I've enjoyed this whole thread enormously! Thanks to all, it has given me lots of clues for our trip. We arrive in Amsterdam Oct. 16, Brussels Oct. 20, Paris Oct. 24, so hope we see some pretty colors and have nice, fall weather. Whatever, we'll enjoy it.
Have a safe trip home.

lagdm

Galeries Lafayette is very slow in responding. Usually need resdervations quite a bit ahead. Go ahead and send a 2nd request and see what happens.

The Hotel Bristol:
http://www.hotel-bristol.com/default.htm
Go to Bar and something will come up about the Fashion Shows. It will have the info about the one that I just went to. You will have to contact them to find out when the next one will be. They may not even have a date set for one, yet. They are lovely.

a bientot.........

We went to l'Epigramme last night. It is really a very good buy. Nice friendly people..tables not jammed in, but it does fill up!

A funny little earlier in the day perhaps laughable faux pas...I went to Cafe Max for the wonderful salad that Valdo fixes for me. Often, in the past a nice, well dressed young man has been there. He was introduced to me as a produce salesperson..3,000 customers. I remembered seeing the large bags of potatoes outsiede Cafe Max and commented re pommes de terre. So, yesterday he was not there when I arrived. About half way through my lunch he showed up at the bar and I said oh, there's m. pommes de terre. It broke everyone up..Valdo began laughing and kept repeating it..along with what I could not understand but clearly with NC and pommes de terre in it. I asked him if I had insulted him..Valdo just kept laughing. There were many well dressed business men in there. I did here another ask Valdo something with pommes de terre in it and looked at me rather strangely! I did ask friends if I owed the man an apology. I was told, no, but the French had probably thought it an odd thing to say and the poor guy was probably going to be called Mr. potato the rest of his life!! He's young, too!!

Off to Spring for lunch! What pleasures to look forward to!!

The 3 gals will be stopping by late afternoon..I have a cute surprise for them, along with the wine!!

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

Joan

We went to lunch at Spring today. My friend I do believe was thrilled! She is on the wait list for another reservation after I leave.

I will say that I don't care what you like, what is on your diet..you will eat it and you will enjoy it.
Fantastic...we had clams, lamb a baked apple of some sort..everyt bite was so absolutely wonderful...do what ever, but go to Spring!!!

He hopes to be in new place by March, but should be there for me in April/May. I do plan to get a group together to go. I will not be responsible for the group, but something like I get a date and say maybe so many and have a cut-off date that you must call and firm up your own reservation as part of the group...whatever. I think Catherine and Christian Constant may be part of the group! That alone is exciting!

I am partially packed..waiting for the 3 gals!!

a bientot.....Joan

Well the 3 gals did arrive. 3 cute, young, attractive gals!!

We shared the wine, had some great fun talk and they are on their way to confirm their dining reservations at Florimond that I had made for them. Then they are off to dinner and they may go by Cafe Max later...they asked me to join them. I will have to see about that. I do have to finish packing.

It was fun. They took some pictures. We may see them on Fodor's!

abientot....

Joan

Joan,

Thank you for this thread. What a wonderful, fun-filled stay you've had! Thank you for inviting me to join you Fodorites. I will be posting to give some help when needed.

You are right about this group. It has been fun reading all the comments but most of all, you are right along there, entertaining and educating everyone.

Il est toujours de bons plaisir ta connaissance jusqu'a the prochain fois.

bisous,
Lilia

Florent called to wish me farewell and to chat about the 3 gals stopping by.

I then called Cafe Max to see if they had stopped by. Valdo said they were there. I chatted wityh them and then walked down. We had some wine..they had a plate of macaroons..took some pictures with Valdo. One gal's birthday so Valdo put a candle in a macaroon for her. We sat and visited a bit with Valdo and then the gals walked me back to my apt. and they were off to their hotel. They are catching a train to Reims at 9:00...I am catching a plane to ATL at 9:15...........

Has been fun...return in 6 months!!

a bientot...Joan

I've been eagerly following your days in Paris through your wonderful updates. Thank you so much for bringing us along.

I look forward to your trip in the Spring--and am noting things for our next trip.

Have a safe and smooth trip home.

I am home. Non eventful trip..just long and tiresome.

I pretty much just went to bed. Up now due to time difference. I will do this for a number of nights.

I will pick up my mail (a ton of it) early, have breakfast at my usual spot, to let them know that I have returned. I have appointmnet to pick up cats at 10!

Unpacking should come later.

I enjoyed every minute of my month in Paris! I have many new friends, some local and some new ones from this forum!

My apartments couldn't have been better, or in a better location, for me.

Weather was perfect!

I am looking forward to my arrival in Paris on April 15th and departure on May 13, 2009. We can do this again and we can make some plans for those who are there to get together for lunch, dinner, or whatever.

Enjoyed it all...thanks to all of you for joining with me in the fun....

a bientot....Joan

Joan, looks like we'll just miss you by a few days, as we'll be arriving on the 17th. That's a shame, we would have like to meet with you. Thank you for the wealth of insider information you have brought us. I'll be looking forward to next year's installments!
Maggi

Maggi,

I will just have some updated information for you.

I was near the Valadon.

