http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...e/000_0012.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_0011_00.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_0010_00.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_0009_00.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_0004_01.jpg

I hit wrong button for the previous picture posted. All pics of Riboto..one with chairs is my place..and the red car is my car..brand new..too big, though...

a bientot..

Joan

Looks beautiful and great weather, too.

It is particularly fun for me to see your pictures of the trglodytes because I plan to see when I am in the Loire Valley. Apparently there are trglodyte caves at the Vouvray Winery and also near Saumur. They are amazing!

Looks so beautiful! Wonderful trip a-long!
Ella

Hi Joan,
So glad you are having a wonderful trip. Keep those great pictures coming.

Best,
Jane

I should have some great pictures with out GTG tonight! This is a real treat, getting to dine with the family!!

a bientot..

Joan

Oh Lord Joan you are killing me with this trip. I am so jealous. I'm sitting here eating leftover spinach dip for lunch and you are torturing me with the food and fun. I am so green with envy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Joan,

It's been a great trip so far and you're just getting started...

How fun it is to be in such beautiful and tranquil place, not to mention having wonderful food as a bonus. Nothing but superlatives to describe your adventures. You have made a lot of Fodorites happy with this thread.

bisous,

Lilia

Oh my gosh, thank you for sharing those photos, it is beautiful. On the list for a future visit.

Going now to make myself a kir which hopefully will take away some of the sting of intense jealousy...

Thanks Joan. Luckily I do have a Capitol One card and have notified them of our trip. But I will carry lots of others. I hardly ever use cash anymore at home. I appreciate all the great photos. I take photos of food too, lol. And fois gras is one of my favorite guilty pleasures.

Some pics:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...0_0003_002.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_0002_00.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0003-8.jpg

Lunch today in St. Remy, a picture of some flowers in St. Remy and last night's entree..forgot to take the rest!!

Christine joined me for dinner. A couple from Baumaniere had made dinner reservations, so all could not join. Philippe and Jean-Pierre joined later and we chatted til midnight. A nice evening.

Enjoyed market day in St. Remy..a nice market..great variety of items..also the many, many attractive local shops. Nice restaurant for lunch. Perfecct weather.

Pack today and off early to TGV gare in Avignon. Inter -Shuttle picking me up at Gare de Lyon at 12:45.

a bientot...

Joan

Do you speak French? How well? If so, do you attempt to speak to people in French?

Seeing the food reminds me about how the French have portion-size figured out. I so love have delicious dishes which are moderate-sized portions. It is more fun to eat several small to medium-sized dishes than one large one.

You are going to Gare de Lyon. Any plans to eat at Le Train Bleu? It is so beautiful.

Have a safe TGV ride. It sounds like you are really enjoying yourself! That is great.

I speak only a little French. I know the things that we should properly say and do.

Yes, the food portions are very much to my liking. Huge plates are a turn-off, to me!

The TGV this dirrections does leave and return from Gare de Lyon. I have previously dined at Le Train Bleu. It is pretty.

Going to pack now...

a bientot...

Joan

Thanks so much Joan for bringing us on your holiday with you! I'm enjoying the ride :-)

Dear Joan,

Love the food in Provence! I have to wait another year - my friend on rue Joseph Bara will be celebrating her "grande fete" next year and we're having it in Bagnols (Beaujolais). There is a beautiful Chateau there which is part of the Relais et Chateaux group, we might take a meal there but staying is out of the question. It is "tres cher" for my blood.....

You'll be back in Paris by now and continue your lovely Paris life. Enjoy your cocktail time at the Ritz and give Paul, Eva, Florent and his friend a big bisous from me, please. Cafe Constant will have to close its door while the gang is there!

Bisous,
Lilia

Lilia,

I am leaving in the moring for Paris. Inter shuttle will pick me up....

a bientot...

Joan

Hi Joan,

I am so happy I found your reports! I will be travelling to Paris by myself for the first time May 4-10. Is there any way I can get in touch with you there, for a meal/dinner perhaps?
Thanks,
Inna

I am really enjoying your travelogue and pictures. Thanks for taking the time to post.

Inna,

Will you have your laptop with you? My travel email address is
[email protected]

What area in Paris are you staying in?

Joan

I am bsck in Paris! I was up early for a sumptious breakfast at La Riboto and thought I should allow extra time to go to Avignon TGV. Fond goodbyes and hopes to meet in Paris in Dec. with Christine and Philippe!

