Am I missing photos of the GTGs? I don't see any.
WAAAaaaaaaa!

Joan, I guess It'll be Monday before I read your next post and see your pictures; also to know what you lovely people ate.

Mimi, you have to wait till morning. I think Joan needs her beauty sleep now!

framboise, I meant the earlier ones!

gracejoan this is such a nice report. The Normands certainly are grateful to the "yanks". We go in May to a small town in the Sarthe region - near Lemans. Our family will be honored when the town names a street after my husband's uncle who lost his life in a dogfight over the village. How nice is that?

Here are pictures from last night. We had sooo much fun! Kate and Florent came to mya apt. before walking the short distance to Cafe Constant. Florent bought me a nice bouquet of flowers. I needed new ones, as the lovely ones that were here on arrival were finished and gone upon my return from Les Baux. The cleaning people took care of them, for me.

The seating was arranged so language problems work best, as we had bi-linguals, French only, English only etc. It worked out well!

We did close the place. At one point it was thought that all might have to spend the night at my place! That would have been fun, as I am not presently in one of the larger Paris Perfect places!

Florent and Michael headed to their car and off to north Paris. Kate was off to her place off rue du Champ de Mars. Eva, Paul and I went around the corner on Bourdonnais and my apt. is one block away. They continued on to get some walking in after dinner, and were going to walk across the Seine. It was surprisingly warm.

This morning it is somewhat grey, with sun attempting to come out. I just opened large window and it is breezy and feels quite chilly, to me!

I will somewhat let the weather dictate my day. Many thoughts of places to go and things to do. We will see what another day on the streets of Paris brings forth.

a bientot,

Joan

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j..._0001_00-3.jpg Foie gras entree..most popular, of course!! http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j..._0002_00-1.jpg Joan ordered, because she was ordering the foie stuffed quail! http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0004-6.jpg a ordered a very nice looking lamb item http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0006-6.jpg The foie gras stuffed quail http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0007-5.jpg A shrimp item http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0008-2.jpg The popular dessert..chocolat and more choclat..even pitchers of chocolat! http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0009-4.jpg Kate (from Philly), charming Paul and lovely Eva (Parisiens), nice, nice friends, Michael and Florent (Parisiens) and yours truly....

djkbooks,

Most of what I bought were the ceramic hand painted ones. Chances are I will buy more on my next trip after looking around my place to find where I can put them all.

4ddawgs82:

What a nice thing for them to do. I know your family must feel so very pleased.

The remembering in France seems so much stronger than feelings in the US. Perhaps, it is because the fighting was right there, with them, and we did not experience any of the horrors of war, first hand, at home.

Mimi: This was our planned little GTG of friends. Many other pics with various friends within the thread. Next weekend some more dinners, lunches that I am looking forward to with more friends, new and old.Kate and I will be going to l'Obelisque tomorrow..a favorite of mine. They told me that there have been some changes made since I was there in Dec...also name is now just l'Obe...not sure I like that, but will see........

a bientot..

Joan

Joan, it looks like you are having a wonderful time! Have you had a chance to view any other Paris Perfect apartments?

It looks like the shrimp were wrapped in phyllo dough? What a wonderful meal and trip report!

waterdog,

I did not load your email address in my yahoo. Please send it to me at my travel yahoo address [email protected]

Joan

Hi Joan--I am enjoying your report--I'm afraid we shall have to live the food part vicariously, although it sounds like great fun. We leave in 2 weeks for a short visit to Paris but we usually have to be more budget minded on the restaurants. I am wondering if you have seen any particular exhibitions, concerts, programs , etc. this time which you would particularly recommend? We are staying in the Montparnasse area this time instead of the 7th--really a trip down memory lane--at the first hotel where I stayed in Paris at 19 (low more than 40 years ago--alors) when I arrived to go to school there. I am sure it will be fun. We have been back many many times in the interim.

I returned to Cafe Constant this morning after a rather late wake up..must be becuase of the 1:00 bed time last night! I had a croissant and cafe creme.

I then did some wandering the area. Went to a little outlet that I know of..never know what you might find there. I bought a very nice very fine knit, all cotton, v-neck pullover in charcoal grey..tag was 15 euros but she said it was reducted to 10. I went to another little place that I always go to..the one where Lilia and I bought all her inventory of a scarf that we liked. I usually find a wood carved cat of some sort..I did find a cute, small one..5 euros! Did some other shopping here and there..returned to apt for a bit.

I put on new sweater with a t-neck and was off to Les Cocottes for lunch. I have some pictures below. I ordred a cod with carrots etc. cocotte, a glass of gigondas wine and then even ordered a flan with vanilla. Total was 27 euros. You have to like it! You see what I mean when I say the Constants can easily feed me when in Paris.

I visited with Christian and actually had a bit of real conversation with him..for the first time..he always stops and greets me and runs into me every place, so he says. He speaks less English than I speak French, and he has no interest in learning English. I was able to tell him of some of my friends, who he knows well,who will be joining me for lunch at Fables next Sat. along with a friend from Chicago. All with my simple French. I do believe he understood!

tdudette..you are right about the phylo dough. She did enjoy it.

Robyn, I have been so busy..have not caught up with what's going on. I made the trip down to Provence, and just back. Will check on things next week. I think you can pretty well find what's going on online. How fun for you to stay in a place from many years ago! You will be arriving a few days before I leave..on the 13th.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0001-8.jpg My Cocotte

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0002-8.jpg Another view of my cocotte

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_0003-10.jpg My flan dessert

a bientot...

