Paris 2012 - Day 8

I was on my own again this morning, so I went to the Père Lachaise cemetery to get shots of some more famous graves. When we went in 2004, we only snapped Jim Morrison's.

Terri, this shot it for you... it only occurred to me later that I should have kissed it on your behalf!

Paris 2012 - Day 7 part 2

While my husband was napping, I went to the Palais de Chaillot to snap MORE pictures of the Eiffel Tower; it never gets old! The picture, is a little 'tilty' I know, but I am blogging with my Ipod and can only post pictures to my blog that I take with my IPod ... not a great set up!

Going out for dinner soon, we're going to explore the places around the Arc de Triomphe - from what we glimpsed on day one when dragging our suitcases to the hotel, the area looked nice.

Tomorrow is our last full day :(

Paris 2012 - Day 7 part 1 / Chartres

I LOOOVE our visit to Chartres!!

Like with the Pantheon, I don't want to get in to too much detail here because I want to save it for another post - but the Cathedral really is worth the detour.

My husband is not in great shape, so we only saw about half of the old town before he needed to rest, but by then I was just so pleased with the Cathedral visit that I didn't feel I was missing out.

We had a great lunch with a full-on view of the Catherdral, I took a picture to post but we are not at the hotel right now so you have to wait a little - we are currently in an Internet Cafe near the train station killing a little time before our train back to Paris...  stay tuned in a few hours.

My husband is planning to go back to the hotel and sleep, but he did say he's willing to go out for supper tonight. I'll keep myself busy exploring the city... I want to go to the Trocadero if the rain stays away!

Paris 2012 - Day 6 part 2

WOW! I really enjoyed my visit to the Pantheon!

I won't tell you anything about now because I want to save it for another post, except I will say that we missed out in 2004 when all we did was snap a picture from afar!!!

I wish my husband was with me because I think he would have liked it too and I'm sure the pictures would have turned out better! LOL

Bofinger opened at 6:30, but I only got there at 6. I therefore decided to skip it because I did not want to waste time and I promised my husband I would be home before dark. So, I am at a brasserie near Notre Dame eating... you guessed it... CHEESE!! (and a little meat)

Paris 2012 - Day 6 part 1 / Rouen

Back from our day-trip to Rouen. It was very nice but there's not much
to keep you occupied more than a few hours. Nice old Cathedral, interesting old clock, half timbered houses and pedestrian streets (apparently the oldest one in France) and of course, the spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

Then lunch - we still have no desire for red meat so we had pizza, I didn't care for it much; I don't like sweet tomato sauce.

I enjoyed just being at a train station and travelling somewhere by train, (see picture) it really makes me feel like I'm on holiday!

It's 4pm, my husband is calling it a day but despite my headache I can't. It's the first rainless day since we got to Paris and I HAVE to take advantage.

I took some Tylenol, and my plan is to go see the Pantheon, then Place des Voges and then maybe a bite to eat at Bofinger - the oldest brasserie in Paris, founded in 1864!

Maybe if I am lucky, my husband might be in the mood for a drink later tonight.

Paris 2012 - Day 5 part 2

Just popped back to the hotel to check on my husband - he's getting better.

As I said in my previous post, I went to Café de Flore for a digestif after all that cheese, and I think I got THE WORST table in the place. Right by the door, so close I could have been a greeter and the waiter kept leaving the credit card machine on my table. I kept my sweater on to shield myself from the cold gusts of wind that swept in evey time the door opened!

But, now I can say I went - another item on the list completed!

Off to the Rodin Museum now, there're a break in the clouds so I think I'll walk.

Paris 2012 - Day 5 part 1

I feel better now that my day is underway, and I am sure my husband is having a good rest :)

I did the Rick Steves' Louvre Tour this morning, it was nice to visit it in a more organised way this time. I enjoyed this tour because it covered the essentials, leaving the rest to you. I did not do much more exploring beyond the tour because later I want to go see the Rodin Museum and I don't want museum-fatigue to set in too soon!

So now, I am taking a load off - relaxing with a glass of wine and a cheese plate at "Les Deux Magots" one of Paris' most popular cafés.

The equally popular "Café de Flore" is right next door, I'll go there after for a digestif!!

Paris 2012 - Day 4 part 2

So how did it go?

We left the hotel for dinner around 7pm

The weather was PERFECT!! The rain has been on and off all week so far - sunny one minute, downpours the next - so it was so nice to have a clear sky for over 30 minutes straight!!!

We took a detour to walk under the Eiffel Tower again; we see it almost everyday from a distance but the weather was soooo nice, I wanted to visit and linger a little longer this time.

Neither one of us wanted meat for dinner; we are red-meated out!!! So we went for Italian instead. Sadly by the time we sat at the table and ordered, my husband lost the second wind he gained by having a nap and had no appetite to eat - he barely touched his spaghetti.

I on the other hand, having barely eaten anything in 24 hours, ate like there was no tomorrow. I had a mushroom pizza and just about licked the plate clean.

My husband practically had to be rolled home he was so tired - poor guy! I told him to turn off the alarm for tomorrow morning (we have it set for 7:30 every day) and we'll have a slow lazy start to the day.

My secondary motivation for this suggestion was to ensure he rests up tomorrow as much as possible because the day after that, we plan a day-trip to Rouen. I already decided I will go to The Louvre tomorrow if I am on my own.

