TDudette

Great to see more TR. This is a repeat but when I first saw Versailles, I said to DH, "Now I understand why they had a revolution" but it is an astounding place. Always good to be king when decorating, eh?

LCBoniti

Continuing to enjoy this but with a sense of foreboding about the second week . . .

2010

In 5 trips to Paris, Versailles has always been on my list of 'things to do/see' but I've yet to go. Could it be that it's one of those places I think I ought to see when in fact, I'm really not too keen on it? Not sure why. So, I am glad to see Versailles through your lens, Tom. (Beautiful photos, by the way!) Maybe one day, I will just do it!!!

sugarmaple

The Jacques-Louis David Coronation of the Emperor is my favourite painting. I was sorry I didn't see it this last visit. For some reason, I completely got the Louvre closing day wrong, the day before we came home. That's a good enough reason for a return trip to Paris, right?

Chateau overload, exactly - glad I saw it, never have to go again.

elizzie4000

I'm really enjoying your reports! Looking forward to more...

vanne

Enjoying your trip report. We had a different experience at Les Philosophes -- we were seated at a table and then no one made any attempt to take an order from us, let alone pressure us to order quickly, despite waiters standing around with nothing to do. We ultimately left, but maybe we should have hung around as those desserts in your photos look delicious. Maybe we'll give them another try next time.

maitaitom

vanne, yes the desserts were good, but even I wouldn't go back there just to try them again. Too many good restaurants in Paris. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice……

Judy

We went to a restaurant twice on our last trip.

The first experience was on our arrival day. My husband has been known to fall asleep at dinner on day 1.....nearly fell into his soup at Les Papilles once so we booked the early seating at 6:30 (almost unheard of in Paris). The restaurant, l'Ange 20, told us to be on time in our e-mail reservation.

We were not entirely sure how long it would take us to find the place so we arrived 5 minutes early. We were told, in what we thought was a rude tone, to come back at 6:30. We walked around for 5 minutes and returned. While being seated I said we were sorry to have been early but, based on their e-mails, were afraid to be late! The waiter said "Oh, no. We are sorry that we were not ready when you arrived" They were so gracious throughout the excellent meal that we booked again a week later, at a later hour.

That time we knew not to be early but, as our table wasn't available when we arrived, we sipped champagne in the street. Dining in Paris is about an entire experience.

maitaitom

"The restaurant, l'Ange 20, told us to be on time in our e-mail reservation."

Little do you know, but you have foreshadowed my next chapter about the "Best Meal We Had In Paris."

Judy

OMG, I only mentioned the service.....we returned for the food as well! We will never go to Paris without dining there.

Can't wait to read about your experience! I still dream about that lamb and the salad with the goat cheese and tomato.

Jean

Tom, I'm just catching up with your blog and found the quote from Strawberry Alarm Clock. Geez. You can't be as old as me! One of the band members was a neighbor of ours when I was in high school (Hoover in Glendale), and the band once played a lunch hour concert in the quad which was quite a change from "Up with People" the previous year. The beginning of the end for John Birch Land!

tenthumbs

>we booked the early seating at 6:30 (almost unheard of in Paris).<

I can foresee a problem with my upcoming trip....my again parents want to eat by 5:30, and absolutely no later than 6:30. O_o DD and I are quite happy with a 9pm dinner.

annhig

tenthumbs - they/you need to look for brasseries - in most cases they serve hot food all day.Alternatively they could go to Holland!

thursdaysd

@tenthumbs - sounds like you need an apartment. Or maybe you could not make the full time zone change...

elizzie4000

tenthumbs - perhaps you can sit with your parents when they eat dinner and you have a drink or small bite. See them back to your hotel and you go out to eat at 9:00. That's what I'd do. I have an elderly Mother who eats early, too. And I don't.

There are restaurants that serve all day. So would work for your parents. I feel pretty certain that are restaurants that open at 5:30 so I think they'll do fine.

tomarkot

Maitaitom, really wonderful report on Versailles. The excellent pics on your website add so much to your text. And we like your humorous take on other incidents!

On your previous visit to Versailles, did you experience such large crowds? We visited a few years back in July, and didn't encounter such crowds. We're wondering if the increase in tours in recent years contributes???

We're eager to hear about your best meal in Paris.

socialworker

Re: dining times, we ate at Le Timbre the last time we were in Paris…..2 seatings at that time, 7:00 (or 7:30, not sure of my memory) and 9:30. I joked to DH that the 1st seating was for the Americans and the 2nd for the French, as that seemed to be the case.

Judy

We normally book dinners for 8 or 9 PM other than our first jetlagged day.. This one opened at 6:30 so we took that reservation.

Our next dinner there was at 9 and both times the diners seemed to be a mix of nationalities.

maitaitom

"On your previous visit to Versailles, did you experience such large crowds?"

If I remember correctly, we got there just as it opened back in '98, so it didn't seem as crowded. In any event, the day at Versailles was fine, but in retrospect since it took away an entire day from Paris (and as it turned out, we didn't have as many of those as I wanted on this trip), I wish we had skipped it.

TPAYT

As tomarkot posted, I also wondered about the crowds. We have visited Paris in Sept. for years and at Versailles, etc. there were lots of people but as many as you seem to have encountered.
When we were in Paris last June with our GD we couldn't believe the long, long lines everywhere. We assumed it was because it was June and family vacation time OR was it because of an abundance of tour groups lately?

Even with the crowds you sure took some great photos. We haven't been there in years but would like to return. If only we could find a time that isn't quite so crowded. Actually you skipped our favorite part---Maries A.'s little houses in the hamlet. But then with the huge crowds that might not have been as quiat as I remember.

Love your detailed and humorous report. You definitely must keep Tracy laughing day to day.