We bought some flowers, our wine and champaagne for Thursday.

We then went to La Taverna for lunch:

http://tinyurl.com/yhtwq7z

Betty got her picture for her Navigo and has now gone to Jacquemart Andre and wherever...

I decided to forget getting a phone here..told Roam Simple to ship one to me at home next week.

a bientot...

Joan

Gracejoan3,

I have never heard of Roam Simple, could you tell me a little about your experience with them? My iphone is getting very expensive to use in Europe. Thanks Joan.

cafegoddess

Here is the RoamSimple website:http://www.roamsimple.com/

I prefer their phonefor travel. Some people just buy heir sim card for an unlocked quad phone. I have both their phone and sim. You can buy that $39 and it is great. Just charge it up, ladn in Paris and turn it on and away you go. You have an account with them and the detail is there with each call. You can set up CC etc. I think their website is pretty self explanatory. They have super customer service..which is always good to know!!

a bientot..

Joan

Thanks so much for the Roamsimple website, this sounds like it is exactly what I need!
Poconolady

Poconolady,

They are such nice people to deal with. If you have to email them while away they will respond immediately. A good price, too.

Joan

Joan,

Thanks, I will try Roamsimple on my next trip.

Joan,

Thank you for the information re Christmas Eve dinner. I finally pinned down the family and will make the reservation. Thank you for offering to do so.

The views of the Eiffel Tower from the apartment you are in now are spectacular. Love to know which apartment it is.

Continue to enjoy your trip and have a wonderful gathering of friends tomorrow.

P.S. Yes, I will be looking forward to the February Thread also. :)

liktotravel,

These last views are from the Chateau LaTour apartment.

I hope you get your dining reservation OK. I'm sure you will enjoy. So convenient for you, too.

a bientot...

Joan

I had my usual breakfast almost across the street. I took the #42 bus to Opera and went to Galleries Lafayette and took my 'annual' pictures of the Christmas tree. http://tinyurl.com/yfmkw8w if you click on the button with arrrows in both directions, you get large pics.

I went downstairs to the shoe dept...takes up the entire floor. Looked at boots..well, you have never seen so many boots. Many looked very much like my hunt boots from riding days. All height sizes and shapes. It seems the ones and I would pick up to look at were in the 495 euros price range! I don't need them!

I wandered around. I went to Palais Royal, and what a mess. That lovely area is all blocked off and a disaster. I don't know what they are doing..have to look it up!

I have dining reservations at Le Florimond for the evening.

a bientot..

Joan

Actually the Palais Royal gardens are still accessible, but you have to walk to the far side of the wooden fence under the arcades to gain access.

The day before yesterday, I went back to Galeries Lafayette because I felt I needed a couple of photos of the Christmas tree taken from above. Did you see them? http://tinyurl.com/ydq4vvz (reply #29 on the thread)

Kerouac,
Thank you for the wonderful pictures of Paris during the Holidays. What an exciting time of the year to be there. I was there when I was in college many years ago and will never forget that expierence.

Le Florimond is a great place! Thanks to your recommendation last year, it was one of our favorites. Did Phil ever make it to Paris after all that horrible US weather? I thought today was your lunch at Violon...

-Roberta

Even if the Palais Royal gardens are accessible, I can't imagine they are that attractive with the wooden barricades blocking the view of the arcades surrounding them. I got as far as the sign that said they were open from the other side and decided the experience would not be that enjoyable, especially since my main objective would be to take pictures.

Yes, Kerouac your pictures are great. I just got a couple..will check to see the difference from last year!

Roberta..Phil is hopefully leaving today on the United 942 from Chicago..the storm is actually a bit south of Chicago.
We have out GTG tomorrow night and lunch at Violon on Friday.

What a time of the year to have the Palais Royal messed up...I was surprised. I walked around a bit of it. Must be difficult for the shop owners. Kerouac, what is it that they are doing?

a bientot..

Joan

K

Just re-visited all your Christmas photos to see the new additions. Great and thanks so much.

A totally crappy morning in Chicago. No snow on the ground downtown and it is misting lightly now. Forecast today is for maybe an inch or so of snow, temps dropping and wind gusts of 50 mph. A true paradise...

weekender,

It looks like you just may get out of there!! Much better weather here.

See you tomorrow night, perhaps..Friday for sure!!

Bon Voyage...

Joan

Well, the main thing is the renovation of the 'Buren columns' but clearly they expanded the plan to some additional work at the Palais Royal. Now that the Ministry of Culture has mostly moved to the other building, they can finally make a lot of annoying construction noises.

What are they going to do with the 'Buren columns'?

Joan

I just found this:http://www.parisdeuxieme.com/2009/10...n-columns.html

It say completion 'around 12/09'..I think they will miss that!

Joan