Christmas in Paris.....On Going Trip Report
Dec 17th, 2015, 11:27 PM
#45
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Wednesday 12/16. We were up and out early so off to place Madeleine again as our friend wanted to visit the mustard store...we stopped there she purchased the truffle mustard. We then walked over to Place Concord...my husband and I wanted to go up on the wheel...of course our friend did not!! She is afraid of heights and the wheel was too much...so she waited as we went for a spin...no line at all..it was great!!! My husband list both his mother and younger brother 3 years ago...his famil loves Paris so we brought a few ashes from his mom, dad and brother to spread in the Tuilerie as that is where his parents should sit in the spring time for lunch and reading ....said a prayer spread the ashes and too a picture to remember....we hope they like the spot...then to lunch in one of the cafes in the garden....after just soup for lunch. We walked through all the markets on the Champs-elysees..and up to to Arch....we were all tired so we stayed in for dinner ..one of those famous chicken and wine...Thursday our friend has a friend visiting from London and we take the train to Strasbourg...
Dec 18th, 2015, 09:02 AM
#46
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De nmal, glad you are having great trip. On another note, as having newly started kidney dialysis, I am curious to hear about your travels on dialysis? Glad to hear you got Kidney transplant. I am going through application process. Also, want to hear more of your trip.
Dec 18th, 2015, 09:36 AM
#47
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BLoom. Would be glad to give you information in our travels while the husband had dialysis...email your questions to [email protected].
Dec 18th, 2015, 09:40 AM
#48
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On another note...we had a chicken from one of the boucheries in the area...But we did buy it in the am. But when we reheated it ..it became dry...so my question to the french files on the board...how do you reheat the chicken and not let it get dry???
Dec 18th, 2015, 09:50 AM
#49
I posted a question as to where to buy a rotisierre chicken in the area around our apt. What I learned is that you can go into the boucheries whenever convenient and order one for the time you'd like to pick it up. We got ours from a market in the late afternoon, but wished I had known about the order ahead method.
As far as reheating, not in Paris, but at home, I find its very difficult to maintain the moisture once reheated. I have tried to cover in foil & heat in an oven or with a microwave sprinkling water over it and covering with another plate. I look forward to hearing mehtods that really work well.
As far as reheating, not in Paris, but at home, I find its very difficult to maintain the moisture once reheated. I have tried to cover in foil & heat in an oven or with a microwave sprinkling water over it and covering with another plate. I look forward to hearing mehtods that really work well.
Dec 18th, 2015, 01:48 PM
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Rotisserie chickens are also popular in Italy where very few people make them at home. I try to order ahead to pick them up late in the day and simply leave them out until dinner time. If I feel I must refrigerate them to keep them safe until dinner, my method for reheating is to steam them -- but not much. Just enough to re-liquify the fat, not to turn them into a hot dinner.
I just take my pasta pot, put enough water in the bottom so it doesn't boil away, put in a steamer basket, and prop the bird in there away from the water (you can add spoons or other utensils to keep the bird away from the water) and bring the water to a boil, cover the pot and lower the heat. Can't give you an idea of how minutes. Depends on the bird. Just keep poking with a finger to see if it where you like it. If you steam it to long, it will lose its pizazz.
I just take my pasta pot, put enough water in the bottom so it doesn't boil away, put in a steamer basket, and prop the bird in there away from the water (you can add spoons or other utensils to keep the bird away from the water) and bring the water to a boil, cover the pot and lower the heat. Can't give you an idea of how minutes. Depends on the bird. Just keep poking with a finger to see if it where you like it. If you steam it to long, it will lose its pizazz.
Dec 18th, 2015, 01:52 PM
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I should be clearer in what I wrote to say I add the bird to the pot after the water has already come to the boil, breast side down, then cover and lower the heat a bit, and frequently test it to see if it is loosening up.
