Adelaidean

That apartment looks gorgeous. Enjoy.

crefloors

Looking forward to the next installment. I love having some time in Paris so you can eat, sleep, get up when you feel like it and not be pressured with must do this, must do that.

My last trip was like that although , as usual, as much time as I have there, it's never enough. LOL

Trophywife007

Such a special trip for you and your husband!

All the best to you!

denmal

Tuesday12/8/15. Today we had an ambitious schedule..off to the Marais and place de Madeleine. Wanting to get our shopping in early. Leaving the apartment we took a right down Rue Fontaine. Connected to Rue Montmartre. We walked all the way down Rue Montmartre until we made it to le halles. Construction still g o ing on down there. We stopped in a small shop, Comptoir de la Gastronomie. Such a cute small shop. Homemade pate and other goodies. We purchased duck pate made in house and purchased escargot. Dinner purchases started early. Next into the church of saint eustache. It was under construction last time we were here. Two candles purchase and lit for our Moms. It is a tradition for us to light candles and say a prayer for our mothers. Husbands has passes but mine is still with us but we always light candles. I have our coins to purchase the candles. The church is beautiful but our visit was short as there was a funeral planned for Tuesday. Next Lunch..at a cafe near the church. We sat of the covered patio which was heated and thanks for that because that is when the rain started. Lunch was good a nice rose from provenance and a croque madam for me and a wonderful house made vegetable risotto .. we then stared for rue rambuteau. We stopped a Hure.. best eclair!!!! Got eclair and croissants..then on to rue archives to the Ice watch store. Husband purchased a red/white watch.. Then on to Nicoli. Our favorite perfume shop. We purchased items for me and hubby and the house. Just love that shop...the rain had gotten stronger so to the metro to get to Madeline ... at Place de Madeline into the Maile store. We brought our jars from home to be filled. The mustard from the taps is the best you just cannot get in the US. By now it was pouring and about 5. So to the metro to get back to the apartment...for dinner was had cheese, pate and the snails...and salad of course....a successful first full day. Our friend arrives on Wednesday and we head up to Montmartre. We are going to Dali museum and visiting more churches..including Sacre Couer. Update tomorrow..

yestravel

Wow! Impressive day -- you covered a lot of territory esp in the rain. We bought a tarte to take to a party from Hure and got a brown cloth bag with their name on it -- great souvenir from Paris. Using it at home today! Don't you wonder if the construction around Le Halles will ever be finished? I noticed the sign said 2016 I believe which I don't. The Chatelet metro is still a mess.

Be curious to hear what you think of the Dali museum as its one we have never been to.

eurohop

How wonderful you are traveling and celebrating life with a long stay in Paris! We have enjoyed visiting the area near your apartment and someday will stay near there. I find it very convenient and like the neighborhood feel. The food shops on rue de Martyrs are top notch. In addition to the restaurants already mentioned, we also like Les Saisons on rue Lamartine and 23 rue Clauzel,(that's the name and address of the restaurant.)

flpab

Try the maille mayo. They sell in in the refrigerator section of the grocery. Yummy. Your apartment is so roomy and love the terrace. Great price. How is the area you are staying in?

denmal

Wednesday 12/9. Today our friend arrived from the US. She was ready to go after some coffee. Off to find Dali museum..after a few wrong turns in Montmartre we found it. It is a small museum but very nice. It has some interesting pieces. After touring the museum it was time for lunch. Went to Chez Plumeau. It was a very cute pal e between Dali and Sacre Coeur. We all had salads and wine of course. Then off to Sacre Coeur but stopped in a small square where the artists are near the church. We purchased an oil painting. Now onto the church. Thing have changed due the attacks..the steps in front of the church are blocked and the guards are checking bags. The church is beautiful as always. Another candle lit for the Moms. We then wandered around Montmartre and came back down Rue Lepic for foodstuffs for dinner. A chicken and potatoes....yummy. then wine and salad. We had dinner and visited.. another 5+ miles walked. Off to bed ..tomorrow off to place de Madeleine to visit Fachon. Then to Louis vittion museum....

denmal

Thursday 12/10. Our friend is now had a God nights sleep in Paris and we are off for a full day. 1st stop. Place Madeleine to Fachon and Mariage Freres. These shops are my favorite places to purchase tea in Paris. In addition we stopped at the church at Madeline...it is a beautiful church...we stopped for coffee at Laduree. They have the best treats and coffee. We then we're off to the Louis Vuitton on the Champs Elyesse for my friend to get the purse she wants. Then off to the museum..we took the shuttle out to the Louis Vuitton museum which picks up at Avenue Frieland..it is 1 Euro...the midway is out in the Brois Bologne. It was Very interesting...the grounds are beautiful ..the art is very contemporary... I enjoyed it...We then went to dinner at Le Grand Colbert...yummy..it was great..had Kir to start..then escargot the braised beef...last but not least profiterols with chocolate...tomorrow on to Reims...

