Paris: April 15 - May 13, 2009
 

OK, this will be new running report thread. This is going to be one fantastic trip! So many friends going to be there. Another one is probably arriving about now! Told her I would be at Les Cocottes for lunch on Wed. I have told several I would be there. A good beginning!

The weather is also looking great..it has a way of doing that for my arrivals! I also, still have center row 4 seats to myself..I have been lucking out with that, often! I do hope it continues.

My suitcase is now locked and ready to go. I am about to put lap top in carryon and other last minute things. Not much left to do.

This trip my cats will be staying home. I have a gal coming to stay here with them. It is working out nicely for her as she can have her mother come from FL for Mother's Day weekend. This does mean that I have to leave my place in shape for arrival of "company". Doing that today!

a bientot..............

Joan

Joan, I am looking forward to reading your report - it will be almost as good as walking the streets of the 7th myself. And I am certain that I will pick up some good tips for my trip next summer...my plan is to celebrate my 50th birthday at Le Florimond!

Bon voyage,

Debra

Joan,

Have a wonderful trip. Can't wait to read your report and get your insights on where you'll be eating, shopping, sightseeing, etc.

We arrive on May 15th so I will be watching this thread with interest. You always have the best tips and suggestions.

A month in Paris............sigh..............

Jo

I'm hoping for the best for you. The temperatures have been excellent lately, but a lot of this week will apparently be sporadically rainy.

Joan,
Yours was the very first thread I ever read on Fodors and introduced me to Forums. I think it was during your trip to Paris last Fall. Not sure if I should thank you or not!! I spend probably way too much time here now. Looking forward to following your wonderful trip and thank you for sharing!!
Bon Voyage!!

Joan,

You know I'll be following your adventures and living vicariously through you for the next month! Have a wonderful time and I hope the weather is as nice as it was when we were all there last fall.

By the way, loved the Easter card.

Gina

Once again, Joan, have a safe & restful flight. It's nice that you can pick up where you recently left off. As others have stated, I will be pretending to be you as I read about your glorious vacation...

-Roberta

I am about to put my lap top in its bag and that will finish the carryon!

I cleaned the place up for the cat/house sitter..maybe I should have said house/cat sitter!

I never sleep well the night before I travel. A long day with my noon arrival in ATL and not boarding til 5:30...the shuttles can be so bad that you need to take an early one to make sure you get there for your flight! I know the routine well. I know a pretty decent restaurant where I can have a relaxed lunch and can partake of the Crown Room, if I feel like it.

Will check for my luggage being on the flight with me and also if I still have the whole 4 seat, center row to myself. Delta has those preferred seats for Medallion members that I selected, so a better chance with fewer people having access to them. Will see!

a bientot..next from Paris!!

Joan

Good for you, Joan! I know it will be a great trip. Say hello to E tomorrow at Les Cocottes. This is going to be a wonderful trip with you meeting all the fun people in Paris. Say hello to all our friends over there!

Tant pis pour moi - can't get away! But I will be eagerly awaiting all your posts at the end of each day!

Bon Voyage Joan, we await your reports!

Can't wait to read your reports!
RosieCaro

Looking forward to your trip report... I will be absorbing everything in anticipation for my own in June!!
:)

Safe trip. Looking forward to your report!

Travel safe. We leave on the 9th of May. Please keep the good weather around for us.

I have arrived. Miserable flight! The plane was packed..2-4-2 configuration. Hardly any room to move around. So much for that. I am in Paris!

Arrived on time, Inter-shuttle was right there..I was glad to see him!!

Weather is PERFECT!!! Weatherman wrong, again!

Will write re lunch, Navigo, SNCF and this evenings dinner upon return from it.

Must unpack.......

a bientot........

Joan

Looking forward to hearing more!

The first place I go when I arrive in Paris is to purchase flowers for my apartment. The flowers are so absolutely gorgeous in Paris--choices I don't have at home. A couple of years ago I bought bright purple prim roses and they lasted a couple of weeks.

Is anything like that in your near future Joan?

I'm glad to hear you are there safe and sound. Put that awful flight behind you. You're in Paris!!!

Dear Joan,
Your lunch at Les Cocottes should be over by now. Hope you and E had a great time reminiscing the last time you two were together in Paris.

Have a lot of fun! Say hello to Paul and Eva if you're able to stop at the Papeterie. How I envy you - Springtime in Paris..... Will be following your adventures while drooling....