Dec 19th, 2015, 06:26 AM
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Thursday 12/17. Strasbourg. We boarded the TGV at gare l'est at 7:25 am. It was good I had made reservations ahead of time as the train was full!! 2.5 hours Hugh speed to Strasbourg..very comfortable. I wish we had this service in the US. We arrived at 9:42. It was a nice day and in the 50's. We went into the tourists office in the train station for maps.. purchase a 24 hour tram pass for 2 which is cheaper than a one way for two... we managed to find the right direction of the tram and we were off...first stop the cathedral..and the Christmas market in front of it...the. cathedral is beautiful and of course we lit more candles...we spend awhile in the cathedral..then walked around the market ....then we decided to have an early lunch....choose a German cafe Au Gutenberg....husband had weinerschnitzel..and I had encote....both very yummy....we hopped the tram to two more Christmas markets. One at Place kelber and place borign(sp?) Then back on the tram to a stop by Petit France.....we then did that market...purchased a teddy bear and two bottles of wine...stopped for a coffee.... after all this it was time to return to the train station...had a Christmas beer. And purchased two sandwiches and soda for the ride home....rode the metro vs k to the apartment...got home about 9:45. I just love train travel..
Dec 19th, 2015, 06:48 AM
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Friday 12/18. Things did not go out way to start...we had purchased a box to mail some items home....packed it , filled out the paperwork...Carrying it down to the post office...but could we mail it. No!! Little did we know you cannot mail perfume to the US from France....so carry the box back up to the apartment...have to figure out what to do when we return from our day...more to come on that....back off again...now to the Opera house.....what a beautiful building....we toured that..by this time it was time for lunch...our visitor's friend suggested a restaurant in the 3rd..Chez Janou...specifically for the chocolate mouse.....so we went...it was a nice day so we sat outside....we each had something different...me chevre salad...husband has mushroom risotto and girlfriend beef stew....then we did it. We ordered the mouse....it was the largest dish of chocolate mouse I have ever seen....it was enough for 8 but man was it good!!!!!!! I will post pictures when I get home...wen then went to Pere lachaise...visited Jim Morrison grave...and wondered in the cemetery...then home for a light dinner of salad and cheese/wine....tomorrow we are excited. We are going tomorrow night on the bustrome....http://www.bustronome.com/...it is a glass topped bus. That drives all over the city and gives you a five course dinner.....you get to see all the monuments all lit up!!!
Dec 19th, 2015, 10:14 PM
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Saturday 12/19. Sleazy in a little. It was a beautiful day sunny and in the high 50s almost 60 I think...we made our way to Jardin Luxemburg. It was busy with people working out and kids using the boats in the fountain. After a strol..we made our way to St. Germain des Prez. Visited the church and managed to snag a table outside a Deux Magots. We had a light lunch and a glass of wine....then made our way back to the neighborhood to buy food stuffs for Sunday...we rested a bit then changed and made our way to the Bustronome....what a great time...first is is a double Decker bus with all seating upstairs in glass enclosed compartment...you arrive and are provided a glass of champagne....the tour is for 2 .5 hours and hits all major sites at night while providing a six course meal...the food was fabulous...first course. Scallops then foire gras ravoli, the a filet of beef, then cheese and last chocolate mouse....the package includes champagne to start then wine and sparkling water...The second to last stop is the Eiffel tower where they allow you to get out and take pictures. They time it so when we arrived the tower was starting the twinkling.... You can do lunch too but I think the night trip is more impressive....now the cost is not cheep but for 150. Euro per person I think it is a fair price. We had a blast. It drops off where it started at the Arch Triomphe....we made our way home via metro..home by 11:30. Our last visitor goes home tomorrow...we have until Tuesday the 22 then we head home.....
Dec 20th, 2015, 06:09 AM
#59
Following along on your adventure All the details take me back to my favorite city.
Bustronome----never saw that before. As we visit Paris often, I probably wouldn't take a bus tour BUT if I had a "first visitor" with us, that would be the way to go.
Carry on!
Bustronome----never saw that before. As we visit Paris often, I probably wouldn't take a bus tour BUT if I had a "first visitor" with us, that would be the way to go.
Carry on!
