Joan,

No, unfortunately, I was not able to secure lodging with PP, but will definatly keep them in mind for next time when I have more lead up time to plan. I will be in another appartement in the 1st arrond. near Les Halles. So thankful to have secured my accomodations! Now I can focus on restaurants, etc. (Your food looks divine!)

I am wondering about the Navigo pass you have mentioned. Is this for the bus lines or Metro? I was planning to get a Carte Orange for the metro but have not heard of the Navigo. Again, thankful for your input!

Kimberly

Wow this is a fun thread. I am reading while I am suppose to be working.

It is all GraceJoans fault.

Kimberly,

The Carte Orange is gone. For non French it is the Navigo Decouverte. You pay 5 euros for the folder, add a picture and they load it monthly..if you arrive 1st of month..or weekly otherwise. When I was here in Dec. I went to the Ecole Militaire Metro, did picture there.16.80 euros for Zones 1/2 per week. Good on metro and bus. The bus is so great. You can bring a pic with you. It is actually smaller than our passport size pics..they just cut it down.

Too bad you couldn't get sosmething with PP..this late, it can be difficult.

Joan

jetsetj,

I get blamed for a lot of things!! Enjoy your reading..the work can wait!

a bientot....

Joan

It isn't called the Carte Orange any more. You must purchase a plastic card now and have money/time added to the card. So for one week (same restrictions as on the previous Carte Orange), you just add the time to your plastic card. The card costs 5E and is reusable. Just keep adding time. It works exactly like the Carte Orange. The only difference is that you first make a one-time purchase of a plastic card (you still need to put your picture on it) and then add time to it.

Glad you enjoyed Au Bon Accueil. We went there several years ago and enjoyed it as well!

-Roberta

Joan or anyone else--
Have you ever eaten at the 7th floor open air terrace of the Raphael Hotel? It has been closed for renovations and just reopened today. It is on the spendy side--70E but the view looks absolutely spectacular and the hotel appears to be gorgeous. The menu appears at: http://miseajour.apicius.com/raphael...spleinciel.asp

Here's the page for the hotel's terrasses et jardins: http://www.raphael-hotel.com/fr/navigation.htm

I was hoping to eat here but not for 70E for lunch. I am dying of curiosity, however. Lunch is only served Monday through Friday so I will attempt to go up and see the view on a Sunday when I am in Paris.

No I am not familiar with the Raphael. It does look nice. Their bar area might be anice place to try.

I was up and off to Cafe Constant for breakfast and did some errands.

I was to meet Inna at Cafe Constant at noon. She had contacted me from TA and we arranged this. She got a little lost and arrived at 12:30. Cute, cute young gal who lives in NYC and ffrom the Ukraine.

We had a nice lunch and she told me how she really has found many friends in Paris and will likely be sad to leave on Sunday. We stopped for her to see what a PP apartment was like and then she headed off towards the ET.

I then had some places that I wanted to go to so waas off again.

I forgot to take pictures of our lunch..but actually we both had the crab salade with pommes de terre, a glass of wine and dessert. She had a nice looking caramel something or other and I had apple pie with ice cream..not the usual looking apple pie...a flat crist with sliced apples lined up..very good.

I did take a couple pictures of "my" pigeon:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/100_0202.jpg

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_0002-12.jpg

Made my reservation for Violon on Tuesday...last day!

a bientot...

Joan

Funny, although you said you forgot to take pics at lunch, I was thinking the pigeon pic was going to be cooked on a plate!! My friend ate pigeon during a trip to Paris. We would later walk around Paris, seeing the pigeons walking/flying and she would tell them "I just ate your brother".

Two questions: How do you know it's the same pigeon each day? and How come he doesn't bring his friends by now?

I know his color markings for ID. He is begging more ofen..also getting fat! I don't know what he tells his friends. They don't seem to follow him. He spends a lot of time on the roof top across the way..keeping any eye on me!

Going to this place for lunch tomorrow:

http://www.au-petit-sud-ouest.fr/con...-sud-ouest.php Not a healthy place with all that cholesterol!

a bientot...

Joan

I just checked out the menu. Couldn't help but think of :
"Duck, Duck, GOOSE!!". I'm surprised the dessert menu doesn't include a goose liver creme brulee or a duck gizzard eclair! Enjoy, I'm sure it will be delicious.

You don't find the l'oie (goose) as much anymore, as you do the canard (duck). We shall see how it is.


Off to Les Cocottes, soon, for dinner!

a bientot...

