Paris- Page 3

[NYadgal]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 11:02pm

Delicious!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 11:30pm

Addy, don't worry, I'm bringing some to NYC next weekend.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:21pm

Update: I'm back!

Well, Paris was indeed quite beautiful, though the weather was not. Cold, overcast and windy with a bit of rain and even hail. Yikes! But we made the best of it. We only had a few days there, but I took all the suggestions to heart including:

Arc de Triomphe
Louvre (we spent almost an hour trying to get out as certain wings and sections were completely closed off and there was no signage alerting anyone the path to the exit would be blocked)
Eiffel Tower (at night)
Notre Dame
La Defense
Musee d'Orsay (love that place, but the roof terrace was closed)
Sacre Couer (at night including dinner at a small cafe in Montmartre ending in what appeared to be a classic Irma LaDouce moment...I couldn't resist taking a photo)
Saint Chappelle
Galeries Lafayette (including roof terrace)
La Concorde
Paris Opera (though it was closed to tours that day)
Monoprix (got some really interesting snacks)
Disneyland (boy, that was a weird experience, but I FINALLY got to ride the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, though I liked Space Mountain: Mission 2 a bit better)

We stayed at the Grand Hotel de Champaigne, which was so cheesy and utterly charming. The location was awesome (near the Chatelet Metro station) and the staff were among the most gracious I've ever come across. The cheesy dollhouse chateau-inspired decor may be a bit over-the-top (if you click on the "ROOMS" link at the top in the webpage you'll see the actual blue-and-white room where we stayed in the photo at the top...hee!), but it somehow simply added to the charm rather than put us off. The free breakfast was divine and I fell in love with the dishes (as in plates, cups, saucers, etc.), which they sell at the hotel (I already got info on how to order my own set, which is totally going to happen).

and...dinner at Restaurant 404! You were so right Addy! What a wonderful and memorable little place. The cocktail was like a mojito on steroids and both the food and atmosphere were charming and delicious. And the mint tea...heavenly! I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Paris. What a great find (and it truly is a find considering its location, which was in what could be decribed as a glorified alleyway).

In London, we saw Lord of the Rings (better than I expected) and Billy Elliott, which had not previously caught my interest (at least, not from the cast recording), but now that I've seen it, I totally get the raves and accolades heaped upon it. It has to be one of Britain's best musicals ever. Seriously. We also toured the National History Museum, shopped at Harrod's (including the most decadent ice cream sundaes I've ever tasted), and our favorite moment...Classical Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall, a typical poular classical Pops concert complete with light show, lasers, the Welsh National Guard, flag-waving (to the tunes of Pomp and Circumstance and Rule Brittania), pyrotechnics and even a balloon drop at the end. The militia in the upper balcony firing muskets and cannons during the 1812 Overture finale was a nice touch. It was great cheesy fun and something everyone should experience at least once.

And to round off our trip (as if that wasn't enough), we spent the weekend staying with friends in Gillingham, Kent. They are an extraordinary couple of guys who have been together over 30 years (now THAT is the sanctity of marriage) whose gracious hospitality, kindness, talent and humanity are beyond description. I've been in touch with them via the internet (Dress Circle message boards) for about 7 years, but we never met in person until they joined us on our Berlin trip last year. They took us to Rochester (home of Charles Dickens) and we took in the local sights including the Rochester Castle and Cathedral, the locale of Dickens' last writing jag (Drood) and even the inspiration for the Miss Haversham's House from Great Expectations. It was sublime!

All in all, a wonderful and typically exhausting trip. Next year, back to Spain and Portugal, but this time, with one of my favorite kooky couples in Chicago, which should only double the fun! YAY!


Le Grande Hotel de Champaigne

Updated On: 3/26/08 at 06:21 PM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:27pm

sounds like a wonderful trip (except that the room is a bit too blue for me), and only gets me more excited for ours next month!

Glad you had fun! I'll have some Tapas for you in Spain!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:30pm

I am still trying to imagine going to a bistro & not seeing frenchies lighting up. I wonder if they still take there dogs to eat with them.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:33pm

I sat next to a dog at a restaurant in Munich.....I had Chili.....the dog wanted it.....he didn't get it

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:34pm

Good for you.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 7:32pm

It sounds like a WONDERFUL trip, Mister Matt! And I am SO thrilled that you liked Restaurant 404! Everyone I've ever sent there has adored it, so I'm just delighted that you loved it, too!

Thanks so much for sharing your 'report' with us! I just had a few moments of imagining that I was there, as well!

Welcome home!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 10:05pm

Glad you had a great time.

[D2]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 7:50am

Welcome home, and I'm glad you had a great time in the city that we all obviously adore.

And I'm going there TONIGHT!!!!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 8:07am

In honor of D2's impending trip to Paris as April arrives, here is a young Ella Fitzgerald in concert in Amsterdam in 1957, singing her famous vocal version of Count Basie's jazz version of Vernon Duke's "April in Paris."

1957 was a glorious year for Ella: Free of her stultifying contract with Decca Records, she was now signed with Norman Granz, who had been presenting her in his Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts since 1948.

Since signing with his highly creative Verve label a year before, she had released this astonishing output:

* The Cole Porter Songbook
* The Rodgers and Hart Songbook
* The Duke Ellington Songbook
* The 2 Ella and Louis Armstrong albums
* The Porgy and Bess with Louis
* A live album called "Ella at the Opera House"
* A concept album of love songs called "Like Someone in Love"

Plus an astonishing schedule of concerts throughout the United States and Europe, each of which featured this rendition of "April in Paris."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXe5_x8Et6c

Have fun humming it down the Champs Elysees.

Updated On: 3/27/08 at 08:07 AM

[D2]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 9:18am

Thanks, PJ! You're the best.