LCI and GJ3,

Sorry but I meant to ask which you liked better -the Cafe Constant or Les Cocottes? Also, what are the PP apartments?

Thanks.

Goldie

Goldiept
PP is Paris Perfect apartments

Cafe Constant and Les Cocottoes are quite different. Cafe Constant is a typical bistro with all its charm. Les Cocottes is quite modern with long counter and stools. Other high tables and stools.Food is great in both. I always know I can get a table if I decide to go spur of the moment..as long as it is early! Violon d'Ingres is Christian's premier restaurant and is a great bargain. Fables de la Fontaine now belongs to one of his 'trained' chefs and has excellent seafood.

Here is the website for brocante dates. you can check ahead for your travel dates as they come up:
http://www.spam.fr It has all the information

Enjoy....
Joan

Goldiept...

Joan has answered your questions perfectly, so I have nothing to add...except, IMHO....you will not go wrong dining at either Cafe Constant or Les Cocottes. We loved both restaurants, and as Joan pointed out, each one had it's own atmosphere, but the food was great at both!

I could only add one thing..Florent, Michael and I went to dinner together one eveing to Les Cocottes. When we dine together, it is a long evening! We all noticed that the stools became a bit uncomfortable by the time we left....

Joan

Joan...

I will agree, the stools do not encourage lingering since their comfort level is not high...however I will forego a bit of comfort for the fantastic food there! ;-)

Lovely trip report and I enjoyed all the details.

ttt for later

What a great report.....loved all the foodie details. I go to Paris for a month Sept 10, have just read Fodor's Paris 2010, and don't know about Fodorite get-togethers. Qu'est-ce-que c'est???
Merci

KYJudy...

Sometimes Fodorites will post about going to a destination and ask if any other Fodorites will be there during the same time and if any of them are interested in a get together. It just happened that I came across one such post prior to my trip and was able to connect with a great group of fellow Fodorites for "adult beverages" and travel talk!

There is a section of the Lounge were people post about get togethers (GTG) and alot of times they will also post on the destination board (Europe, US, Asia, etc) about GTG in certain places. If you do a search you'll find a lot of GTG that are "in the works".

Thanks to both of you, LCI and Joan,

Didn't know about those get togethers either. Am traveling alone for the first time in my life, I'm 59, and will check out the possible gatherings. Sounds like fun.

Goldie

Goldie,
I travel alone all the time. It does have a lot of advantages! Too bad we will miss each other. I arrive November 1, for a month.
Enjoy your planning, half the fun!

a bientot..

Joan

Joan,

Yes, that would have been nice. I will be there from October 19 - 26. My list has waaaaay more shops on it than I would like. It is kind of out of control. I wanted to stroll, poke in here and there, see a couple of museums, bike... like that. Since I love flea markets, resale shops and since New York has become depleted of many of these, I long to prowl these places but fear my list will have me running all the time. I have to trim it.

Have had too much time to plan and have this elaborate map of all the places I want to go highlighted in different colors for museums, restaurants, flea markets, resale shops...get the picture? It is over the top but I am having a ball doing it at the same time. Needless to say, the more I read, the longer the list gets.

I was nervous about being lonely but with phone cards and internet cafes, I figure it will be OK. I might not even have the time to think about that.

Is the St. Martin Canal worth a stop and the elevated park?
I want to get out to Giverny and Chartres too. Ah well...all in 7 days. It will be a blast and I cannot wait. Maybe I will say the hell with work and stay more time! That seems like a reasonable solution. We'll see.

Thanks for your input. It seems that those flea markets you spoke of way up on this message list happen only occasionally. Couldn't find any when I am there but you know I will keep checking that one out!

Goldie,
This brocante site www.spam.fr is the one to check.Strange name with the spam. They list the brocantes for about one month ahead. I just looked at it and it is up to 9/25 right now.You will find some. If you saw the porcelain knobs that I posted last spring..it is still around..you may want to count places you have for them. I think you will find them at the brocantes. They are lovely!

Do take time to 'stop and smell the flowers'! There will be another trip..or just stay longer!!
It is fund to keep returning. Don't wear yourself out..you will never get to them all...I never do..I have plans, but they can also have a way of changing, too. Paris will be there for many more trips!!

a bientot..

Joan

Joan,

Thanks for the link. Will check it out and again as it gets closer to departure time. This is my 4th trip there and will work hard not to make it a job to get to all the places - I know I won't make it even before I go but great to know they are there.
Maybe next year with my daughter and do some the cooking and photo classes LCI wrote about.
Wonderful report full of great ideas.
Thanks.

Goldie