Shuttle Inter took me to Gare de Lyon for my departure and also picked me up upon my return. The TGV is wonderful transportation..comfortable and just nice!

I arrived back at my apt. and only set up laptop to see if I would need to start from scratch for connecting..no, it remembered!

I then left and walked down to my friend Florent's place..mentioned with pictures earlier..Flirt The..walked in and asked him what was good for lunch!! What is nice is that because he serves afternoon tea, he is open all afternoon..some things may be sold out on his menu. I had(forgot to take camera for pics) a green been salad that also had some totato slices and a hard boiled egg..sides of oil, vinegar, mustard sauce...it was really great. A glass of white wine, a HUGE dish of strawberries with whipped crean(didn't know it is called chantilly)..all for 29.50! I am stuffed!

We talked about our GTG tomorrow evinging at Cafe Constant and my trip to Les Baux etc.

The Paris weather is beautiful. Must llok at the weekend as Florent said it was supposewd to be quite nasty! It does change quickly.

Must unpack etc..

a bientot from Paris!!

Joan

a couple pictures taken from the TGV today. They were all the way from Provence to Paris..pretty..so bright:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0003-9.jpg

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0001-6.jpg

Joan,

hmmm...back in Paris......... hope your weekend weather will not be as nasty as Florent predicted but the company is good even if the weather does not cooperate.

the fields of mustard flowers are wonderful - just like I remember them when we lived there many moons ago........ one of the joys of spring.

thanks for the continuing pleasure you are throwing our way.

bisous,
Lilia

I do love seeing the French countryside from the TGV--especially all of those little towns on the hill with their one steepled church. So quaint.

Welcome back to Paris. Enjoy! Thanks for the picture and the report.

Meet Kate at La Taverna on Champ de Mars for lunch. Easily could have had more than enough with the Cesar salade, bread and wine..my picture was taken after half eaten..sorry, forgot! The pasta was with artichaux..too much for me.

All set for out evening GTG at Cafe Constant. Stopped by to make sure they had my reservation. Would have liked downstairs, but just can't work!

Also stopped by Fables to re-confirm my May 2nd lunch for the 4 of us...all set.

Stopped and bought a bottle of champagne and a bottle of Brouilly.

I did go to BHV this morning. I spent quite a bit of time picking out my drawer pulls for several places at home. Did not pick up any tassles. Will wait and see whaat I might like to change when I get home..plan then to do whatever in Nov/Dec., when here next.

Beautiful weather today..some changes may be on the way..

a bientot...
Joan

Waterdog,

I forgot to add your email address to my yahoo email address site. I think I gave you my yahoo address. If so, email me so I will have your address, s'il vous plait!!

a bientot...

Joan

Drawer pulls? Something to think about next time I'm at BHV. Are they much different there? It will be nice looking at kitchen drawers/cabinets at home and thinking of Paris...

Tassles? Are you planning on joining the Moulin Rouge while in Paris? lol

Great talking to you!
-Roberta

Good to read that the weather is beautiful - weather website is showing rain, rain and more rain for London and Paris. Definitely packing an umbrella.

The weather is changing over the weekend to some rain..always bring an umbrella..unless you prefer to buy one here!! Spring around the world never seems to be very predictable! You will be in Paris, so you will enjoy whatever the weather is!

Roberta: BHV has a world of drawer pulls. You can think of all places to replace them Start looing around your house. Madelyn has so many in the PP apartments...all prices.

I didn't think the way you must think for the tassels!! The apts. also have tassels hanging here and there..attractive. I have already done some of them at home. I wanted to see the choices here.I didn't buy any, but will look more when I get home and I can always go back to BHV in the fall. The Home dept. is great..other floors, too! I alsmost went down to the basement to see if Sue(grandmere) was there buying her ceramic house numbers. I talked with her later..she went last night!

I have been watching shoes and sunglasses..sunglasses, I would say are still the large ones...footwear, I see everything. I will observe more closely when I am at the Crillon on Sunday..I did not notice at the Ritz. I will be back there, though..Vendome bar is nice. I think you might like it!!

Will take some pics of our group tonight. I think we will have a good time.

a bientot...

Joan

joan, I am really enjoying your on-going report. We'll be in Paris in two weeks! never even thought about drawer pulls but now am going to count how many I might need. Would they also have cabinet pulls and handles? That is what I need the most!

