The next day, Sunday, was New Years Eve day, the day of our planned New Year's feast. If we are home on that night, which we usually are, we always have the traditional French meal, oysters, pate and champagne, plus lots of other goodies.

We are not usually early risers, but I wanted to get to the Richard Renoir Market, which opens at 7:00AM, early to beat the crowds and to take some pictures.

The alarm went off at 6:30AM and poor DH mumbled, 'are you really serious about this?', as his head hit the pillow again. Up and at 'em, and out of the door by 7:15AM for the ten minute walk to the market. A lot of the stalls were still setting up and it was dark outside. I think that we were the first shoppers there! Never happened before and probably will never happen again. We had a strolling breakfast, of croissants, and pastries, and that was enough to hold us over for an hour or so. Then we started all over again.

I had some wonderful churros, I don't know the French name for them, batter dropped into a vat of boiling oil and then the hot fried pieces were rolled in sugar and cinnamon. Those were my favorites. We also nibbled on some little meat and veggie filled deep fried pastries, and a few other things that we probably ate so fast, that we don't even remember what we had.

To take home for lunch, we bought some freshly made seafood paella from Paella BOB - that's what his sign said, and had a nice conversation with BOB and his lovely wife. Their English was very good and they told us that their favorite trip to the U.S. included Las Vegas. They graciously posed for pictures. We asked Mrs. BOB which stands had the best bread and oysters. She said that the oysters vendors were all good, but advised us to not to buy bread there, we didn't ask why, but followed her directions as she pointed to a side street right behind their stall and said that this was the best bakery in the area. DH had one of BOB's spicey pork sausages, which he said was perfectly cooked and delicious.

Before going to the patisserie, we continued wandering through the market, buying flowers for our apartment, a few gifts to bring home, veggies, fruit, cheese although we already had a ton at home, smoked salmon and some other forgotten items. We passed on the pates because we already had a collection in our fridge. We bought two super duper nut crackers from a nut cracker vendor. They were 10 euros each or two for 15. They not only crack nuts perfectly and with very little effort, but they open champagne too. We (I) was pleased with my bargain purchases, we bought two, until DH saw them in the white dishware, etc.. store on rue St. Antoine, a few days later for 4.50 each!! Oh well, they were still a bargain, because DH and I said that every time we use them, we will remember that lovely day at the market.

We purchased two dozen oysters.

Before we were too stuffed to walk, we went to Mrs. BOB's recommended patisserie. Oh boy was she right... I will never never forget their framboise beignet or their tart, tart, citron tarte. They were the absolute best that I have ever eaten. The bread was excellent too, and later we were sorry that we had only bought one baguette - after all, there were two of us :-)) I don't remember their name or their street, but DH and his magical sense direction will be able to find it again, with me not far behind.

We left the market at about 11:00AM and walked home for a well deserved nap before lunch.

BOB's paella was delicious, full of mussels, shrimp, and calmari.

A few hours later DH returned to the upscale stationary/office equipment store near the Marais, that we had passed late the night before. He had fallen in love with a retro industrial looking stapler, which he invisioned on his desk at work.

He returned a while later, sans the coveted stapler. The 200 euro stapler, yes 200 euros, was highly polished to look expensive, but in fact, it was crudely made. DH is a cautious shopper with a great eye and respect for quality. Knowing him as I do, he probably wouldn't have bought it at any price because of the lack of quality.

Soon it was time to prepare our feast. Poor DH stood over the sink for over an hour shucking those 26 juicy oysters, a heck of way to start the New Year. I prepared the plates of food, testing a piece here and there.

At last it was time and what a glorious feast we had, along with the exellent champagne that Andrea had given us. We toasted the New Year, each other, and Andrea for her generosity.

It was a wonderful way to bring in the New Year and to be able to that in Paris, made it even more special.

Nina

Oh Nina, what a beautiful way to spend NY's Eve, and in Paris, sigh.

BTW, I have one of those nutcrackers that are also wonderful to open a bottle of champagne. A friend in Italy gave me one as a "going home" present..a fantastic kitchen tool!

Corrections... the two umbrella twirlers at the circus, were not in convorted possitions... they were in contorted positions - doesn't sound as painful.

Also, since the stationary store was closed and the stapler showed no price, the 200 euro price tag came as a surprise to DH.

Whooooops, the market is Richard Lenoir. I guess thinking about all of that food clouded my mind, but didn't stop my fingers.

Nina

love this report, nina! I like your style of traveling AND writing, nice and down to earth and relatible.

More please!!

Nina, Lee Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com) sell a retro desk stapler in steel and gold-plated brass for about $50. Go to their website and plug 98K07.01 into the item number box to have a look. The book darts (KC420) are nice, too. I can't vouch for the quality of the stapler, except to say that if you aren't satisfied, the company will refund what you paid plus the cost of returning an item to them.

