I was in Paris from March 18-28 and now that I finally have a spare moment here, I thought I'd share my photos and a brief report since I get so much info from everyone here! My thanks to you!

My photos are captioned to be a bit of travel journal if you don't want to bother with my long-windedness below!
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2107853527

I flew Air France out of JFK and everything was very smooth, no problems at all. I sat next to a really sweet college kid on the way over. We took the RER into town together on Saturday morning. I spent the night of the 18th at Le Village hostel--based entirely on Beatchicks praise. After chucking my bag into the luggage closet I wandered around Montmartre for the afternoon. I had lunch at a cafe where I spoke with two young men about the CPE demonstrations and also for some reason the complex nature of French verbs. After that I thoroughly explored Montmartre Cemetery and then made my way back to the hostel to get a shower and change for dinner. I loved Le Village! Wish I'd stayed longer actually. I had a triple that I shared with a Japanese college student and an American girl who is married to a Frenchman. We stayed up until almost 1 in the morning talking about everything under the sun! Not exactly what I need after being awake for over 30 hours...but it was really fun! AND our room had the most awesome view of Sacre Couer. Many photos were taken!

On Sunday I moved down to the Hotel Tiquetonne. Great little hotel--I'd definately stay here again, but I'd spring for the WC and shower in the room. I clearly underestimated my comfort level! But I was on a budget and sticking to it let me have a lot of fun later on! I took the RER out to the La Brocante et aux Jambon fair that afternoon. I had lunch at Maison Fournaise--I forget whose suggestion this was, but THANK YOU! I loved it. The fair was wonderful, I only wish I'd had more time there. I bought 6 Quimper knife rests for my mother, some silver serving spoons for myself, two old curtain tiebacks for my apartment where I'm constantly trying to get that French look right...laces, ummm I know I'm forgetting some things. The prices were great and it was such a fun atmosphere too.

One of my favorite things from this day was a little girl at Maison Fournaise who waved good-bye to me and said, "Au Revoir Madame!" We had been chatting about her "dou-dou", a worn bunny that would give the Velveteen Rabbit a run for his money.

Monday was the first day of my week long course at ELFE (www.elfe-paris.com). There was a placement test--tested both written and oral language skills--and a welcome coffee and croissant. I enjoyed my entire week here. The staff is really nice and the teachers were excellent. There were five students in my class and when we told the teacher we were still a little confused on the subjunctive...well, she was determined to get us to understand. Three hours later I was feeling much more confident--I had a huge headache, but verb-wise things were better!

After Monday's class I walked to Galleries Lafayette for some shopping and then back to Tiquetonne for a nap and homework. That evening I went to Shakespeare & Company for Cara Black's reading from her new novel, "Murder in Montmartre". I had some photos for her from New York is Book Country that I'd promised to email, but in classic fashion--hadn't. S&C did not have copies of the new book in stock so I bought an earlier book and got her to autograph it--I wanted that stamp!

Dinner for me was at Au Trapiste, a place I had been to with my husband before. I was a little nervous about eating alone in a more "bar" type place, but that was me being silly I suppose. There was another woman dining alone that evening and no one gave me a second glance. Clearly, I should just calm down!

Thanks ncjenny, I'm happy you enjoyed th chatou jambon/brocante that I had posted and to lunch at Fournaise. I posted earlier today about the Renoir painting of the boating party that lunched on the balcony.
Welcome back.

Thank you Cigale! It really was one of my favorite things I did the entire trip. I just loved it!

I read an amusing article by David Sedaris long ago when a friend too k him there.

jenny! Thanks for the report, and photos! I am glad you liked the Hotel Tiquetonne, I recommend it because my son was very pleased with it. He too said get a room with a toilet

I loved the photos and your commentary and I do hope you get the chateau so you can have that big mirror and maybe even the skylight

Hi

Thanks for the post. Loved your photos and entertaining captions. Firstly your cat looks like mine - black coat and yellow eyes. Secondly did you get your bidet back? Or was this a bizarre souvenir of Paris you took back home? Or was it removed by hotel staff because they were sick of you using it as a washing machine?