Have a look at the interesting decor they had at the resto tonight, flattened wine bottles hanging from the ceiling:

Paris 2012 - Day 4 part 1

It's 5:30pm, the sun is finally out, and we are back in the room so my husband can take a nap.

Normally, this would have caused an argument with me spitting out lines like: "I did not come all this way (to Europe) to have a nap!! I'll sleep when I am dead!!" and then leaving him at the hotel and wandering off on my own, but I have to admit that I wanted a pit stop too in order to make sure that yesterday's troubles are truly over!!

I behaved today, and was mad about it the entire time!!! ALL DAY I felt like I was missing out, but I had to remind myself that one day of sacrifice is worth it because if not, it might be 4 more days of misery.

I had a banana at the hotel for breakfast around 8. Then, around 10 after visiting Eglise de la Madeleine, we stopped in a cafe - I had some tea and tempted fate with a croissant, (it made me nervous because they're buttery). After that, we went on to visit Sacré Coeur and explore Place du Tertre and I felt fine.

Bolstered by my successful snack, for lunch around 2pm, I had half a mushroom omelet and about 8 fries.

Around 4 we stopped for another drink, I had tea again, but they were out of plain croissants and gave me an almond croissant instead DANGER!! I was hesitant to eat it! They are delicious, but also rich and heavy... I ate about half (see picture) and we decided to go home right after juuuust in case.

I'm fine, I think my troubles are over. Thank God because a day in Paris without wine and cheese is just not right!!!!

My husband is now fast asleep, I'll let him go for another half hour or so... I really don't want him to get sick, but not just because I care about him and his health, I have more selfish motives too!! When he is sick, all he wants to do is sleep, and if he does go out its like I am dragging a rock around with me. A grumpy rock. I don't mind going off exploring on my own, but I do prefer having him (in a good mood) by my side!!!

Paris 2012 - Day 3

My husband and I have been knocked out by a bug. Well actually, based on our symptoms, I think it's something we ate...

This really put a cramp (no pun intended) in our day. After drinks at the Ritz, we had to come home. We thought we'd rest for a while, just go easy and have a sandwich for super and then go see the Eiffel Tower "twinkle show".

That plan fell apart, we went out, crossed the street and my husband had to turn back. I picked up a baguette and some cheese (risky) at the grocery store, and by 8PM we are already in bed.

I HATE being this fragile!!! I hope that a good night's sleep takes care of this. Being sick on vacation SUCKS!!!

We did have a full day before disaster struck around 4PM (which makes me wonder what the culprit could have been) so it's not a complete waste- but I think the gastronomic feast we psyched ourselves up for is now out of the question.

Cross your fingers for tomorrow!!

Paris 2012 - Day 2

Well, its only the end of day 2 yet it feels like day 15!!!

My cold is gone, but I still took some NyQuils for tonight... my husband is currently snoring so loudly beside me; I might need the a little help to fall asleep! I think the people outside can hear him.

We're knocking things off our list quite quickly:

• Les Halles - closed off and boarded up for renos
• Centre Pompidou - neat, but kind of an old story. I am sure when it was built, it had a bigger impact
• Point Zero - Was a big deal to finally see it after searching for it for so long last time!!
• Back to the gardens near the Louvre to get more pictures of the tulips that impressed me last time... they are not as pretty this year
• Napoleon's Tomb - neat, similar set up as Grant's Tomb in New York
• Rue Cler - Rick Steves raves about this place... I don't get it. It's nice, sure, but after all his hype I was expecting to be blown away! So not a big deal
• Plaque honouring the victims of the Vel d'Hiv - if you read the book "Sarah's Key" this might mean something to you. I got goose bumps
• Statue of Liberty - meh
• Fontainebleau - what a long crazy adventure to get there!!! (that's a story for another day) It was a cute little town, and the castle (palace) was very nice but we did not visit the inside. We just strolled around the gardens
• Le Train Bleu - fantastic lunch
• La Coupole - another good meal

A few restos got axed from our list:
• Thoumieux - too fancy, we want something more casual
• Le Bosquet - Another Rick Steve Rave. Didn't look that special to us
• Le Ciel de Paris - Closed for reno

The food is great, but its too much red meat... we need a break. I think I will suggest fish tomorrow!! We skipped diner tonight as a matter of fact, since we were beyond full after lunch today.

The weather is on and off, when it rains it only lasts 10-15 minutes. Tomorrow looks worse, and rain is predicted all week!

Almost 10pm, I should go to bed but I am getting sucked into the election results...

Bye for now!!

Paris 2012 - Day 1

I did not think I had it in me! Day one never ends at 7:30pm!!!

The flight was uneventfull - just the way I like it! But I barely slept, the guy behind me made sure of it!

I thought that with practically no sleep, I would only last until noon, but here it is over 7 hours beyond that and I am still trucking!

What can I say about Paris that you don't already know?? We love it... The Eiffel Tower is just where we left it - everything is great.

The weather is changeable, ergo annoying. Beautiful clear blue skies, then one lonely black cloud comes along to rain over us!

Already ate too much, and now I am getting ready to crash!!!

The hotel seems perfectly fine, the room was not ready for 8 hours (!!) so we spent most of the day ambling around... What a great place!!

I also learned that Rick Steves' all time face place (rue Cler) is really nothing special!! ... We so don't get the hype.

Time to call it a night! Goodnight!