In Paris With Stephen and Nancy
Stephen and Nancy decided to make their annual pilgrimage to Paris with me this past weekend. The flight to and from were open and so they packed their rollerboards and boarded the 777. I was working in coach (ugh!!!) but they were sitting in 8D and 8E in both directions. Marian B was their flight attendant so I knew that they'd have a good flight over.
We all met in the lobby of the Hotel Mercure and headed out to the local shops upon arrival. First stop, Laurent's pharmacie. Stephen was hooked, as everyone is. Next, rue Lourmel with the cheese shop, deli, grocery store, fruit store and wine store. Got rained on heavily upon exiting the grocery store so we stopped in Aux Celtiques for some vin chaud and waited for the sun to come out again. It certainly did and so Stephen and Nancy headed off for St.-Germain des Pres for some quality Parisian shopping and ogling; meantime, I withdrew to my hotel room for a hot bubble bath and a good nap.
The three of us met up in my room for some wine and nibbles in the evening. Called the lovely Bea, who joined us, then headed off out for dinner. Had wanted to go to La Giberne for some traditional French cuisine but they denied us entry--it was, after all, almost 10 pm and we didn't have a reservation (a huge no-no in Paris on a Saturday night). Down to avenue de la Motte Piquet instead to Le Pere Claude where I knew we would be able to get in.
Dinner was superb, as it always is at Le Pere Claude. They are always friendly, cute waiters, consistantly good food and real wine glasses. All too often they use those cheap, chunky, small wine glasses in French restaurants. Hate that. Nancy had the poulet roti and the rest of us had the bouillabaisse. Yummo, as Rachel Ray would say. I forgot my wallet so thankfully Stephen covered for me--I'll get that to you tomorrow, Stephen--many thx!!!
A brisk walk balk to the Mercure and soon we were back in my room. Bea called it a night and opted not to join us at that point (still getting over her bronchitis) but the rest of us cranked the iPod speakers and listened to Snow Patrol, drank wine, made turbans out of our scarves and generally had good fun until about 1.30 am. They left, I showered and then awoke to the predictable "delayed" call. Stephen and Nancy went ahead in a cab and I remet with them at CDG. Got in to IAH at 7 pm .... too bad. Great time had by all though.
We all met in the lobby of the Hotel Mercure and headed out to the local shops upon arrival. First stop, Laurent's pharmacie. Stephen was hooked, as everyone is. Next, rue Lourmel with the cheese shop, deli, grocery store, fruit store and wine store. Got rained on heavily upon exiting the grocery store so we stopped in Aux Celtiques for some vin chaud and waited for the sun to come out again. It certainly did and so Stephen and Nancy headed off for St.-Germain des Pres for some quality Parisian shopping and ogling; meantime, I withdrew to my hotel room for a hot bubble bath and a good nap.
The three of us met up in my room for some wine and nibbles in the evening. Called the lovely Bea, who joined us, then headed off out for dinner. Had wanted to go to La Giberne for some traditional French cuisine but they denied us entry--it was, after all, almost 10 pm and we didn't have a reservation (a huge no-no in Paris on a Saturday night). Down to avenue de la Motte Piquet instead to Le Pere Claude where I knew we would be able to get in.
Dinner was superb, as it always is at Le Pere Claude. They are always friendly, cute waiters, consistantly good food and real wine glasses. All too often they use those cheap, chunky, small wine glasses in French restaurants. Hate that. Nancy had the poulet roti and the rest of us had the bouillabaisse. Yummo, as Rachel Ray would say. I forgot my wallet so thankfully Stephen covered for me--I'll get that to you tomorrow, Stephen--many thx!!!
A brisk walk balk to the Mercure and soon we were back in my room. Bea called it a night and opted not to join us at that point (still getting over her bronchitis) but the rest of us cranked the iPod speakers and listened to Snow Patrol, drank wine, made turbans out of our scarves and generally had good fun until about 1.30 am. They left, I showered and then awoke to the predictable "delayed" call. Stephen and Nancy went ahead in a cab and I remet with them at CDG. Got in to IAH at 7 pm .... too bad. Great time had by all though.
posted by Debs at 8:20 PM
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