Paris GTG - October 21
Oct 29th, 2015, 12:24 PM
#41
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Great responses from others are already completed. I did make the comment to those who were at the Bouillon Racine that afternoon/evening that I would make the effort to summarize the gtg upon my return to Canada.
First off, let me say thanks to all who joined us for a delightful time. It truly was a very nice opportunity to meet with others who have similar interests in travel and culture.
The day started off slightly differently for me. This trip I took my iphone, but turned off the cellular data and data roaming features so I would not incur any unexpected fees. Why would I bring my phone then? A former student and my children had introduced me to an app available to my phone that would allow me to message and send photos at no cost – as long as I was using wi-fi. There are lots of free wi-fi spots in Paris. I did not anticipate any voice telephone usage at all.
On Wednesday, (the day of our get-together) my phone rang twice in the morning. It was a number from France, which I assumed was some crazy telemarketer. I ignored both calls. Early in the afternoon it rang again. This time I decided to answer it. It was our restaurant calling asking if we could change our reservation from 5 pm to 6 pm. It appears a group had reserved the entire serving area on the main floor for a private reception. There would be no room for us. I responded by saying that I had no way of connecting with my dinner mates since I had never met them and had no contact information at all. This stumped them. The caller talked with her manager and asked to call me back. Funny. I had never heard of a restaurant cancelling a reservation made four weeks prior, especially on the day it was to occur. In the minutes before she called back I thought we could simply go to another place for drinks until six pm and then return. But not everyone was expected to arrive at 5. What to do? When the restaurant called back they offered to put us upstairs in a wonderful room – all to ourselves. Upon arriving, they mentioned there was no server available to look after us upstairs, but the bartender from the main level would pop up to ensure we were cared for. It all worked out well and the staff really did try to make our evening top notch. The upstairs did eventually fill up with other diners after about 7:00 pm.
Around 5 pm travelchat arrived and we were taken upstairs. We asked that others who arrived who did not belong to the private reception be directed upstairs. In short order Pat_in_Chicago, Traviata and Mr. Traviata and cynthia_booker arrived. Drinks were ordered and the chatter began. All present were in the relaxed holiday mode and started to chat about locations to which they had travelled, cruises they had taken, future travel plans, other gtg’s they had attended and whom they had met in person.
Around 6 pm we were joined by pariswat. The only person present who is gainfully employed (I think the rest of us live a life with more leisure), pariswat joined our sharing time with anecdotes of family trips and fun enjoyed on those trips. Sadly, Traviata and Mr. Traviata had a previously arranged engagement to celebrate their daughter’s birthday. We were sad to see them go. cynthia_booker was feeling under the weather and wisely decided that the medicine we were going to share was not the type of prescription that would make her better. She left as we ordered dinner around 7 pm.
That left the four of us. Well, we had a great time ordering and consuming. Three of us ordered the duck confit on a bed of ginger and red cabbage. Pariswat ordered the steak tartar. I think we all enjoyed our entrees. Desserts were also tasty.
How was the Bouillon Racine? Very nice. I was impressed by the lovely decorations and setting. There is a strong element of history to the restaurant. Our service was very good. Other guests seemed to be having an excellent time too. By the time we left, both the upstairs and main floor serving areas were quite busy.
Around 9:15 we started to wind down and made plans to find our respective ways back to our hotels/accommodations for the night.
Pat_in_Chicago, travelchat and I made plans to do a “Paris Walks” walking tour of the Marais on Saturday morning.
At the end of the evening I believe all who attended were glad they had done so. We are always advised to be cautious about meeting people from the internet – but I don’t think this connection could have worked out any better. Personally, I feel a stronger connection with those at the table. I am glad travelchat started this thread with the suggestion we all meet.
On a final note, travelchat’s sweater became entangled in the metal coil at the back of the chair at the end of the evening. Pat_in_Chicago waited patiently while pariswat and I tried to free it without causing damage to the sweater or chair. Eventually, we asked a server to free it, and he did so. Others in the restaurant were quite entertained.
I welcome others to post with their thoughts and recollections to the evening.
p.s. kerouac never showed – unless he was at one of the other tables.