Joan

Manifestations yesterday and today..I don't know about tomorrow. Many marchers now on Bourdonnais..loud music/drums.

A friend said it did upset some buses and metro yesterday. That's why I decided to stay here, in the 7th, and walk to wherever I planned to go. Some rain expected that will most likely help to end the manifestations.

a bientot...

Joan

The manifestations have become a bit of a problem..there seems to be no end to the line of them. More gendarmes..a sort of rolling fenced in area that they are dragging some people to. They have long sticks and hit them and drag women by their hair..something else!! It might develop into a problem come dark..best thing that could happen,would be for some raint, that is expected! Glad I am not out and about....

Joan

It sounds like you are having a great visit to Paris. I wish I were back there. We have already been back for more than a month now. I wish I could stay for a month there! Hope that you don't have too many problems today. Take it easy today. Take care Patti

I am thinking about Spring Restaurant. I wonder if someone answers the phone for the restaurant. Do you know anything about that Joan?

Stay safe. The news here is that Paris is on the verge of a riot. It sounds like the verge has tipped over into reality--of sorts. The press is always looking for a story. I imagine the whole city isn't on the streets. Nevertheless, it sounds like there could be safety issues.

The "new" location for Spring is still under construction. I stopped by to see if I could catch Daniel there. No one was even working! Seems as thought everything is at a standstill!

No, no phone calls.

Re the manifestations. I have never seen so many of them! I can hear them off in a distance. The drums etc. Don't know about this evening. They police do not fool around with anyone out of order. I'm sure they will be out in force this evening. Rain is still in the forecast. It sprinkled a bit, earlier..hope it rains harder this evening.

a bientot...

Joan

Today's demonstration was this:
http://www.manifestation-contre-hadopi.com/

The concerned law concerns penalties for downloading music or film from the internet.

Apparently, most of the law is contrary to European Union directives anyway, so it would be inapplicable

Well I guess this was our "slumming" day!! We arrived athe the Hotel Crillon shortly after noon. I introduced Kate to their boutique and a leisurely walk past their bar and on to the now name changed for l'Obelisque..it is now l'Obe. I was graciously welcomed, recognized etc. We had "my" regular table and looked around for the changes that I had been told had been made. Only new carpet, some gold leaf someething or other at ceiling. All new aprons, of course with l'Obe on them. We were welcomed like old friends. Offerred champagne, Taittinger, of course..Kate had white and I had pink. We were later to find out that they were complimentary..prices on menu were 23 and 28 respectively..euros!!

I will post pictures. Kate had the coddled egg, crayfish.New Zealand spinach entree. I had the white poached asparagus, olive oil, balsamic vinegar. Kate had the browned veal sweetbreads, asparagus with parmesan cheese/olive/farm/bacon. I had the leg of Bresse chicken, morel mushrooms, comte rice. Kate had exotic charlotte variation dessert and I had the bourbon vanilla millefeuille. We skipped the cheese and had recommended white wines selected by our server.

Kate thought everything to be heavenly!! I half talked her into the sweetbreads. Everythng I had was excellent. I can easily say that this was a far better meal than our Table Joel Robuchon lunch, without hesitation!!

Lilia will enjoy this..everyone else perhaps, too! When we were there both times in Dec. an old gentleman was at the same table across the way..Lilia had noticed that being so. We somewhat nodded in recognition. He told the waiter that he hoped that he was being flirted with. Guess what..he was there, same spot today and I mentioned it to our server. He went over and spoke to him and he subsequently raised a toast to us etc.He stopped by our table upon leaving a very French took my hand between his and nice greetings. I told him I would return again before leaving...translation help from server..it was decided in two weeks.I have a reservation there in two weeks and a semi date with this old man...he does not speak English..some German and Spanish...my French is not very good..is it Lilia??

We left the lovely confines of the Crillon after stopping by Les Ambassadeurs to show Kate what it looked like.

We walked a bit on rue Rivoli and I asked Kate if she might like to continue the day of slumming and walk on over to the Ritz and the Bar Vendome for something or other. She thought it was a great idea! I did enjoy the Bar Vendome for lunch the other day. It was just as nice. Kate had a martini called atta boy..it was quite bright pink..I had a Baileys on the rocks..lots of table goodies.

Kate decided following me around was quite different from her norm! She did enjoy.

Tomorrow we will go see dear Valdo for lunch. Elle had suggested Cafe Constant and I had completely forgotten it was Monday and they are closed, of course. She has not met Valdo either, so it will be great for them to go there. Valdo fixes great salads for me.

Another tough day in Paris! By the way..only grey, but warm.

I will post this and then work on the pictures..they will be forthcoming..

a bientot..

Joan

Here are the pictures:

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j.../000_00012.jpg My asparagus

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_00022-1.jpg Kate's coddles egg etc

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_00032-2.jpg My Bresse chicken

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...00_00042-1.jpg Kate's sweetbreads

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0005-6.jpg Kate's dessert

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0006-7.jpg My dessert

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0008-3.jpg The Ritz Bar Vendome-Pink martini and Bailey's

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...000_0009-5.jpg Saw this on way to catch bus! I must go there tomorrow to buy this outfit!!

With that, I will call it a day for pictures!!

a bientot...

Joan

Spectacular reports...I feel as if I'm right there with you. We will be in Paris in the middle of July and will head right to the Ritz. I'm waiting for your report on Cafe Constant as it's on our to go list. Thanks for all the time you spend reporting back to us.