Melissa,

Or really anyone here, what exactly does TCFH mean anyway? I've figured out only that TCFH is not an endearing term.

I'm loving reading your posts along the way...

ecat - TCFH means Traveling Companion From He**

Tom

Hi Melissa,

Yeah, we noticed the miniture place was gone when we were in Paris last year. Guess we all should have BOUGHT something!

~Liz

Longchamps .. all of mine are from Paris, with the exception of one that I bought in NYC a few years ago. The one that I bought in NYC was the smaller black fold into itself one with the bown handle. I think I paid $100 for it maybe three years ago. I also have the large one that I bought in Paris, probably 10 yrs. ago which was only about $50 or less, but the dollar was much stronger then. It's been in Russia, Tanzania, Central America .. and still looks like new.

I never compare - and I'm sure most of you don't either, because it is worth sooooo much more because it came from Paris :-))

With the dollar being so horrible now, I would assume that the prices are the same or maybe a little cheaper here.

Nina

Galleries Lafayette is crawling with Chinese & Korean tourists. Forget the shades of communism! Designer status items are the rage!!

A Chinese gal (I can say this because I am Chinese)--who smelled really Chinesey--came up to me today and was severely desperate. She had already bought her quota of Louis Vuitton items and needed to buy at least 32 more wallets. She asked me to help her buy them and gave me the exact descriptions.

She then handed me a WAD of euros. I mean, a WAD!!!! Where do the Chinese people get this kind of cash? I don't even carry that kind of cash! Then she hid around the corner. I went in to LV and ordered the 3 wallets. 2 were available. I was ALMOST ready to do the deed, when suddenly the saleswoman jumped back and said, "I'm sorry, I can't sell this to you. It needs to be for you." I said, "It IS for me." She said, "I'm sorry, but we have had many problems today with people trying to buy too many. These are not for you. If they are indeed for you, then I'm sorry, please come back another day. But these, I cannot sell you."

I had to go back to the Chinese girl and give her the stack of cash back. I apologized profusely and she seemed to be super bummed out. Hell, I don't even own an LV item! WTF?

Today we took a PAris Walks tour of Montmartre. Who knew.....this weekend is the MONTMARTRE WINE FESTIVAL???
www.fetedesvednagesdemontmartre.com

After the walking tour, we walked around the tents at Sacre Cour and tasted a ton of wines. Wine, as you know, is cheaper than water in France. Each glass is like, 1-2 euros. You can also buy glasses of champagne at 4-5 euros and keep the glass. Fabulous~!

They had smoked sausages, oysters, potatoes, honey, fruits, mushrooms, cheeses, tortes, and more. The mayor came and cut a ribbon to "officially" open the festival.

Sign me up for next year. Only....next year, I will be alone, and you fodorites will join me there. Right?

>A Chinese gal (I can say this because I am Chinese)--who smelled really Chinesey< :D

sounds like you're having a great time.

I had heard about the LV thing before - that Asian tourists have been known to approach people, requesting that they purchase LV goods for them.

I don't know why LV would put a limit on what you can purchase from them - it seems weird, doesn't it - that a retail store says people have been buying "too much" from them.

Melissa:

You should have asked the lv sales nazi if you smelt chinesey when they wouldn't sell you the wallets, lol......that's why I now travel in asia, I only have to worry about the smells :)

Aloha!

Too funny you guys!

Well, I learned a lot on this trip. Maybe I just confirmed, as Barb said, "This is why I will travel alone from now on." It was very difficult and embarrassing at times because the 2 would not try to communicate in French (as in, Parlez vous Anglais?) first and, like my TCFH from last time, would charge in and just start talking in English. I kept telling them to try to respect the culture and remember that we were not in America anymore, but to no avail.

Like my last TCFH trip, I was lucky in that most people were very nice to me. Many people tried to make chitchat with me in the Metro, and I was just beside myself. I can't speak a lick of French! Finally, one woman asked me, "Parlez vous Francais?" And I shook my head. Which was stupid, because obviously, I just understood her.

I forgot to tell you that we went to Le Florimond the other night and it was fabulous. At the end of the night, the chef/owner Pascal Guilliamin came out and a whole party of 10 applauded him. As he came to our table, I asked to take a picture with him, and the look on his face said, "Oh, GAWD," but he very politely obliged. Try the lobster raviolis!