Joan

Hi Joan...I'm having such a good time reading all your reports as I wait for grandbaby to arrive...looks like I'll be up here in SF for longer than planned as he's taking his time making his debut...but well worth the wait...so please keep the pictures and reports coming.

I've got a question about pigeons...have you ever seen a baby pigeon? When we were last in Paris and watching them in a garden we asked that question...they are always the same size...some a little fatter like yours and some a little thinner but no baby ones. If you ever see a baby, take a picture for me...

Keep enjoying your marvelous trip and have an extra glass of champagne for me...

Cheers from me Joan,
All packed and heading to bed for a good nights sleep. Longhaul is not one of my favourite things in life but through the years I have had to accept the fact that it's part of the package! At least we have wonderful upgrades from all our Airmiles and will be sleeping totally prone after imbibing a couple of glasses of champagne with usually a very good dinner.
Of course that all has to be done before we fly over central Africa and the equater - it gets rather bumpy sometimes with tropical weather even at night - which I hope to sleep through.

So glad you enjoyed Au Bon Accueil - I have just showed my photographer husband your pics of Square Rapp and he immediately said "I want to go back there!" Thanks for the rooftops!Always fab.

As you always say,
A bientot!

I should have taken my camera!! I am so stuffed! I went thinking that I might have dessert. No way!

I had an asparagus soup..in a cocotte pot..a big blob of cream in the center. I then order the chicken fricassee cocotte...how delicious..both dark and white meat...wine and bread. I felt like I waddled home.

No, I have never seen a baby pigeon. They must have nests with them in. Probably up high in the buildings back in places. My pigeon will miss me when I move. Only a block away for him to follow me!

a bientot....

Joan

HI Joan,

I am loving your daily reports and am taking lots of notes for our upcoming trip. Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us all!

I saw on the Spring Blog that Daniel is again taking reservations for Spring 1 in the summer but that the new place is not open yet. If you happen to see or speak to him while you are there, would it be possible to get us reservations for 2 people for anytime between May 15 to 30 (except May 20 or 28, we have prior committments). Can you also please find out if he will be holding cooking classes on either May 16, 23 or 30th, we are in Paris all 3 Saturdays. My e-mail address is [email protected]

Merci beaucoup and keep us happy with more pictures and reports (I have to try Les Cocottes this trip, we ate at Fables last year for my birthday and it was divine!)

Jo

Jo, I am going by the new place again, tomorrow. Will see what I find out. I have tried calling and no luck.

I missed the boat today in not taking my camera for lunch here: http://www.au-petit-sud-ouest.fr/con...-sud-ouest.php

Wonderful..charming, charming place. Unless you don't care for duck, super foie gras and perhaps goat cheese. The menu is the same lunch/dinner. I had an English menu. There was a "huge"salad that I asked about..it meant that it was a main raather than a starter. I ordered it. A wonderful huge green salad with slices of duck, a slab of foie gras and avery large slice of toast with 4 or more slices of hot goat cheese on it. I sometimes find goat cheese too strong for my palate, but not this!!

They also have a shop that sells great foie gras and a deli of desserts.

I think you all know that I like good dining places...This place is way up my list. You can't eat this every day.

I should have taken my camera!!

a bientot...

Joan

ParisJo: Good eye about Spring 1 being open again this summer. Actually, I am excited about eating there since it is Daniel's original location. Then the next time I go I could eat at the new place.

I too am hoping to take a cooking class from Daniel as well as to eat at his restaurant. I think the price is the same for lunch and for dinner so dinner is my first choice.

I am so grateful to you Joan for trying to set this up for me--and the other people who gave you their information. You are very kind to do this. I am sorry that the process is so elusive these days. I do hope it comes together without much more trouble. Thanks again for your time and efforts Joan.

Au petite sud-ouest, the menu looks fabulous, I can't believe you forgot the camera! I can't wait to try this place, thanks. I noticed it is in my pudlo book also.

If you liked duck liver (one of my favs) we always go to Le Hanger in the 3rd, they have the best dish, duck liver and mashed potatoes, it's the bomb, if you are in that hood you should check it out. We eat there every trip and it's always great (their little raviolis are to die for too)

Can't believe it's almost over, thanks for all the cheap thrills.

We all know that Joan loves fine dining! I am here to tell everyone that she is as slim as a rail, too.

We had a great lunch at Fables last Saturday. As promised, Joan did not go to McDonalds for a "Big Breakfast" but she redeemed herself with the Taittinger being iced and ready at her luxe digs, the Paris Perfect Richebourg apartment. I would be more than happy to move in there permanently.

a bientot,

Weekender