Nina, did you have any problems with asthma in the cold weather?

Where may we find Pizza pino? Thank you!

The two principal Pizza Pinos in Paris are on the Champs Elysées (N° 27, I think -- right at the line 1 exit of Franklin Roosevelt metro) and at Les Halles, on rue Saint Denis at the corner of rue des Lombards. Both serve until 5 a.m.

More precise: www.pizzapino.fr

And looking at the site showed me that Pizza Pino has sold its location at Les Halles, as it is not on the list.

another great report!

Wonderful report! Looking forward to more as well as some photos.

Thanks - I was beginning to think that I was all alone here :-)) The Pinos on Champs Elyees is easy to spot. It is on the corner next to Aeroflot. It is a large three story building. There is a non smoking section on I think the second floor.

Our photos will be posted as soon as DH, the photo guy, has a chance to to do it, hopefully within the next few days... another thing on his 'honey-do' list.

I'll finish my report in the next day or so.

Mollie, thanks for asking. No asthma problems. It wasn't as cold as NY when I had an attack two years ago. All I got was an old fashioned cold. We took Airborne daily, from the time we boarded our first flight. My cold started, about two days before we came home, and I started using Zicam nasal gel too.

I don't know if either one helped, but my cold reached a plateau, about 60% of what my normal colds are, and didn't go into broncitis, which is what usually happens when I am traveling. The worst part was that I flew home with the cold. My ears passsages are still plugged up and the doctor said that the said it might take another two - three weeks to clear. So please type loudly, I'm having trouble hearing.

The doctor said that flying with a cold is bad .... so, I guess in hindsight, I should have stayed in Paris :-))

In case anyone remembers, I posted a few months ago about a wrap around blanket called the 'Cabin Cuddler'. I got one, and absoutely love it. It is shaped like a cross and you lay it on your seat. You can wrap it around your lower body and also, separately, around your shoulders and chest. You can undo the top for eating etc..
It is bulky and takes up room in your carryon, or you can stuff it into his holder, like a sleeping bag, and tie it to you carryon. I think it was worth it, because I get cold, hot, cold, on flights and it was a nice comfortable feeling being fully draped in my own CLEAN blanket. It has a little pocket at the bottom to enclose your feet. DH said that I looked like a blue sausage ... I think that is a compliment, as his father was a sausage maker. Do a search on my Nina66 if it sounds interesting and you'll see the name and address of the Florida company that I bought it from. Also I used my new pillow from Land's End. Microfill (I couldn't find down) that fits into a small pillow case. You take the microfill pad out and it lays flat in your case, not taking up much room.

I'm a sucker for travel accessories, most end up never being used or only used once. A few days before our departure, on impulse, I bought a hand held luggage scale at Radio Shack, $9.95. At first DH thought that it was just a gimmick, but now he says it is a keeper. The weight is pretty accurate. We came in at 40 lbs. on the flight over and closer to 50 lbs. on the way back. Better than jumping on and off of your bathroom scale, especially if you return with purchases. It's small and didn't take up any room in our luggage.

I am penny-wise and pound foolish, but this time I'm glad that I decided to pay extra or museum reservations. It was cold and the lines for the Branly, the Orangerie, and the Disney exhibit at the Grand Palais, were very very long. We breezed in with our reservations. We bought them at FNAC, when we picked up our Cirque D'Hiver tickets that we had purcased online from home. Money well spent.

No more free bathrooms at McDo's. You now have to use slugs, which are given to you free, if you make a purchase. We don't eat there, but I like to go there for a Diet Coke with ice.

Whoops, I hit post before before I proof read... sorry about that.

Pinos is on the left as you walk toward the Arc, maybe 6 blocks from it.

Margriet - thank you so much for the Lee Valley stapler info. It is basically the same one that he saw in Paris, except that was polished chrome and this is black and gold colored. I think that he will probably buy this one (with a little wifey nudge), although his heart was set on he chrome. This one is about $265 less than the one in Paris, which was actually made in China. Thanks again.

According to their site, Pinos is at 31/33 Champs Elysees. Maybe we can have a Paris GTG there some day :-))

Nina

A little miscalculation on the stapler - the price difference is not $265.00, but about $212.00. What's a few dollars between staplers?

Nina, I'm glad the link was helpful. There's something about stationery ... I can't look at a Levanger's catalogue without wanting $200 fountain pens.

Margriet

I'm really enjoying your wonderful trip report, Nina. I am taking lots of notes because I'll be spending the month of April in an apartment on Rue de la Roquette, which is near to the Bastille area. You've already given me lots of ideas but any more info on what you thought of the area would be appreciated. Were you comfortable walking around late at night? Any special cafes or brasseries in the area you particularly recommend? Thanks a lot for any tips you can offer.

Marking.

I like that stapler a lot but I think I'm holding out for the all chrome.