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-   -   Another fantastic December Paris adventure (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/another-fantastic-december-paris-adventure-1719170/)

TPAYT Dec 23rd, 2023 04:32 PM

Day 5….Lovely weather called for a walk in Luxembourg Gardens, one of our favorite places.

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Walk, eat, walk, eat…headed over to Montparnasse for lunch at
La Rotunde. Big mistake (one of only 2 on this trip).
Packed in like sardines we were almost sitting on the next table’s laps. Yes, Paris restaurants are “cozy” but this was not comfortable at all.
Coffee, onion soup, and salad for 3….99 Euros! Yikes! And it wasn’t even that good.

More walking and shopping. According to my fitness tracker I walked 102,118 steps during my week in Paris.

Back to the apartment and up the steep flight of steps to it….I was ready for a rest before our big night out…..One of our best.


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Good thing we were on the first floor, which is the second floor in Paris. One flight of steep steps was enough.

TPAYT Dec 23rd, 2023 04:53 PM

Dinner tonight was at Le Grand Colbert in the 2nd. Famous for the scenes in “Something’s Gotta Give” with Jack Nicholson,
we always enjoy dinner here. The room is beautiful and the food is very good.

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After dinner our driver, Laurent, from City Wheels picked us up in a 1938 Citroen for a ride through the lights of Paris.
We sure lucked out on this experience. The car was in beautiful shape with a roof that opened. Laurent used to be a photographer so he took many, many photos of us with his phone. He knew all the perfect places to stop.

He said that when he stopped my husband and I should pop out the top and our daughter should jump out and stand by the car. Off we went up to Montmartre, down the Champs E.
Place Vendome, Arch De Triupmh, etc.

We had expected to hand him our phones for a photo or two, not the professional photos he took. And along the way he told us all about the monuments. Bravo Laurent, you really added to the experience.
Expensive? Yes, but worth every penny.


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SusanP Dec 23rd, 2023 06:45 PM

That drive with City Wheels looks like so much fun! And I've wanted to go to Le Grand Colbert ever since the first time I watched Diane Kenton and Jack Nicholson in that scene. I need to get back to Paris!

TPAYT Dec 24th, 2023 03:56 AM

I must add our dinner at La Jacobine on the day of the fashion show.
Comfort food at it’s best, one of our favorite places. Always busy, a reservation is probably needed. The people are very friendly and the food delish.


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Escargot and foie gras
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Duck in a tasty sauce
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Yummm!
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Beef stew with olives

yestravel Dec 24th, 2023 06:13 AM

Nothing like a traditional french meal. Where is it? I need to add it to my list of Paris dining.

ChgoGal Dec 24th, 2023 06:41 AM

What a gorgeous trip! Thank you for sharing. Your photos are beautiful.

flygirl Dec 24th, 2023 07:34 AM

Very much enjoyed reading about your trip and seeing your photos~!

kerouac Dec 24th, 2023 07:42 AM


Originally Posted by yestravel (Post 17520203)
Nothing like a traditional french meal. Where is it? I need to add it to my list of Paris dining.

It all looks totally traditional to me. What do you find strange?

janisj Dec 24th, 2023 09:45 AM


Originally Posted by yestravel (Post 17520203)
Nothing like a traditional french meal. Where is it? I need to add it to my list of Paris dining.


Originally Posted by kerouac (Post 17520230)
It all looks totally traditional to me. What do you find strange?

yestravel can speak for herself but I'm petty sure you misunderstood the post.

I read it to mean "There is nothing better than a traditional French dinner. Looking forward to going there."

kerouac Dec 24th, 2023 09:46 AM

That's the problem with shorthand expressions.

yestravel Dec 24th, 2023 11:49 AM


Originally Posted by kerouac (Post 17520276)
That's the problem with shorthand expressions.

Shorthand expressions? hmmm... social media. Oh well, janisj is correct. I did not think it was "strange." To me it looks like a traditional french meal. You misunderstood my comment.

janisj Dec 24th, 2023 11:57 AM


Originally Posted by kerouac (Post 17520276)
That's the problem with shorthand expressions.

Or just maybe . . . one living in France for donkey's years eventually needs an interpreter ;)

YankyGal Dec 24th, 2023 01:42 PM

What a wonderful trip! So many fun & special activities. Thanks for sharing. We leave for Paris tomorrow - can’t wait.

kerouac Dec 24th, 2023 07:19 PM

The missing word was "there's".

pgtraveler Dec 25th, 2023 07:05 AM


Originally Posted by yestravel (Post 17520203)
Nothing like a traditional french meal. Where is it? I need to add it to my list of Paris dining.

I'll answer in case TPAYT doesn't see this. La Jacobine is in the Cour du Commerce Saint Andre.

I'm loving your trip report TPAYT. I have stayed in an apartment in the Cour du Commerce Saint Andre twice now. It's a really fun area, just down the street from Rue du Buci, but it can be very noisy at night.

Nikki Dec 25th, 2023 08:36 AM

I have been enjoying your trip along with you. Thanks for sharing.

Trophywife007 Dec 25th, 2023 11:48 AM

What a beautiful trip, TPAYT, and what a special time to spend with your daughter. I'm sure you all will treasure these memories for a very long time. Happy Christmas!

TPAYT Dec 25th, 2023 01:26 PM

So glad to read all of your comments. There are so many Fodorites who love Paris and it’s fun to share experiences in that special city.

One more day…..
Our last day in Paris was spent at Saint Chapelle, the flower market, and a final dinner at another favorite, Marco Polo, for dinner.


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Stunning
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Another blue sky gorgeous day


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Then it was home to pack before dinner.
The car service that the apartment management arranged for us was arriving early in the morning to go to CDG.
Kareem was our driver both ways. Excellent service, prompt, an all around friendly driver who made our arrival and departure very easy.

Final dinner at Marco Polo on Rue Saint-Sulpice.
We have been going here for years. Mr. Albano always welcomes us like we were there yesterday. With the many people he greets every day and night I’m sure he actually doesn’t remember us but he acts like he does. A real restaurateur, he makes everyone feel at home.


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Marco Polo


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Veal piccata


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A final toast to our favorite city

Au Revoir Paris.

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yestravel Dec 25th, 2023 01:33 PM

What a nice trip! Thanks for sharing.

Weekender Dec 25th, 2023 02:53 PM

So enjoyed this. Marco Polo is always a go to for me as well.


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