Is Les Baux the place with the slide show of world famous al frescoes shown inside the old rock quarry? If it is, I loved it when I was there in 2001. Beautiful old town, high up on a hill. Lovely!

cat,

Yes, BHV has all the cabinet pulls, handles etc. Several have posted about buying their pulls from there..looking at them reminds them of Paris!! Another friend was there last night to buy the ceramic house numbers. I will see her tonight and will find out if she found what she wanted. The whole home dept. on the 4th floor has many things that you would like to take home with you..only problem is space!!

The tourist site of Les Baux has all that sort of thing. But down below on the Vallee d'enfer is Oustau Bamaniere, Cabro d'or and Riboto de Taven, where I enjoy staying...away from the tourist crowd. You see all the upper Alpilles all around, but not the tourist traffic..quiet and beautiful.

Do what I did and add a touch of Provence to a Paris visit...easy to do and so completely different world..just don't try to do too much, and spoil it.

a bientot...

Joan

Joan, I love Provence and can't wait to go back! Our last trip in October, we were torn between Provence and Normandy. Opted for Normandy as there won't be too much time before there will be no more veterans from that time and hoped to meet some (we did!) Normandy was such an emotional trip that we needed just a simple Paris visit.

Our next trip to France after this one will be at least a week in Provence, probably Avignon.

Thanks for the heads up about BHV, that sounds like I dream. I looked at their website and really liked what I saw. Trying to fix up my house a bit and those things will really help!

cat,

That's what is so fun in staying in these Paris Perfect apartments. Madelyn is very clever, has very good taste and great ideas. So many of the little things, personal touches that are outstanding. The tassle thing..I never would have thought of it. She has them hanging from different knobs.

I went home and shopped and bought some, various sizes and colors. How many compliments I have received about them..and how clever I was..ha!!

Yes, those who were in Normandy 6/6/44 are able to go there less and less now. Those who live in Normandy are forever greatful and do not fail to tell you so. You find much the same in the south of France..Provence. The Germans purposely burned and destroyed villages, and people, as they retreated. I was reminded of this on my recent trip to Les Baux. They do remember and their children are very much aware of it.

a bientot..

Joan

>>Those who live in Normandy are forever greatful and do not fail to tell you so.<<

I have found this to be true throughout France, Paris, too, and not just from those who lived through it but from their children and grandchildren. It is such an honor. My dad was in the Big Red One, and I was just a puddle of tears pretty much the whole trip!

Yes, France does remember..and as you have said, their children and gradchildren have very strong feelings, too.

I remember well, being in the American cemetery. It was very crowded with people, yet absolute silence. A very moving experience. I think everyone says this same thing.

Errr... all of those yellow fields are rape, not mustard. They will become canola oil (colza in French).

Hi Joan,
Hope you are having another wonderful day in France.
Jane

Joan, can't wait for the report on Cafe Constant's GTG ...... too bad they have to put you upstairs. Guess you can't all fit down your favorite spot.

Kerouac, thanks for the correction. I always referred to them as mustard seeds and nobody cared enough to set me straight. I've been misinformed for almost 30 years........ oh my!! At least no one will say, "she always referred to rape as mustard" at my funeral.........

I can't imagine the condition the French would be in if they ate that much mustard!

<<BHV has a world of drawer pulls. You can think of all places to replace them Start looking around your house. >>

For sure...we didn't even drill holes in our new kitchen island in anticipation of visiting BHV. Do counts on all your cabinets and furniture with drawers/doors (don't forget desks), as you never know what you'll find.

Note also the beautiful crystal door knobs and beautiful brass accessories of all sorts! The drawer pulls that are white ceramic or porcelain with painted designs are just exquisite! I like to mix and match - different pulls for the center drawer(s), etc. (especially if your heart leaps over something a bit pricey).

It is 1:00 and I just returned home. We had a wonderful time! What a great bunch. We had aperitif white wine, red and white wine for dinner and a very special kind of peach after dinner drink that many do not know about. We had excellent food, entree, main, dessert and coffee..all for 55 euros each including a tip for excellent service! Can't beat that. Christian came over for a visit and was sitting outside when we left. Nice, nice friends. How nice, with whatever language barriers some of us had. It was all easily worked out. A very fun evening for all.

I will post pictures in the morning. It takes a bit of time.

a bientot...

Joan