So glad you are having good weather in Paris. Here it is sunny but gutsy winds closed one of our bridges.

Lilia

Joan,

Hope you are having a wonderful time in Paris and in your Paris Perfect apartment!

Jane

Joan,

Have a great time in the wonderful city that is Paris! Looking forward to reading your posts! :)

Have fun. I just got home form Paris on Easter Sunday. Happy Travels!

In Love With Paris

Here are a couple Pictures of flowers in my apartment. They always have fresh flowers in the apartments.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...noelle/003.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...noelle/002.jpg

I did go to Les Cocottes. Elle did arrive after some traffic holdup with her bus. She decided to have what I had..some delicious pumplin soup, toast, foie gras and salad with aglass of red wine.Christian did come in..we had our usual simple conversations with out mutual language problems! She had a great flight the night before out of ATL..a new one that leaves about 10:30PM and gets in about 1:00..was half full..so,ho knows. She wanted me to see about adding her to Table Joel Robuchon on Fri. I called and was able to do so. Nice, she and Kate will get to meet.

I then went to SNCF to get my TGV tickets for Mon..about 20 people sitting and you take a number. I quickly said, I will return in the morning when they open. I then filled my Navigo for this week. I will go tomorrow and fill for next week so I will not have to do that upon my return from Les Baux on Thursday.

Kate called and came by about 6. We got to meet one another, share some champagne and then across the pont and up George V to Tremoille to the Italian restaurant that I had found. We were early birds as this arrival night for me. I had some great white asparagus and a shrimp pasta. Kate had veal pasta We had some wine and great talk. By the time we left there were quite a few dining. I would say mostly locals. Just the kind of place for arrival night for me. I am wilting fast. I have been up for about 30 hours!! We were in the top high fashion neighborhood..Givenchy etc.

We walked back across the bridge and Kate then went her direction and me to my apartment.

I forgot to take camera with me. I will not forget tomorrow.

I am going to SNCF at 8:30 and have called Florent and will go there for breakfast and visit and I think I will go see nice friends of Lilia's who joined us in Dec. and again joining us for April 24th at Cafe Constant. I will go to their Papeterie!!

I may then go by "Spring" and see if I can catch Daniel, see the place etc...may go to BHV. Kate and I decide to meet at Hemingways"" at 6:30. She is most enthusiastic in trying one of Colin's "special" cocktails. I must take pictures! We will be going to the Ritz Bar Vendome on Sat. They will just have the opportunity of knowing us a bit sooner!

The biggest surprise today and one that I was most pleased with, was Madelyn spending an extra night in Paris just to see me on arrival. When I called upon departing the airport, Carolyn said to come by office as there had been a short notice stay in my apt. and the party had not left. That party, was Madelyn!!She has some appointments but we walked over to r. Cler as she had pictures to take...we did sit for a cup of coffee. We did cover a lot of territory. She will be back again while I am here....

Great weather...I am falling asleep...I'm in Paris!!!

a bientot....

Joan

Joan,

What a wonderful first day in Paris! Your words make me so anxious for our trip next month. Les Cocottes sounds delicious as does the Italian place. Be sure to give us an update on Spring, I'm hoping against hope that Daniel is ahead of schedule in his renovations and will be open by the end of May (I know, I'm dreaming, but why not!)

Hope you have a restful night and can't wait to hear more!

JO

Hi Joan,
Glad to hear that you arrived safe and sound, albeit tired from the trek across the pond. Like so many other Fodorites, I'll be looking forward to reading your daily updates, with special interest for my upcoming trip.
Bonne nuit, EJ

The flowers are beautiful Joan. Thanks for the pictures.

Are there pictures online of your apartment. I'd love to see it. What arrondissement are you staying in? Do you prefer to stay in the same apartment/arrondissement each time or do you prefer to move around? I like to move around and explore new neighborhoods. In September I'll be staying in the 17eme--a new neighborhood for me.

I haven't been to either of the restaurants you mention. Is Les Cocottes a favorite of yours? Do you recommend that I put it on my list? How about the Italian restaurant. Was it a pleasant surprise or just a restaurant?

Have you been to the Hemingway Bar before at the Ritz? You get a red rose attached to your drink--well, anyway, I know that is true if you order champagne because I did it. I have heard it is true regarding other types of drinks too. I really enjoyed being there. I am sure you will too.