My friend had the fish with a dill sauce but was hesitant to order it because she didn't like the fish we had in Chinon. I had to convince her that not all fish is prepared the same, and all chefs have their own recipes. I can't believe I had to convince her! Luckily, she enjoyed it very much.

I now see that my Montmartre Wine Festival link does not work. I'll check it when I get home and try to post a valid one.

Back to Chicago! I will finish the report later with some restaurant & shopping reviews. a bientot everyone!

This is a GREAT read!! Thanx for sharing and welcome home.

Also, tonight (October 7) is the city-wide "Nuit Blanche," an all night festival from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. There are tents set up all over the city, with artworks, crafts & food, books, and even a jogging area with the running club(s). Damn! I wish I had booked for one more night.

OK I just checked, and I don't know why the previous link did not work. here is the link to the wine festival, although you can google Montmartre Wine Festival and you will get quite a few informational links.
http://www.fetedesvendangesdemontmartre.com/

Well, I thought I was going to review another restaurant, but I guess that was pretty much it! The first lunch, by the way, was at L'Ardoise. It was fantastic. I had a foie gras ravioli to start and it was heavenly. The salad they had (and hated) was a simple salad with a light vinagrette topped with quail--very light, a very lovely lunch salad. I'd go there again in an instant.

Actually, I guess I will go back again. At the last Honolulu GTG, I think I told Hawaiiantraveler that the Euro is so strong that I'm probably going to go back to visiting Asia starting next year (gourmet tour with Mari808??). But Paris is addicting--after a day there, even with a TCFH, I immediately needed to start planning my return! And really....since I've now had two Paris trips in a row with a TCFH, shouldn't I press the "reset" button and have a "do over?" ;)

I'm currently in Des Plaines, Illinois, but will post my photos next week. Thanks, you guys! Your comments were great and really helped me calm down and enjoy my trip better--it was as if you were all there with me. And I wish you were!

Absolutely delightful, darlin! I've enjoyed every morsel! I think I've put on 5 pounds just drooling over all your wonderful food :@)

Just today DH and I have decided to return to Paris next April! Yippee! But shhhhh...I'm not telling a soul. My last 2 trips have had the TCFHx2, and this time no hitchhikers allowed!

Have a safe flight back to Oahu. Aloha!

Oh, Nina, I just realized that I didn't answer you. The TCFH & her daughter said they enjoyed Jim's food! I was so relieved. I don't think they mingled much, though. The problem is, TCFH always feels hot so being in a crowded room (or a hotel with no air conditioning) roasts her.

I just realized something about TCFH's, and I think you'll agree....usually they are "Me"-centric, inflexible, and expect everything to be like they are at home. They don't research their destination and when they get there, everything is a problem!

Case in point: The week prior, I was in Chicago with 2 coworkers who had never been. We have different interests, shopping needs, physical activity levels, and diets. But we had a blast! There was a lot of give and take in doing things, each of us took initiative in taking the lead on things, and we were flexible enough to do things on our own if the other 2 did not have the same interest. We were game to do everything and wanted to try as much as possible--recognizing that the trip was a great opportunity that not everyone gets to enjoy. We're looking forward to New Orleans next year! (I've been, they haven't.)

<<apparently the toddlers have to drive STANDARD>>.

Best line in a trip report ever!

Welcome home Melissa -
You made lemonade with those lemons. Thanks for the info on Jim - if THEY liked the food - I am starting to worry :-))

Good friends travel to France five or six times a year, Paris and then driving to different areas for various festivals, inns, restaurants, etc..

When friends suggest that they travel together, my friend tells them, loud and clear, that they might be uncomfortable in the car, as she and her husband like to 'make whoopie' while driving from place to place, and that passengers often get embarassed. If you knew this couple, in their mid-seventies, you would be laughing your head.

She said that she'd love to try it, but with two new hips, she would probably get stuck in the steering wheel and take an entire town with her.

Nina

Aloha Mels!!! Wonderful on the spot reporting... I also am drooling on the keyboard over all the delish food you've described.

Sounds like Des Plaines was a good spot to decompress before heading home?! I so enjoyed our time at Ditka's in Chicago... udabessistah! ((R))

Makai, I had a blast as well. As always. Looking forward to visiting Chicago again!

OK so here are my Paris photos:
http://tinyurl.com/k2vdt

Great pics! I'm jealous - a Paris GTG!

Super duper job on the pics, Melissa. All the little festivals are so cool! I never knew there was a "love" wall. I'll have to hunt that down.