on the area. Thanks.

tod

Thanks Stu - I hopefully will get to enjoy Paris just as much in July/August. Reading a great book at the moment called "Parisian's Paris" by Bill Gillham. Your remark about oysters reminded me what he says in the Preface:

Leaning against the American bar in La Coupole I watched the barman prepairing a multi-coloured cocktail: he caught my eye and shrugged, 'C'est toxique'; an huitrier opening oysters with effortless skill outside a brasserie; an old lady helping herself to chocolate cake in Dalloyau and mumuring "It is temptation, monsieur " - shades of Oscar Wilde.

tower

Stu...are you going to share some selected pix? Please do......I think all the respondents above would appreciate that from you. Sounds like you two had a joyful visit..

stu tower

gruezi

<i>Ate too much foie gras (is that possible?). </i>

No.

Glad you had a great time Stu.

gruezi

2010

<< <i>Paris with a "do nothing" itinerary</i> >>

Sounds like the kind of stay DH & I are dreaming about one day! Can you share the name of the apartment you stayed in?

Many thanks!
2010

cigalechanta

Welcome back, pictures please!

rbnwdlr

What apt did you stay in that had a view of the Eiffel Tower???

Michel_Paris

I think Stu is going to have to do a trip report, complete with pictures Looking forward to it!

StuDudley

This was a splurge for us - however, it was worth every penny. We also stayed there for 3 weeks in Sept/Oct '09. The apt is on a corner, and there are seven floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Eiffel Tower out each one. The bedroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen all had these large windows with the knock-out views. Lovely Haussman buildings were across the street. At street level, there was an interesting cafe on the corner opposite ours. I re-arranged the furniture so I could get the best view of the Eiffel tower, and keep an eye on cafe life across the street. I enjoyed watching the cafe as much as the Eiffel tower. Lots of activity on the corner, since one road leads into the Champs de Mars. On the block we were on, there is a bakery, grocery, bucherie, and wine store. Plus a place to purchase mi-cuit foie gras & magrets. On this same block, there are 2 Christian Constant restaurants, plus 2 more of his on the next block. The Fountaine de Mars restaurant is on the second block - that's where Obama & family dined.
http://www.parisperfect.com/apartmen.../champagne.php

Haven't figured out how to post pics to any web site yet - perhaps I'll do that soon.

Stu Dudley

StuDudley

>>I think Stu is going to have to do a trip report<<

We didn't do much - except hang out and enjoy the Christmas happenings. Only went to the Renoire exhibit. The rest of the time we took in the Christmas fair on the Champs, toured the departments stores to see the Christmas decorations, sat by one of the windows in the apt & read several books & kept an eye on the cafe, went to dinner in the "hood", cooked several meals, ate too much foie gras & oysters, met Fodors friends, took 800 pics, tramped through the snow - generally we just enjoyed living in Paris & doing the non-touristy stuff - like we do at home in San Francisco (except the snow).

Stu Dudley

SharonG

Sounds like my idea of a perfect trip. I've been to Paris at Christmas and loved it.

Ronda

We would really like to see some of those 800 picutres!

I am by no means an expert on posting pictures. I use the Kodak site. Go to www.kodak.com , click on Photo Gallery, and select My Photos from the pull down menu. Open an account and upload your pictures. Then if you want to order prints, you can do it simply through Kodak. I know there are many sites but Kidak is the only one I have used.

LowCountryIslander

Stu...

Sounds like the perfect holiday. I'll be staying in a Paris Perfect apartment in May (the Meursault). Yes, it's a splurge but can't wait...oh those views!

TPAYT

That apt. is so beautiful, you just might get us off of Ile St. Louis next trip. No matter where we travel, I can never get Paris off of my mind. Just thinking about your walk along the Seine in the snow makes me want to be there.

I also use Kodak Gallery. I'm not real good at it yet, but you can make an album, then Email it to yourself, then copy & paste the URL at the top of your email, and copy & paste it in a thread on Fodors. This came from advice from Fodorites. I've tried other sights and

Anyway, it sounds like you had a wonderful trip. We always appreciate your comments.

TPAYT

oops! Dropped part of a sentence-----I've tried other sights and didn't have any luck with them, too complicated for me.

gracejoan

The Champagne apartment is A favorite for Stu..He haa a zillion pictures from it. I stayed in it for 10 days a week or so ahead of him. I stayed 10 days in the Cabernet and I like the Cabernet better than the Champagne. Next, I think, for me, the Fleurie. The Fleurie is so spacious. For a long stay you couldn't do better.But then I did stay in the Lovely Chateau LaTour with those spectacular views of all of Paris, because it is up so high.

LowCountryIslander..You will like the Meursault. Great views. The ET is there all the time! You are a block away from Le Florimond and a block the other way and behind you is Pascos..and many others nearby


Joan