Hi everyone,<BR><BR>Just back from fun in Paris. Stayed at Hotel Buci Latin in the 6th. They were wonderful. There was a posting on 'rants and raves' about loud music disturbing a guest, but heard no such thing. It was our 3rd stay at that hotel.<BR><BR>Arrived Wednesday morning, walked around to stretch our legs, checked-in, had lunch at local cafe, and started to do some shopping both in St. Germain and on rue St. Honore. <BR><BR>Had some great shopping moments and some bad. The good news is that Longchamp purses are still quite the bargain over there. Got 2 of them for really good prices. The bad news is that Burberry caught onto the fact that their prices were lower than in the US and raised them. A jacket that I had purchased there in May for 1800 FF was now 2200FF. Not a huge increase, but wished I had gone shopping more in May!<BR><BR>Onward. Longchamp and Hermes were PACKED with shoppers. Fauchon was busy, but had champagne tasting (every day through December) and we did some Christmas shopping there as well. <BR><BR>Dinner on Wednesday was at Bastide Odeon...just as good as ever. <BR><BR>Thursday, I shopped around Le Bon Marche in the morning, the Grand Epicure, and up rue de Bac - lovely shops along rue de Bac that I hadn't visited before. Everyone in a holiday mood and happy. Window displays outside Le Bon Marche were quite funny and festive.<BR><BR>Paris was having record cold weather, so we headed to the Musee d'Orsay for the late afternoon and early evening (open late on Thursdays). No line to get in, and we rented headsets and explored. <BR><BR>Had dinner at Fish on rue de Seine - quite good, great wine list (had a wine from St. Remy that we had never before found in Paris), and GREAT value. Very friendly. Only bad part is that waitress spoke too much English for our taste.<BR><BR>Friday, started day with Paris Walking Tour of the shopping passages in Paris. Very informative tour that they unfortunately do only during the holiday season. It was our 3rd or 4th tour with them. Highly recommend - see www.pariswalkingtours.com for their schedule.<BR><BR>Lunch at great cafe - Cafe du Cadran on rue Daunou in the 1st. Very Parisian/business-man. No tourists, no English spoken. Loved it. Very reasonable prices, and great location.<BR><BR>Since we were very cold from the morning walking tour, spent afternoon in the Louvre. Explored some sections we hadn't been to before - check out Napolean's apartments! Fantastic.<BR><BR>Dinner at Le Maupertu in the 7th. Was a cozy restaurant with a great view. Really enjoyed our dinner. Nice quiet place.<BR><BR>Saturday, headed to Porte de Clignancourt to the flea market. Patrick, if you are reading this, we found the vendor that sold cartoon stuff - but alas, had no Felix the Cat items! Oh well! <BR><BR>Around lunch time, headed back to Paris, ate again at Cafe du Cadran, headed over to Notre Dame, Ile St. Louis to walk around and see what was different during the holiday season.<BR><BR>Had to do last minute shopping, so headed to rue Bonaparte area in the 6th had got chocolates at Gerard Mulot (packed with Parisians buying chocolate). Went to wine bar (Chai de l'abbaye on rue de Buci) as we had every night before (and sometimes after) dinner to warm up.<BR><BR>Dinner at Astrance in the 7th on rue Beethoven - a very nice way to do slightly more 'haute'/trendy dinner for a non-haute price! About 7 courses, all wonderful. Ordered their seasonal menu. Very 'scripted' service (which we were not as crazy about), but lovely meal overall. Dinner with a bottle of white Chateauneuf de Pape - $150 - not bad!<BR><BR>Alas, came home on Sunday. Loved it all - and will miss the Franc! Not as much fun taking 10% off the price as it is dividing by 7!<BR><BR>I'd be happy to answer any questions or give more details.

Jen: Thanks for a great report. I am so excited! We are staying at the Buci Latin in the next few weeks. Some questions: is there a particular room we should attempt to request that may be larger than others? We are staying in a room with a king. Also, how cold was it? What are the women wearing out at night? I am torn with what to pack!