denmal

Friday 12/11. Up very early for the train to Reims.. The train leaves from Gare L'Est...our train left at 7:55. It is a short trip to Reims.. 45 minutes...First stop tourist office just outside the train station for a map. Then onto the cathedral...it is so majestic......we toured it for a while. Then we had a 10:30 tour scheduled at Pommery...it is on of the oldest champagne houses started by a woman. I had overbooked the tour from home so we were good to go...a note here..Pommery is a little outside the main downtown so you will need to take a taxi...the tour was excellent. We had two glasses included. We tastes the silver brute...then the vintage...both we good but I prefer to silver...we then wanted to tour the Basilica..it is unique..we were able to walk there from the champagne house...after touring and lighting candles..we were able to get a bus back to the main center of the city...onto lunch at the Cafe du Palais..a glass of champagne to start..my husband had pasta with foie gras. And I had lasagna...my friend had duck....so good...we then walked through the Christmas markets in town. And caught the 5:15 train back to Paris....tomorrow the Grand Magazin.....

denmal

Saturday 12/12 slept in a little...then off to Gallery Lafayette...it is a nice walk from the apartment...OMG....the decorations were beautiful..and boy was it crowded!!!!! My friend and I shopped while the husband sat upstairs having coffee...a few purchases later we had lunch in the cafeteria type restraunt...then onto Primtemps
...decorations nice there too. If you were wondering if people are afraid to be out..then I can tell you No!!! The crowds were nuts yesterday...we then stopped at the supermarket and had a light dinner in...tomorrow one friend leaves and another arrives....more to come
...

flpab

Happy that Paris is busy and the stores are full.

menachem

One gem of a restaurant in the area, often overlooked because it looks so unassuming is

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...de_France.html

It's a family restaurant, very modest, very hospitable and welcoming and they specialize in Malagay cuisine (Madagascar)

yestravel

So glad to hear that shops are packed. They were not busy at all when we were there. Sounds like you are having a great trip.

crefloors

What a nice trip. It's so good to have the time to go a place or two each day and get to spend some time and savor the moments. I am so due for a Paris trip. Loving your report.

menachem

@yestravel, just returned from one week in paris (work related), it was as busy as usual as far as I could see.

denmal

Sunday 12/13 1st visitor leaves the apartment..called G7 taxi..they have a English line..the service was 5 minutes early..our second visitor arrived at the airport about 10 but she had a little excitement...they found a unattended bag and shut down the airport while they took it outside a blew it up..she arrived at the apartment about noon. This is her first time in the city and she is excited..we are off the the Marais as it is Sunday...first stop lunch. We went over by Hotel De Ville. Had lunch in a cafe...wine and beef Bourguignon....high it was so yummy...we then set off to the Marais...it was busy but not too crowded. We purchased the necessary items for dinner...wine, cheese , bread , apples and something sweet for after....we were out for a few hours..but it was warm and really nice...we then made it back to the apartment for rest and dinner...Monday we go to the Eiffel tower..

kerouac

<i>Don't you wonder if the construction around Le Halles will ever be finished? I noticed the sign said 2016 I believe which I don't.</i>

The Canopée will be finished in March 2016. There are already shops around the outer corners (Nike, Superdry) announcing that they will open in March.

The whole Les Halles project will continue until 2018 and the RER station will be finished last.

denmal

Monday 12/14. We are off to the Eiffel Tower...our visitor is horribly scared of heights...but she did it..we went all the way to the top..it actually was fogged in which turned out to be the best for her...we then went to the first floor and had a glass of champagne...we also visited the skating rink on the first floor.. the view from the first floor was really nice...we then went to Bon Marche...to the Grand Epicerie....wow what a place...it has been enlarged since we were first there...we purchased food stuffs for dinner...cheese, ham, and salad stuff.. for lunch. We went to a small cafe called Le Weekend.....my husband had the plate de Jour....sauteed liver...I had a salad and our visitor had a traditional croque.....we also had wine....of course.... we then headed home to rest and have dinner....

denmal

Tuesday 12/15...The three hour tour....we got up and of course we had our coffee and our croissant .. which we purchased the day before at our local boulangarie...which is really great..the owner is friendly and has begun to recognize us daily...but back to the 'tour' We were told by the apartment manager that the 47 bus would be great to take as it would take us right down to Hotel De Ville....and today we wanted to visit Notre Dame so we decided to take the bus....BIG Mistake...Huge....but of course it was totally our fault...we got in the bus...but never looked at WHERE it was going...it was in the opposite direction and ended up at the end of the line. And had to wait for 20 minutes for the RIGHT bus ...with traffic. Seriously we spent 3 hours on a bus....Finally we got there....a big joke between us now. We visited the church...had a late lunch...with MORE wine. Walked back to the metro and went home....dinner and wine..next day to the wheel on place Concorde and x-mas market and the arch