Paris - Sunday. September 28, 2014

Sunday September 28, 2014

 

Ok by now you know we had breakfast at the hotel.  This morning we had to say good-by to our tour director, Patrick.  We have extended our stay beyond the normal three days so we are on our own completely at this point.  Patrick did tell us that if we needed anything we could call him and he also introduced Bob to another tour director that would be there for a couple of day and we could go to him if we needed anything.  Patrick helped us arrange our transportation back to the airport on Wednesday and gave us some directions to help us get to the pick-up point for our Loire trip tomorrow.

 

After breakfast it was off to Musse Armee.  We went there because when we were in Paris in 2008 Bob went there by himself because I had a really bad cold and decided an afternoon of sleep and rest would be the best thing for me.  I wanted to go to see Napoleon’s Tomb.  Bob didn’t see the tomb in 2008 as he had only a few hours and many other things he wanted to see.  The French don’t really know if it is really Napoleon in casket or not.  The body was not returned to the French by the British until many years after his death and there is no proof that the body returned was really Napoleon.  After spending some time in the tomb area we visited other parts of the museum.  We saw artifacts and military uniforms from the late 1890s, WWI and WWII.  This was interesting.  After that we went to see armor from the medieval period, 1100 – 1300).  This was Bob’s forte but I did find it interesting.

 

After leaving the museum we walked around looking for a place for lunch.  Unfortunately we couldn’t find anything close.  We took the Metro back to the area of our hotel and stoped at a café on the corner for lunch.

 

Lunch

Le Canon De La Nation

Bob:   Smoked Salmon in sour cream cheese  - WONDERFUL! - , Affligem which is a beer from Belgium

Iris: Smoked Salmon and an iced tea.

 

Then we walked back to our hotel and just hung out until dinner.

 

Dinner

Le Bouillon Racine

Iris:  Cream of Cauliflower Soup, Duck Confit, and Maple Crème Brulee

Bob:  Chilled Avocado/Spinach soup,, Duck Confit and Maple Crème Brulee

 

We had eaten at Le Bouillon Racine when we were in Paris in 2008.  It is the only restaurant we returned to on this trip, besides Chez Ribe, our lunch place on Tuesday. 

 

Back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.

 

Napoleon's Tomb at the Musse Armee

The Rotunda above the tomb

A statue in the area around the bomb

This is one of the double doors that lead into
where Napoleon's Tomb is

Bob in front of some Medieval armor in
Musse Armee

Armor for a knight and his stead

The garden outside Musse Armee

This is the entrance to Napoleon's Tomb

Bob at lunch with his 1st beer since we
have been in Paris

Smoked salmon in sour cream cheese
WONDERFUL

Le Bouillon Racine



A picture of the inside from our table.
When we were here before we sat upstairs.

Duck Confit
It was a great meal

 

 

Paris - Saturday, September 27, 2014

Saturday September 27, 2014

 

We had our usual breakfast at the hotel.

 

Then off to Montmarrte and Sacre- Coeur.  I had a terrible time there with the cobblestone streets and sidewalks so we really didn’t stay long.  We walked from the Metro up to the Vinnacular and rode that up to Sacre- Coeur.  Walked up to Sacre-Coeur and took lots of pictures.  Saw a bride having pictures taken on the street beside Sacre-Coeur.  Then we walked down to the artist  square and on down the street.  Stopped  in a macaroon and biscuit shop.  Bought some for ourselves and some for gifts.  Then walked  back to the Vinnacular  and on down to the Metro. 

 

We took the Metro on a long ride to the south of Paris, the 16^th district so we could have lunch at a Vietnamese Restaurant that Bob had seen on The Cooking Channel  cooking/travel show, Luc Nguyen in France.  Long walk from the Metro to the restaurant

 

 

Lunch

Bistro Indochine

 

Bob:  Canard Basilic

Iris:  Benh xeo – It was a crepe with pork, shrimp and bean sprout and a salad (it was delicious)

Wine: Rouge (rose)

 

Then Bob wanted to go to a flea market that Patrick had told him about.  So we took the long walk  back towards the metro and beyond by several blocks.  Found the street of the flea market but they were closing up.  Every vendor was packing up their wares.  So we walked back to the metro and headed back to the hotel.

 

When we got to the hotel our room keys didn’t work.  Bob had to go down to the front desk twice before we could get into our room. The keys had become unmagnified.  Then we were getting ready for dinner and Bob wanted his camera for something and we couldn’t find it.  He opened our room and there was his jacket, camera and our bag of cookies sitting on the floor right where we left them.  I guess we were lucky that no one had picked them up.

 

Dinner

La Bastide d’Opio

Iris: Entree – Gratin De Tomate A La Mozzerela, Plat – Brochette De Boeuf, Desert – Orange Crem Brulee

Wine: Masion rouge

Bob:  Entree -  Raviole  De royan, Plate – Cocotte de Poissons (fish Stew), Desert – Orange Crème Brulee

Wine: Gasogne Blanc



Sacre-Coeur in Montrarrte

Bob captured a bride outside Sacre-Coeur

Me outside Sacre-Coeur

Artist square in Montmarrte

Am artist in artist square

Sacre-Coeur

The view from Sacre-Coeur

Bistro Indochine - - Wonderful luncy

Metro Station

La Bastitde d-Opio

Bob waiting patiently to be served dinner

Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paris - Friday 9/26/2014

Friday  September 26, 2014

 

Breakfast at the hotel.  This morning we added some scrambled eggs and tasty ham (well at least Bob thought it was tasty)  to the normal things.

 

I’m still very tired this morning. 