You must be exhausted. You packed a lot of people into your first day.

I hope you find Daniel and get a sneak preview of his new restaurant. Are you hoping it will be completed before you come home so you can eat there? I hope you get to.

Have a great day tomorrow and thanks for keeping us posted.

Joan, glad to hear that you are in Paris safe and sound...and that the weather is glorious.

The flowers are beautiful. Are the darker tulips red or orange? I was lusting after the orange tulips that I saw at the florists on rue Cler a couple of weeks ago - sadly by the time I thought about buying some, it was too close to our departure. How nice to be greeted by a bouquet!

I just received an email from a friend who is taking a last-minute trip to Paris, I referred her to both Shuttle Inter and Paris Perfect. Thanks again for the glowing reviews.

I am looking forward to your continuing report and your photos. Thanks for taking the time away from the temptations of Paris to post for all of us!

I'm off to my French class...un jour, j'espere que je pourrais parler couramment avec les Parisiens...c'est un reve maintenant...

A bientot,

Debra

Have a fantastic trip!!

Just showered a feel great! These apartments always have great bath/showers. I do love the German bath products. Need to take some home! I always tell people to forget bringing their shampoos, body/bath wash and body lotions. They will like these better!

Flowers..they are pretty orange/red, in color.

In Love with Paris: I have stayed in many areas of Paris, apts. and hotels. For my lengthy stays I prefer the apts. I also like the Paris Perfect apts...what could you not like about them. Their website has all the apartments and pictures. Kir has just had some nice re-decorating, painting, new dining room table/chairs, new pretty cream cover on sofa. They never let the places get shabby! I like the 7th and this part of the 7th..Bourdonnais/St.Dominique/Rapp. It really is so very convenient to so much. Nice walk across the bridge last night to a completely different area. The buses right here are so great to every place. Now that I use the NAvigo, it is just that much better..get on off whenever you please! You don't even have to take it out of your purse. Just pass the purse by the spot. So much for the necessity of having a picture on it!

Les Cocottes is one of the Constant restaurants. I use it a lot for it's convenience for a good lunch stop.

Time to finish dressing and be off in a bit to the local SNCF Boutique.

Oh, the Inter-shuttle people are also picking me up Mon. morning and taking me to the Gare de Lyon train station. I found that they did that, from my driver. That is now taken care of!

a bientot.

Joan

I did get my tickets and then walked over to Florent's for breakfast and a visit. I took some pictures while there. The "board" for today along with his desserts..also talked him into a couple pictures of him!! Here they are:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/100_0176.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/100_0175.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/100_0174.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/100_0173.jpg


Had an email from Elle. She is pleased that we could add her for Table Joel Robuchon tomorrow. I then told her that we were going to Hemingway's at 6:30 to day, so Kate can enjoy a Colin Field 30 euro cocktail! Here they are:


THE COCKTAILS

30 €

Among the numerous cocktails proposed at the Bar Hemingway, Colin P. Field suggests some of his creations:



CIDER RITZ
(Apple juice and champagne) An afternoon or early evening cocktail


KASHENKA
(Polish vodka and strawberries) A dry middle of the evening cocktail

LEMON CHARLIE
(Limoncello di Piave and Smirnoff black vodka)
A pleasant cocktail for the aperitif or for after the meal

PICASSO MARTINI
(Gin at 18.4 C degrees and a cube of Noilly Pratt)

BENDERITTER
(Ginger extract and champagne)
The Benderitter is the precursor of a new genre of cocktails, the “perfect cocktails”.

Kate has already decided on the "Lemon Charlie"..will get some pictures.

It has become a bit grey out..may shower. I think I will head for "Spring" and BHV.

a bientot...................

Joan

Hi Joan,
Great t hear from you. It is only two weeks from today that we set off from Australia for Paris. Don't complain to me about long trips!!! No sympathy from us, we are still going after 24 hours. Glad you arrived safe and sound and are enjoying the Paris Perfect. We used them last time but I am afraid this time we are staying a month and they were out of our budget, our Aussie dollar is not as strong as yours.

Can you tell us a bit more about what you are wearing? ie, are you needing jumpers, scarves, rain coats or are you in long sleeve tops and jeans etc. Curious to know, it will help me with my wardrobe selection. Thanks.

