Great, upbeat trip report! Some people are just made for Paris, except we don't understand that until we go there. Glad you had somone to snuggle with, too, that's Paris perfected.

Cafe Mabillon is a great meeting place if you have people staying in various areas of Paris and you are in the St. Germain area. Since it is right at Mabillon metro stop, you can sit and enjoy your aperatif while your wait and watch for the others.

Thanks for a most enjoyable read!

We have only 12 more wake-ups until we leave for Paris. Your trip report has made me even more excited to get there. Thanks for all the time you put in to make it so interesting.

Egbear,
I found a few answers already, but can you tell me what these items are:

boeuf entrecote

croque monsieur

rabbit - I think I will avoid this; what is it called on menus?

What are tripes ?

I loved your post. After reading it I have tamed down our itinerary a bit as yours sounds more relaxing than what I had planned. Thanks!

What a great report. I've put Cafe MAbillion on my list. And we too are great believers in up and out early then a nap before dinner!

Boeuf entrecote rib steak
croque monsiur..think grilled cheese with the cheese outside the bread instead of inside

rabbbit lapin...it's wonderful especially in red wine or a mustard sauce!

tripe..I'm not sure you want to know this ..it's the inner lining of a cow's ( usually cow ) stomach!

For all of you who are leaving in 2 weeks or 12 days or (whimper) tomorrow, I hope the sun shines on your trips, too. One item I forgot to mention is the photo exhibit on the fence around Luxembourg gardens (the south side). They have posted large posters featuring the most powerful news photo for each year. Some you will remember, and some will be new.

Thank you for sharing such wonderful experiences! We are leaving in late April for 3 weeks in Paris and would love to "set a spell" at Cafe Mabillon. Is is on St. Germain and is that the complete name?
Thanks.

Cafe Mabillon is definitely on St. Germain, almost right across the street from the Mabillon metro stop if memory serves. Cross street is Rue de Bici.

Egbear:

What a wonderful report! As I was reading it, fond memories of my last trip to Paris came to mind. Thank you for bringing a bit of sunshine to my day. It's a rainy, cold, and windy day here in the Northeast. :)

For Arriba: maybe of interest to you- as you sit outside the Cafe Mabillon, past the "island" with the Statue of Mabillon, to the opposite side of St. Germain there is an arch-this is the entrance into the old pedestrian, cobblestoned street called the Cour du Commerce where the famous Procope restaurant (and many other eateries) are located. If you continue down the picturesque cour and turn left as you exit onto rue St. Andre des Arts, the markets of rue Bucci are straight ahead. There are affordable jewelry and book stores on St. Andre des Arts, too. If you turn right, instead of left, you will end up at the fountain of place St. Michel and that metro stop.

Have a blast! I'm envious!

Have fun!

FYI: we were in Italy during this same week (March 19th-26th) and had the following story about the yellow flowers (jonquils) told to us by an Italian woman. On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire killed many workers in NYC, many of them immigrant women from Italy and other countries in Europe. At the time, jonquils were in bloom throughout Europe. Over the years, and as a remembrance to those women who perished in the fire, March 25th is celebrated in Europe as a holiday in honor of women. Because jonquils are in bloom at this time, these flowers have become the symbol of women and are offered as gifts during this holiday.

egbear,
I very much enjoyed your trip report :-) We loved Perraudin and plan to eat there again this year. Was the small chocolate shop, off Saint Germain des Prés, Ladurée? I thought it might be, as they're famous for their macarons. If so, that's at 21 rue Bonaparte for anyone wanting to go there.

http://www.laduree.fr/


Best,
Sandy

westiedogs,
You can also take the #63 bus from boulevard Saint Germain to Maubert-Mutualite.

Best,
Sandy

egbear,
I hadn't read your whole trip report when I mentioned Ladurée and the macarons. I enjoyed the report even more when I read the rest of it :-) As someone else said, I felt as if I was walking along with you.

Best,
Sandy

egbear,
Does Hotel des Grands Hommes have an elevator?

Best,
Sandy

sandypaws, yes the Grands Hommes has an elevator. And it's so small that it makes a good excuse for cuddling with your significant other :)

Ahhhh. . . My husband and I walked by Cafe Mabillon less than 48 hours ago. Your trip report was a lovely piece of torture.

When we found the "biggies" filled on Sunday, we opted for Le Bonaparte instead (we spent some time on the terrasse of Cafe Mabillon two winters ago and drank hot chocolate next to the braziers.

You did not miss much at Le Procope, but since this is YOUR trip report, not mine, I'll save that for another thread. . .

But thank you for your eloquent account of your trip.

What a joy your blow by blow report was to read, egbear. I loved every single descriptive word--could envision it all and recall fondly our happy Christmas there as I read what you (and we) had done. My mouth even watered at the mention of Laduree.

DH finished our tax return just recently and within seconds of his telling me the amount we'd get back, these words were tumbling out of my mouth: "Fabulous...Paris 2004 is already paid for!". And he just smiled!! :D :D

Great report. Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us.