 

We went to St. Chappelle on Ile de la Cite.  The stained glass windows are oh la la.  Bob took lots of pictures.  Unfortunately they didn’t do the windows justice.  We were hoping for a bright sunny day and got it but it was actually too sunny for good pictures.  It is beautiful church but it is no longer used as a church.  They hold special events there now and it is a tourist attraction.  Then we walked past Notre Dame and took some more pictures.  We didn’t go in.  The lines were long and we had been inside when we were there in 2008.  As we were waiting to cross the street from the Cathedral a woman stomped on my toes with her heels.  Man it hurt so bad that tears came to my eyes.  She apologized and asked if I was OK, which I was but it still hurt.  Then we walked to Ile St. Louis and walked down the center street.  I did a lot of my Christmas shopping; candy for my five nieces and their husbands and some beautiful earrings for my sisters.  That took a big chunk out of my Christmas shopping for this year.  Then we walked back towards the Metro looking for a place to have some lunch.

 

Lunch

Traiteur Jinor

Bob:  Duck

Iris:  Caramelized Pork

W both had Cantonese rice

Coke for Bob

Coke  Zero for me.

 

Yes we ate at a Chinese place in Paris.  It really was good.

 

Then we went back to the hotel, rested for a little bit and walked down the street to visit an open air market but it was closed for the day.  On our way we stopped at a couple of stores.  I bought a couple of dish towels, one for me and one for each of my sisters.  We stopped at a candy store and bought some candy. Yes more chocolate.  My favorite food group.  Oh I forgot the chocolate was for gifts.  On our way back to the to the hotel we stopped at a café, Le Chat Bossu for some iced tea (very little ice). We sp;ot three bottles.  Touring is thirsty work.  After we finished the iced tea Bob ordered a Mojito while I just sat and watched him drink it.

 

Then back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

 

Dinner

Le Villaret

Bob: e – Ravioli D’Agneau, Plat – John Dory fish with white beans, Desert – Biscuit with caramelized apples 

Wine – Bourgogne Chardonnay Domaine Guillon 2011

After dinner dink – Roederer Brute Rose

Iris: Entree – Salmon Fume, Plat – Rack of Lamb,  Dessert – Biscuit with Chocolate Crème

Wine – Cote de Nuits Villages Domaine Chauvenet Chopin 2010

The (Tea)

St. Chappelle

St. Chappelle - I know it isn't the best picture it was just
too sunny

St. Chappelle

St. Chappelle from the outside

Notre Dame

Looking down the Seine from
the bridge between
Ile de le Cite and Ile St. Louis

Looking down the Seine

Bob at dinner.  He dresses up well

Ice cream was really good here.

 

Paris - Thursday September 25, 2014

Thursday September 25, 2014

 

Breakfast  at   the  hotel.

 

Then of   to Giverny, Claude Monet’s home and gardens.  This is where he painted his Water Lily series.  Oh what a beautiful place.  The flower gardens in front of his house were spectacular.  All decked out in autumn colors.  Then across the road, you actually take an underground passage and steps to get across the road, to his water lily garden and the Japanese Bridge you see in so many of his paintings from his Water Lily period. It was stunning.  Bob took lots of pictures with my camera since he left is camera back at the hotel in our room, he thought.  This was a half day tour and the highlight of  the trip in my opinion.  I love Monet’s paintings and I am in the process of cross stitching a project based on one of his paintings, Bridge in Monet’s Garden.

 

When we got back to our room Bob’s camera was not on the bed where he thought he had left it.  We searched the room and could not find it.  Finally he went down to the front desk because we surmised he may have left it in the breakfast room.  Someone had found it on a table and turned it into the front desk.  Thank goodness since I had not taken many pictures with my camera.  We wouldn’t have had any pictures from the first few days of our trip.

 

When we got back from Giverny we were really tired, especially me.  So Bob went shopping on the street and came back to the room with meat, cheese, and bread for lunch.  Wish he had remembered to pick up some wine.  We had coke which we had in the room.  It tasted so good and we could just sit on the bed and enjoy.

 

We spent the afternoon in our room.  I read and napped.  Bob plotted out our itinerary for the next couple of days.

 

We met our tour group at 6:30 for dinner and a Seine River cruise

 

Dinner

Le Mesturet Restaurant

Starter:  Grilled eggplant with tomato and fresh goat’s cheese

Main Course:  Supreme of free-range Le Gers chicken, stuffed with (real) Spanish chorizo and paella rice

Dessert: Moist chocolate cake, fresh mint sauce.

Wine:  White wine: Saint Mont 2013 Le Hat-Trick – Red Wine: Saumur Champigny Domaine Filliatreau 2013

 

Dinner was nice.  There were two women who sat at our table who were very interesting and  we enjoyed talking to them.

 

Then back on the bus to the Seine River cruise.  It was great.  Paris by night and from the Seine; what more could you ask for?  The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, it was wonderful.  It was a little chilly but not really that bad.

 

The bus driver for this tour was wonderful.  He always had his hand out to help me on and off the bus.

 

It was a lovely evening but at this point I am ready to go home, we are both exhausted.  We have 5 more packed days before we go home.

 

Giverny

The walk to the Claude Monet's house

More of the gardens around the house

Me in the garden directly in front of the house

More flowers.  This was a beautiful time of the year
in the gardens of Giverny

Across the road in the Water Lily Garden

More of the Water Lily Garden

I love Weeping Willow Trees and forced Bob to take this picture

Bob and me

Look up the pond

Me on the bridge
There are 2 of these bridges
one at each end of he pond

Bob and me

Me

Aren't these absolutely beautiful

Le Mesturet Restaurant - Dinner before the
Seine River Cruise

Cruising along the Seine

Alexander III Bridge

The Eiffel Tower

It was a good day