Welcome back, Jen! Sounds like you had a fabulous time. Mmmm - shopping in Paris. Hotel Buci Latin seems very comfortable from the pictures I've seen of the rooms.<BR>Lovely trip report!!<BR><BR>Merry Christmas

Hope, I hope you'll enjoy the Buci Latin as much as we do! All the rooms have king beds...do you have a room with a shower or bath? We've stayed in both. The shower-type room is the least expensive at 1100FF per night; I'd ask for room 115 if that's your rate. If it's a bath-type room at 1300FF a night, I'd ask for room 112. We just stayed in room 115 this trip, and I only recalled having stayed in 112 b.c it was our honeymoon. We've stayed in about 3 other rooms (due to 'bookending' Paris around other trips - stay there on the way going and coming back), and at these price points, those are the 2 I'd recommend. I can't help if you're in a suite - but would love to hear about it if you are! BTW - the beds are SO comfortable! If you want to make a specific room request, e-mail the hotel and make it attention to Sanjay - he's the best! He will also book dinner ressies for you in advance.<BR><BR>As for clothing - FUR. I've never seen so much of it. Fur coats, jackets, hats, etc. It was crazy.<BR><BR>For me and the other ladies (once removing the fur outerware), pants and cashmere sweaters and elegent, pointed-toe boots were the garments of choice. A nice hat and scarf to go with your outerware is also quite fashionable. BUT - They were having an unusual cold snap, so check the weather before you go, and have FUN!<BR><BR>Mary - Merry Christmas to you too!

Jen, you have made me miss Paris even more! Great report,Thank you~C

Jen, great report. I actually moaned out loud cause I was so jealous. I have to go back!

Jen--we are heading to Paris this Wednesday. First time for both of us. Did you make restaurant reservations in advance?

Olivia - yes we did, for the places it was more difficult to get into (Astrance, Bastide Odeon). We made them a couple of weeks in advance. As for Fish, we had them make ressies the same day. Just depends.

Dear Jen; We are going to Paris next week and reading your report has got my mouth watering!!! Thank you for taking the time to write all of it. I will definitely be taking several of your suggestions. Thanks again.

Jen, thanks for that great mini-report. Could have been mine! LOL <BR><BR>Will be heading for Paris on Dec. 26 and I will do just about what you did. Merci beaucoup. Will add the Grand Palais special exhibition "Paris-Barcelona" and maybe "B&ouml;cklin" at the Mus&eacute;e d'Orsay.<BR><BR>Yes, it's cold in Europe right now. Hope, temperatures will go up a little. On the other hand, cold is better than wet. And finally, it's winter, isn't it?<BR>

Jen, I'm so glad you had such a good time!! I leave a week from Thurs. and really am about to burst! <BR><BR>Are there any parts closed in the Orsay? <BR><BR>Wendy

Loved the breathless report, but am I the only one who feels $150 for dinner [for two?] does not fit the description "not bad?" I am amazed at what some will pay for food. That's two nights' lodging.

So glad to share experience! Usually it's my mouth watering reading others' reports.<BR><BR>Wendy - I didn't find any parts of the Musee d'Orsay closed...the entrance to the museum is now on the Seine side - the main entrance is closed. There may have been one room closed to the left of the original main entrance, but that's about it.<BR><BR>McDonald - didn't mean to offend...it was the 'fanciest' dinner we've ever had in Paris. And for the many, many courses we were served, we didn't feel that the price was outrageous (as a Jules Verne or Tallivant - sp? - price would be) for the quality restaurant it was.<BR><BR>For all of you heading to Paris - have a SUPER time, and I hope you have more temperate weather!

McDonald, you can have plenty of "bad" meals for $150 for two. And find plenty of accommodations for double that for one night that aren't all that hot.<BR><BR>It's all relative.

Jen, Thanks for the response!<BR><BR>McDonald, it is not abnormal to spend $150 on dinner for 2 of us here in Seattle so especially with the wine Jen picked (excellent!!!) I would say that is a good price!!

Jen,<BR><BR>Thank you so much for the GREAT trip report. I can only echo what has been said previously. My wife and I are headed to Paris next Thursday and this will be our first visit. We finaly got New years eve reservations at Laperouse. We will definitly take a walking tour while over there. we were wondering what they would be like and thanks to your post we have decided to give it a try. <BR><BR>Is there a specific guide that we could/should request? <BR><BR>To all who are headed over to Paris next week. Have a wonderful time.<BR><BR>Bon Voyage!!

Wendy: What are you guys doing for New Year's Eve? I am curious!

I wish I could say that $150 was the most I had paid for a meal in Paris OR in NY!

Mark - the guides vary. Peter is one of the owners, and was super on our last tour. The schedule is set, so just log onto the web site and see what's happening the days you are there. You just show up at the designated time and place, pay your 60F (or 10 euros) per person to the guide that shows up and go on the tour for a couple of hours. It really is a great system (at least for the way we travel). No advance reservations necessary (unless the tour indicates it); we've always just shown up!

To Hope: We made reservations at Au Pied de Cochon for the 5 of us (boyfriend and 3 friends). We faxed them directly- it is al a carte so not expensive for the night. Then we are going to stop in to a couple of "hot spot" bars and then on to the Champs and Pl. de Concorde for the light show with champagne bottles! Then back to the bars!! We are very excited!!!!