First off, let me say thanks to all who joined us for a delightful time. It truly was a very nice opportunity to meet with others who have similar interests in travel and culture.
The day started off slightly differently for me. This trip I took my iphone, but turned off the cellular data and data roaming features so I would not incur any unexpected fees. Why would I bring my phone then? A former student and my children had introduced me to an app available to my phone that would allow me to message and send photos at no cost – as long as I was using wi-fi. There are lots of free wi-fi spots in Paris. I did not anticipate any voice telephone usage at all.
On Wednesday, (the day of our get-together) my phone rang twice in the morning. It was a number from France, which I assumed was some crazy telemarketer. I ignored both calls. Early in the afternoon it rang again. This time I decided to answer it. It was our restaurant calling asking if we could change our reservation from 5 pm to 6 pm. It appears a group had reserved the entire serving area on the main floor for a private reception. There would be no room for us. I responded by saying that I had no way of connecting with my dinner mates since I had never met them and had no contact information at all. This stumped them. The caller talked with her manager and asked to call me back. Funny. I had never heard of a restaurant cancelling a reservation made four weeks prior, especially on the day it was to occur. In the minutes before she called back I thought we could simply go to another place for drinks until six pm and then return. But not everyone was expected to arrive at 5. What to do? When the restaurant called back they offered to put us upstairs in a wonderful room – all to ourselves. Upon arriving, they mentioned there was no server available to look after us upstairs, but the bartender from the main level would pop up to ensure we were cared for. It all worked out well and the staff really did try to make our evening top notch. The upstairs did eventually fill up with other diners after about 7:00 pm.
Around 5 pm travelchat arrived and we were taken upstairs. We asked that others who arrived who did not belong to the private reception be directed upstairs. In short order Pat_in_Chicago, Traviata and Mr. Traviata and cynthia_booker arrived. Drinks were ordered and the chatter began. All present were in the relaxed holiday mode and started to chat about locations to which they had travelled, cruises they had taken, future travel plans, other gtg’s they had attended and whom they had met in person.
Around 6 pm we were joined by pariswat. The only person present who is gainfully employed (I think the rest of us live a life with more leisure), pariswat joined our sharing time with anecdotes of family trips and fun enjoyed on those trips. Sadly, Traviata and Mr. Traviata had a previously arranged engagement to celebrate their daughter’s birthday. We were sad to see them go. cynthia_booker was feeling under the weather and wisely decided that the medicine we were going to share was not the type of prescription that would make her better. She left as we ordered dinner around 7 pm.
That left the four of us. Well, we had a great time ordering and consuming. Three of us ordered the duck confit on a bed of ginger and red cabbage. Pariswat ordered the steak tartar. I think we all enjoyed our entrees. Desserts were also tasty.
How was the Bouillon Racine? Very nice. I was impressed by the lovely decorations and setting. There is a strong element of history to the restaurant. Our service was very good. Other guests seemed to be having an excellent time too. By the time we left, both the upstairs and main floor serving areas were quite busy.
Around 9:15 we started to wind down and made plans to find our respective ways back to our hotels/accommodations for the night.
Pat_in_Chicago, travelchat and I made plans to do a “Paris Walks” walking tour of the Marais on Saturday morning.
At the end of the evening I believe all who attended were glad they had done so. We are always advised to be cautious about meeting people from the internet – but I don’t think this connection could have worked out any better. Personally, I feel a stronger connection with those at the table. I am glad travelchat started this thread with the suggestion we all meet.
On a final note, travelchat’s sweater became entangled in the metal coil at the back of the chair at the end of the evening. Pat_in_Chicago waited patiently while pariswat and I tried to free it without causing damage to the sweater or chair. Eventually, we asked a server to free it, and he did so. Others in the restaurant were quite entertained.
I welcome others to post with their thoughts and recollections to the evening.
p.s. kerouac never showed – unless he was at one of the other tables.
Oct 29th, 2015, 06:31 PM
#42
Join Date: Feb 2003
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teacherCanada - thanks for the TR, sounds like fun. I've met a few Fodorites over the years (sometimes serendipitously and sometimes in an organized way) and I have to say it's always been enjoyable.
