I went to Paris in June
 

And I had no plans. Other than my hotel booked about a month prior. I wish I could have stayed for two weeks, but due to terrible spending habits I was only there for one week. The weather was perfect. I arrived on a Weds, booked econ plus seat, didn't sleep at all as usual. I watched a few movies which I can't remember. This was my 14th trip since 1999.

Day 1
Arrived on time, skipped baggage claim as usual, went to the taxi line. There might have been two people ahead of me. Traffic was hideous. Cost about 60 euros. As I'm paying the driver I glance sideways and see two smiling faces awaiting my arrival. Yeah they remember me! It's been two years since last trip. It's nice to be remembered.

Yeah my room is ready! Always nice. Courtyard view so I can sleep. And that I did for about six hours. No shame. I like to sleep. I wake up and need coffee. I go to Relais Odeon. Then I need food, and I want to walk so I go to a café in the Palais Royale. It's right next to Le Grand Vefour.

Dinner is a croque madame, fries, and green salad. With Chablis. Ah Le Grand Vefour. I was last there in 2007 I think it was. What to do, what to do. Decision time, should I or shouldn't I? Ok that's it, I will have lunch at Le Grand Vefour but that means no shopping at LV. Or Chanel. Food wins this round. I walk in wearing my jeans, oh the horror, and make lunch reservations for Monday. I slip out quickly hoping that the diners weren't horrified by my attire.

Feeling satisfied that my Monday lunch will be fabulous, I go in search of a celebratory wine. Every trip I like to try at least one café I've never been to before. I think it was called Café Colette, near the Louvre end of the Palais Royale. I order more Chablis, or maybe it was Sancerre.

Time to walk again, it is dark now. I enjoy the Louvre (outside obvi) the Pyramid has a lovely red light art installation inside it. Interesting. I go to Café de Flore. All of the outside tables are full. Rats. Turning around, I go to Café le Buci for Sancerre and ice cream.

I still want to go to the Flore. So I try again, and this time I score a prime table. I order a Kir Royale. And then a Pommery Rose. And then I made a new friend.

I like the way this report is starting out. I'm looking forward to more!

Hi RUEDEBUCCI,

I always enjoy reading about your forays in Paris. What is "croque madame" please?

Waiting for more...

I think a croque madame is a croque monsieur with the addition of an egg.

Love the Pommery Rose choice - look forward to more.

Sounded perfect until I got to " Sancerre and ice cream". Okay, I will reserve judgement!

A most welcome Paris read. I envy your casual reference to walking about from place to place, as I still struggle with geography after seven trips. Looking forward to more!

Sancerre pairs well with anything....one of my favorites! I will have to try it with ice cream

What a shame to have a courtyard view so you can sleep. ;-) This morning I was delighted to jump out of bed at 5am to see what on earth had happened after the huge noise. A car had missed the turn and clipped off 4 of the brown metal poles protecting the sidewalk. Unfortunately, the car was long gone, so I was not able to admire what damage it had done to itself.

"I went to Paris in June---and I had no plans."

Your opening line, along with the Sancerre, and I'm definitely along for the ride.

Looking forward to your week!

Hotel?

I'm in, too! Loving all of your beverage selections.

Well, I'm hooked! I look forward to more of your wanderings, ruedebuci!

Ruedebuci, I'm waiting for more, too!

Thanks all! I typed up day 2 last night, hit submit, and got "Fodor's is Offline" message. Grrr, not happy.

So I will report back later, stay tuned.

Cath my usual hotel is Le Regent.

Waiting to hear about the new friend.

I write trip reports in Word and then copy them to Fodor's. This way the text doesn't get lost in cyberspace if the web site is screwed up.

Looking forward to more! Thanks for posting.

Ok one more try for day 2. Nikki thanks for the tip but my computer is lame and doesn't have word.

Day 2
I wake up at 6 am. What an ungodly hour! I'm on vacation what is this #@$!? I have a "goodnight" text from my new friend. I'll call him Pierre, lol. I try to go back to sleep, but I have a coffee craving. I call for a 7 am breakfast delivery.

While eating breakfast in bed, I get another text. Huh. I keep eating, and then another text. Mmm okay. Maybe he is interested? {I can hear you all saying in What? yeah me too.)

So I text back. Got nothing else to do. Well not until my 1 pm lunch with a longtime Parisian friend (I'll call her Francine, we've been friends for several years.)

He wants to meet. I suggest coffee at Relais Odeon. At that moment I'm so glad I brought my leather skirt and push-up bra. (Just kidding folks).

He arrives at Relais Odeon shortly after I do. We talk. We laugh. Le sigh. We go to the Luxembourg Gardens. I'm having the time of my life. Then I must go to meet Francine. He escorts me on the metro, line 6, Kleber stop. I spot Francine, and he asks me to meet up with him later. We'll see.

Francine: "Who is that guy?!?"

Me: "I met him yesterday."

Francine: "That was fast."

Me: "Yeah I know!"

Yeah I'm in Paris, I had a romantic date in the Luxembourg Gardens, and now I'm going to the Paris Polo Club!

This will be a first. I've never even seen a polo match. I meet some of Francine's family and friends. Lunch is Chablis, shrimp in a ginger sauce with rice, and vacherin (sp?) for dessert. All very good.

Afterwards we drive through the Bois de Boulogne which I've never seen before. Then I head back to my hotel for a nap, tired from all the excitement of the day.

"... Sancerre and ice cream."
Is Sancerre a brand of chocolate syrup, or what?

I smell romance. Just lovely, Rue.

Ooh la la
Cheers to your 14th visit to Paris.
I'm along for the ride