See ya

Jenny - looks like you had a great trip. We overlapped somewhat, I was there March 16-22. I'm still working on my photos and trip report. It was interesting to see that you also took photos of signs. I always do that to remember what I saw so often when walking around a city. I join you in your appology to the world for the crap the US expports. I did have to take photos of the Big Mama signs though. It became a joke with us. I don't usually include those photos in the ones I that I post (I need to edit out a lot, let's just say I took a few hundred more than you did, well actually even more than that, so obviously I have to cut down what I can post) but maybe I'll throw in a few this time. I also love the shot of the curtain at BHV. I have several shots of things I see in stores that I want to make. Anyway, great report.

jenny, loved your pics, they certainly brought back lots of memories. I had been to most of the passages but you showed some I had missed.

How did you like the ELFE school? I will be there for one week the end of August. I choose the "executive" home stay which just means I will have my own bathroom

I could and have spent hours in the Paris cemeteries. Montmartre is next on my list and from your photos I know I will not be disappointed. Don't you find it fascinating what people choose as their memorials.

Isn't Paris one of the best cities to satiate yourself in the arts? You certainly made good use of your time. Hope you have more to write about your trip. Deborah

Jenny - you are too cute! Loved the photo tour. I think you have a great sense of humor that comes across in your picture captions.

Do you remember where the Le Chat Noir store was? Did it actually have black cat themed products inside? I have two of the little black hairballs at home with me and would love to pick up some cute souvies next week.

I have plans for both Pere La Chaise and Montparnasse cemeteries - now I might need to include Montmartre too. I can imagine MY picture album on return will make me look like a ghoul!

Great pictures nycjenny! Thank you for sharing.

Do you remember where the A'la mere de famille old fashioned candy store was?

I love that you took pictures of the many stores that you visited ... i found a few that I definitely want to go to in August.

Hi Katzen - I already had that one on my "list"

"A la Mère de Famille"
35 rue du Faubourg Montmartre
Metro "Grands Boulevards" ou "Le Peletier" open to 07:30 pm

I loved your pictures and captions, felt like a fun tour of Paris. Like your new Parisian haircut too.

And when I was in Paris a few years ago over April 1, I learned about all the fish in the chocolate shops. April Fool's Day is known as poisson d'Avril (April fish), and they sell chocolate fish the way we have chocolate bunnies. Apparently people go around slapping fish stickers on each other's backs as a joke. I had to come home and order a couple of French chocolate molds in the shape of fish from eBay to commemorate the occasion. Yeah, well, I have a thing for fish.

Great pictures and commentary, thanks for posting Jenny.

Hi Jenny! Thanks for sharing your photos! Your trip sounded fun. You went to some interesting off the beaten path places. Some of the things you saw will look nice in my chateau some day also!

Just did some research on the Brocante ae aux Jambons, and it looks like something I'd love. Anyone know if the dates for next March are in place? Also, I know that I've read about this before in one of my many books about American/Englishperson in France who makes a new life there. But can't remember which one and it's making me CRAZY!! Can anyone help?

I'm enjoying your report and loved the pictures. I have a picture of my cat curled up asleep in a partially packed suitcase as well. I have some quilting fabric that I bought at Le Rouvray...

jenny...great pix. The cemetary at Momartre is my favorite. I also love passage Vivienne. Last year in November there was a great party there for the Beaujolias Noveau release. They had a band and food and the wine was flowing! And your haircut is lovely. I would never be that brave!!

I enjoyed your photos and commentary, Jenny. I am always happy to see that people are still capable of quirky wanderings in the city that I decided to call home at age 17.... but I didn't actually manage to move here until I was 20!

Oh, I also wanted to mention that if you thought that the Promenade Plantée looked good in March, you should see it when the flowers are all in bloom!