We are hoping to go to Joel Robuchon whilst we are over there, we can book when we arrive - yes? We don't mind what day so I guess there is no need to do anything so far in advance is there?

Keep that report coming, enjoying it all.

Schnauzer

Me again Joan, are you coming to the GTG on the 9th? I know your name is not on the list it would be great if you could come. (as long as there as places available I guess) Are you away on that day?
Schnauzer

thank god you used photobucket instead of flickr!
(flickr is banned in Dubai and I wont have been able to see anything :P)

continue having a great trip and looking forward to reading more!

Hi,

Yes, it is a long way from Aussieland!!

Cool out there today..it is grey but has not reained, yet!

I have a Spring coat..it feels good today along with a scarf. Layered clothing is the name of the game! I have jeans. I buy the dark ones, not the lighter blues. Wear a jacket with them, an added colorful scarf at the neck, and you are fine for most places.

I just returned from Cafe Constant..jeans, jacket, scarf and glad to have my coat! Had a foamy, mushroom type soup with a bit of fish..very tasty..then thin slices of duck and with thin slice potatoes, their good bread and a glass of red wine and a cafe creme. The Constants can easily take care of my needs!

Re: the GTG on the 9th. I did not sign up for it because I had previously committed to something else. As far as I know now, it is still a go. I will be here til the 13th of May.

I am not sure about your advance needs for Table Robuchon. They do not respond to a fax. I was going to call, but then just asked PP to take care of it for me..and they did. I was able to add a 3rd person at this late date, for whatever that is worth. I would be glad to take care of it for you, if you would like. I would only need to tell them your last name, hotel and/or you would need to call upon arrival for confirmation. Actually, I could do it when there tomorrow, if you would like me to.

I will dress better for the Ritz tonight and Sat and Robuchon tomorrow. I will take some pictures for all 3 events.

Guess what..I almost feel like a nap this afternoon!

a bientot...

Joan

This is so much fun. The only thing that would be better is if I was in Paris too! (smile!)

A Cider Ritz sounds yummy. At least the drinks you mentioned had to be mixed. I had a simple glass of champagne and payed about 30E--perhaps it was 25E. That could be right. It was worth it--great experience. The Cider Ritz reminds me of my favorite drink in Paris. It is peach proseco and beer mixed together. I order it at the Au Metro bar in the 14eme.

Thanks for the apartment information Joan.

I am also interested in how warmly you need to dress too because my trip after this September is going to be in the Spring and Paris in that timeframe isn't familiar to me.

Have you ever been to the Galiera--Le Musee de la Mode et du Textile? It is only open when they have a temporary exhibit and that is only about 3 times per year. It is never open when I am there in Sept & early October and I'm changing when I visit so I can actually see it. It is a fashion museum and has actual clothes from famous people in the past. It sounds great.

I hope you enjoy your day in PARIS!

Another thank you for recommending Shuttle-Inter. Worked very well for our family of 5. Enjoy your visit.

Dear Joan,

So glad you are now in Paris, rested and having a great time! How could you not - give Florent a bisou from me next time you see him. Give one to Elle as well......

Can't wait to see a picture of Lemon Charlie. A friend's SO is named Charlie and he is a chef. I told her about the drink at the Ritz and she is excited to see what it looks like. See how excited you make people when they read about what you're doing in gay Paree......

Thanks for posting your activities and the pictures. We are all salivating........moi, especially.

Love and bisou,
Lilia

Hi Joan! Sounds like you are already into the swing of things! Love your pics so far, send Florent my regards. It was nice to see him each morning as we left our hotel - always smiling!!

Did you ever get to BHV? If you get to the handbags dept, check out what Lamarthe has to offer (still caress my purchase from last October & long for my next trip to buy a new one).

Like Kate, I will take the Lemon Charlie. But if I have 3 of them, at 30 euros a pop, will that price include a ride home???


Enjoy!!

-Roberta

joan, someone on my trip report wants to know about the apartment in V-sur-mer that you and a friend of mine rented.
Marianna(annette) couldn't find the site.

Roberta,
What is BHV? Would love to hear about places for good handbags. We are going next month!

Thanks!

across frtom the Hotel de Ville is BHV famous for it's basement for all your household needs, and more like street letters for your door, gardening goods, and on the street floor handbags and neckwear and upperlevels, clothes, household goods. But it's more exciting to buy the bag in the main store as prices are not less.