I went into the place on the corner of Valadon and Champ de Mars....I think I would skip it. The boulangerie/patisserie on the corner of Champs de Mars and Bosquet is an excellent one..go there...or go across the stree to Le Bosquet..the one that Tod/Dot asked me to take a look at..

a bientot...Joan

Fantastic! Thanks for the input. I have made notes for our trip next year. Do you have trouble adjusting to being back home? What will you miss the most about France? What did you miss about the States when you were there?

Maggi,

I may have been wishing some friends could have been with me in Paris..and my cats...otherwise I missed nothing!!

Now, I am homesick for Paris!! I wish I was in Paris!!!!

Just had breakfast at my spot and told so many, staff and regular customers about Paris. Picked up mail..can hearly lift it and will now start with it....

a bientot.Joan

Joan,

I don't think I had the chance to thank you for introducing me to the luxury of dining at Le Crillon - so I will do so now - I have been following your travel and I dont know how you remember all the names and addresses of the restaurants, I need to make a small book of your suggestions,

I had such a fun time with all the Fodorites at lunch and look forward to doing that again - unfortunately instead of the 28 days I planned in France and Greece, two days after our luncheon I had to fly home for a health matter. But I too miss Paris and would fly back tomorrow.

I think I wont be able to travel until the health matter is taken care but even though we have beautiful weather now in Florida, I'm missing Paris.

I look forward to our next GTG.

Mahya

Joan, so you have jet lag for several days too. As I told you in my email the other day, this is the first time it has lasted so long for me.

Mahya, sorry to hear you had to cut your trip short because of health problems. The GTG was fun, wasn't it?

Gina

Gina,

Yes, I have several days that I wake up about 3 am in this direction. I try to stay up later so I can sleep later. In the other direction I just hae an easy day, an early dinner with a glass or two of wine and off to bed. I am then all set to go the following day.

I slept til about 5 this am..went to bed early, too. In pretty good shape today. Have most everything taken care of.

Mahaya,

Glad you enjoyed the Crillon, I was there for the brunch in the Les Ambassadeurs restaurant. It was excellent.

I use Zagat's, Michelin and the e-gullet website for up to date restaurant information. I do have a good list with all the info on it. I do update it from time to time.

I will be in Paris mid April - mid May, 2009. I have all my air and lodging taken care of. I will be working on dining as time goes on.

a bientot.......Joan

Hello all! Ready for a quick report?

"Three American Gals" (as Joan refers to us) just arrived home from our short, yet wonderful trip to Paris. I am exhausted but my head is spinning, remembering all the fun.

Joan, meeting you was such a treat! You were so gracious to invite us to your gorgeous ParisPerfect apartment (and the wine was delicious!). It was only a few minutes away from our hotel (Duquesne Eiffel) and it was great meeting Florent & Valdo. We had alot of laughs, didn't we? Now I can say I have some French friends, thanks to you!

For those of you considering an area to stay in, the 7th is perfect. I stayed in the St. Germaine district before (great as well). The 7th is a beautiful area that gets quiet at night, but feels safe. The Hotel Duquesne was a great choice. A quick walk to the Eiffel Tower, Rue Cler, metro & more. We had two rooms on the top floor. Our walk-out balconies faced the Eiffel Tower, to the right was Invalides & in the far distance was Sacre Couer! It was breathtaking. I will try to upload pictures...

We only stayed four nights but we never had a bad meal - Le Florimond was one of our favorites (filet of pork, pumpkin soup, mille feuille). L'escargot Montorgueil was great (36 escargots for appetizer, sweetbreads,chocolate menthe souffle). So was Chez Andre (more yummy escargots & profiteroles to die for). Our lunch picnic sitting by the Eiffel tower was simple yet savory (wine, quiche, jambon/gruyere sandwiches, olives, eclairs...need I say more?).

This is the 2nd time we went to Paris in October and caught the autumn wine festival at Sacre Couer. This is truly an event not to be missed. Dozens of vendors surrounding the area, selling their wines, cheeses, sausages, canard, so much more. Grab all you can eat & drink, sit on the church steps and have a feast. It is such an enjoyable event that we deemed it "our favorite part" of the trip.

A note to Maggi - there is so much to miss when you leave Paris. I didn't miss ANYTHING from the States(except for my husband & children!). It's my 3rd time going to Paris. I keep thinking, it won't be as great this time. The novelty will eventually wear off. But I have been proven wrong...

If anyone wants additional details or have any questions, I will gladly provide info.

As I sip my bordeaux which I just unpacked from my suitcase, I will leave you with Joan's familiar words...

"a bientot"

-Roberta

Thanks for the input, Roberta! Sounds like a crazy, wonderful, whirlwind. Those are the best kind of trips. Can't wait to experience our own, come next May.

Roberta,

This is Mahya whining and wailing ! I would have loved to have been at a wine and food festival in front of the Eiffel Tower...boo hoo hoo - it sounds like so much fun.

Next year. I'll time my trip to catch that. Did you know about it before you went to Paris ?

Gina,

yes , getting together with the Fodorites was fun and informative. Was it Jan who was doing the home exchange ? I would try for that for next year, same time, same place.

We should entice more Fodorites to meet up with us, even those who live in
France. What a good party we could have. :)