Faux

Hi Beatchick, I must say I am disappointed. I thought you had been featured on a Paris expat social page! I don't see the woman in the photo as having red hair. It looks dark brown in a shoulder length bob, a bit like the style you had in the photos Terry took for your birthday last year, and I noticed she had red lipstick on that was close to your signature colour.

How nice to be able to go back to Les Degres and for it still to be your absolute favourite hotel in Paris. Return visits can disappoint sometimes. I read in one of your posts that you stayed a night in #501 which has an even better view of Notre Dame than the partial view from #47 where you stayed in 2001 and, through your advice, I stayed last February. Did you know that they are apparently asking 140 Euros a night for #47 now, up from 100 last February?

I love the look of #501 on the website and apart from the two smaller back doubles on the 2nd and 3rd, it was the only room I didn't manage to see, being up a private stair from the 4th. Is it as nice as it looks on the website - chandelier and all? I know it has a sofa bed in it but not sure how many it would sleep. Could you see all of Notre Dame from the window? I am trying to imagine the extra flight of stairs to climb as I found 4 flights more than enough last year.

I also noticed you spent the second night there in #12, one of the two small doubles on the 1st. I guess that, as you were there in winter, it would not have been noisy but it occurred to me that #12 and its neighbour #11 would be very noisy in summer with the outside terrace of the restaurant immediately below the window and open 24/7.

I am glad you took a tour with Michael Osman and I see that on your private tour with him you went to some of the places he took me last February on my scaredy-cat tour of places I didn't want to go on my own - like Belleville & the non Pere la Chaise part of Menilmontant. He is great isn't he, with his absolute knowledge of all areas of Paris, and such a nice person to boot. It was good to see a couple of shots of him from Cigalechanta's photos of her recent trip that are on another thread. I have regretted not taking any photos of him on our tour.

Looking forward to the rest of your trip report and all the other photos. If the ones you have posted so far are an indication of what is to come, I can't wait.

Beatchick

Haha, Faux, I see what you mean now! I thought you meant the person talking to David Sedaris at the front of the line (just off to the side)! Duh, I read front but I didn't read center. No, the lady in the center (a bit further down the line) isn't me either as she's not wearing glasses (had to this trip).

Yes, return visits can disappoint sometimes & I was worried about that. But it was every bit as charming & congenial as I remembered. And room 501 was wonderful. It's actually the whole attic floor above room 48 & is HUGE. Nicole mused that, yes, it was a lot of room for one person. I took plenty of photos, too. However, none of room 12 since I got there at 1:30am that night & got up at 6:30am the next day to get ready, finish packing, eat breakfast & take a taxi to the airport. It's a very nice room but there were some kids singing in the street for about 15 minutes so earplugs would be a good idea. The room itself is very pretty and the bed is comfortable, the bathroom has a roomy tub with plenty of hot water.

Oh, you're the one of the others he took on that tour! Yes, Michael says he rarely gets to go to that area and it was great to have him take me around, cut through side streets, show me the history of the place, the best view from Parc de Belleville & some of the cool graffiti. Isn't he great? I love him. I think I have 2 photos of him & 1 of Scott. Unfortunately, I don't think I took any photos of the Jim Haynes event.

I hope the rest of my photos don't disappoint.

Heavens, sorry for highjacking your thread. Yikes!

As for the price of room 47, yes, it's gone up quite a bit since I first stayed there ($89USD in 2001). Maybe I should quit writing about the place. BTW, my photos are now posted on tripadvisor.com along with yours.

Plus, I approached David from the side of the counter where the photo was taken. You'll see what I mean when you see the photo I took of him.

Faux

Hi Beatchick, what rate did you pay for room #12 at Les Degres? The smaller doubles seem to have several different prices these days with #47 being the same price as the larger doubles on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of your photos and am following your trip report on the other thread.

Beatchick

Faux, #12 is 110€/night.

Keren

My favourite place in the 6th is the tiny square on rue Vavin, quite close to where the 6th changes to the 14th. Rue Brea meets rue Vavin just there, and there's Bonbons, a candy and chocolate shop on number 6 that I've never mustered the courage to visit, and an old book shop showing manuscripts in its display window. Also, there's inreresting architecutre to look at on 26 rue Vavin, that's very nearby. That spot just feels residential and Parisian and I love it.

Beatchick

Keren, those are the kind of details I love - am adding that to an itinerary for future trips. I wonder if the old book shop was Marie Papier at 26 rue Vavin, as I had planned to visit there but never quite got around to getting there. If so, I'm sorry I missed it.

Keren

Hi Mary,
It might be, maybe I just mixed up the two streets and the bookstore is in fact at 26 rue Vavin and Bonbons is at 6 rue Brea - these two streets are parallel. I think in the 4 visits I made to Paris since September 2003, I never missed going there.

Rillifane

My favorite Cafe is the Conti just down the street from my favorite hotel (The St. Andre des Artes). It is not anything special its just the place I'm used to going to and therefore feel at home in.

I'm a little concerned because I saw a video clip of the Conti the other day which suggests that in my multi-year absence its gotten loads more popular and a lot more touristy.

Beatchick

I need to go there next trip then, Keren - thanks!

Christina

I often stay in the Montparnasse area near Vavin, also, and Keren was right that BonsBons is at 6 rue Brea. Marie Papier isn't a used book store, it is a modern, trendy, deluxe papeterie (stationery shop), worth going to if you want that kind of thing. There is at least one other paper shop on Vavin, also. There is a used/antique book shop next to Bonbons to the left named D'Un Livre l'Autre, and that must be the shop with the old manuscript in the window.

lhs624

bookmarking for later.

cigalechanta

I never did get to lunch at Ze Kitchen Galerie, is it still good, anyone?
and the bar at Alcazar ?

amwosu

I love listening to David Sadaris' books on CD while driving. How cool to hear/see him in Paris.

mamc

We liked Ze Kitchen Gallerie very much. It is attractive in a modern sort of way and everything is delicious. As for favorite spots in the 6th, we love the Cafe Bonaparte facing the Iglise St. Germaine des Pres. The coffee is great, the croissants the best and the people watching can't be beat.

docdan

. . and could you share w/ us where ZKG is?

Travelnut

docdan.... "google" - it's great
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/paris/D53112.html

Iregeo

docdan, Ze Kithcen Gallerie is located in the 6th at 4, av des Grands-Augustins. Closest metro: St. Michel.

Woody

<< Fortunately for David he will be on tour while I am in Paris >>

Today's L.A. Times has an ad for David Sedaris performing live on Sunday, April 23 at the Long Beach Terrace Theatre.

Woody

Heavens

OK, I give up. Who the heck is David Sedaris???

cigalechanta

here you go, Heavens,
http://www.barclayagency.com/sedaris.html