PARIS Birthday Trip

I will be spending a week in Paris to celebrate my 79th birthday during the first week of September and will be staying in the Marais for the first time...

a visit to le Marais on a previous trip...

Have reservations at Les Jardins du Marais hotel for the week. Will use that as my base for exploring that part of the city...

restaurant at the hotel...

Christmas Market in Rouen

Spent a week in France to visit some of the famous Christmas markets. Basically saw two markets and they were so different. The market on the Champs-Elysées in Paris was just too huge to manage in an afternoon. Most of the stands were food or tourist items. The market in Rouen, however, was so good. It was just outside the Cathedral on the town square. There were only twenty to thirty stands but each one was a gem. Everything being sold was made in France. The Vin Chaud [hot mulled wine] was delicious and it warmed your stomach as well as your hands on this chilly day. All the vendors seemed to be in such a good mood that it made it a joy to walk around and feel the spirit of a commercial Christmas and being able to visit the church before, during or after buying some unique gifts.

room with a view...paris...2011

just across the blvd montparnasse
was my new favorite basque restaurant
oyez paxox

Paris in May

Went off to Paris for a week and have a few thoughts, pictures, details and stories to share:

The Air France flight over was uneventful for me but not Dominique Strauss-Kahn. I didn't see him taken off the plane but row 35 doesn't have quite the view of first class. The flight back was even nicer with Sean Penn on board but didn't see him either until baggage claim in JFK. Even row 11 doesn't have a good view of first class. The only solution to that problem is money! 'It doesn't cost any more to travel first class you just can't go as often.'

Had a wonderful week with excellent weather. Walked around the city, took the metro many times and the bus once [a first for me]. The Hotel Villa Luxembourg is on rue du Montparnasse, a section of Paris that I had never visited. It was a great place with numerous restaurants and cafés. My restaurant blog is filled with places to eat in that area.

Aside from restaurants, two highlights of the area are the Montparnasse Cemetery and the weekly market. The cemetery, though no way near as large as Père-Lachaise, is filled with the graves of important people in French history and pop culture.

Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir

The weekly market is held at the Place Fernand Mourlot in the 14eme. This is at the Edgar Quinet Metro stop. There were stalls with fruit, vegetables, clothing, cheese, soap, handicraft, hats, etc.

This was a great experience. Being able to see what everyday people have within their grasp. Fresh produce and the best of merchandise for one's daily life in Paris.







Another market we ran into was the biannual antique and used furniture in the area of Montmartre.

And then there is just walking around...my favorite pastime in Paris. So here is a mix of pictures, some labeled and some not. Enjoy! Go and see this wonderful city on your own.

...and how do I get out of this parking spot...

DaVinci Code stuff.....

Rose Line in Ste. Chapelle

North Point at Palais Royal

The short version of the Louvre Museum tour. 

Staircase in the Pyramid

Inner Courtyard

Mona Lisa

Winged Victory of Samothrace

Venus de Milo