Paris by the Numbers

by Alison March 7, 2013March 7, 2013

Marsha and Barb in their new boots. We all worked hard to find these!

Marsha and Barb with all our food at Cafe de la Paix. I failed to get a picture of the to-die-for hot chocolate.

Waiting for lunch inside the hotel. The restaurant is called Cafe de la Paix.

The answer is 3. The question: How many people does it take to select Marsha’s correct size in France? She bought this cute jacket. Joan and I have envy.

Joan and Marsha shopping for lunch at Picard.

March 7, 2013

What a fabulous time we have had with Barb and Marsha. I sadly escorted them to the train station to head home today. We did so much and had so many memorable experiences, I thought it best just to make this blog post less wordy and to try to let the photos tell the story. Though I thought I might summarize the highlights in numbers:

1 excellent Bloody Mary x 4 at the Opera House restaurant (we sat in the bar area).
1 scrumptious hot chocolate x 4 at the Cafe de la Paix restaurant. If you go, slip into the hotel and sit in comfy chairs. Still great people watching but in a much nicer setting than the perimeter restaurant.
1 stroll along the Champs-Élysées with some great shopping.
1 trip to Bercy Village.
1 trip to the flea market at Marche St Ouen with 4 purchases.

We ate at Verjus Tuesday night. We had EVERYTHING on this 9 course menu (except the cheese)! Simply fabulous!

One part of the dessert course at Verjus. I can't describe how delicious "cereal milk ice cream" is. Heaven. — One part of the dessert course at Verjus. I can’t describe how delicious “cereal milk ice cream” is. Heaven.

Here we are at Verjus having a grand time!

At the Louvre on the steps leading to the Winged Victory statue.

One of the Napoleon's chandeliers at the Louvre. — One of the Napoleon’s chandeliers at the Louvre.

Napoleon's dining room. — Napoleon’s dining room.

Barb's new D&G pumps. — Barb’s new D&G pumps.

Joan and Barb at Marly restaurant with the Louvre behind them.

Pei's pyramids with Louis' castle. — Pei’s pyramids with Louis’ castle.

Marsha buying her grandkids clothes in Bercy Village.

We were at this store in Bercy Village when this guy started talking to us. He taught us the secret of making that delicious French hot chocolate.

2 great meals at the Marly restaurant with a view of the pyramids at the Louvre.
2 people bunked in Joan’s bedroom. Joan slept on the floor. Marsha had the bed but hardly slept at all. Barb braved the couch.
2 gardens (Luxembourg and Tuilleries).
3 children: Fox, Charlee and Parker. They are Marsha’s grandkids and they now own a part of Paris. We loved shopping for them.
3 hours spent at the Louvre. We needed 300 hours.
4 purses purchased and 4 boots/shoes purchased.
5 days of shopping before Marsha and Barb found themselves boots. Can you believe they bought them at the Montparnasse train station?
6 times we watched this video with French speaking cats (thanks, brother Bob).
9 courses served at the Verjus restaurant. This place is a MUST if you are heading to Paris and want excellent food at reasonable price (by Paris standards, 60Euro fixed price).
14 boxes of crackers Barb stuffed in her suitcase to take home!
39 the size shoes that Barb and I wear in Europe. Marsha bought 39’s too but I think they will be too big for her when her feet aren’t swollen (here’s hoping!)
50 years old today! A hard birthday but not a bad setting.
50 or more chocolate choices at the Grand Épicerie.
100’s of fabric choices at Marché St Pierre.

Joan's flea market painting. — Joan’s flea market painting.

My flea market painting. I promise it will look good reframed.

Marsha bought these cute underwear for Fox and Charlee.

At the Arc de Triomphe with the Eiffel Tower in the background.

This is Joan, Marsha and Barb at the top of the hour at the Eiffel Tower when "oohs and aahs" abound. — This is Joan, Marsha and Barb at the top of the hour at the Eiffel Tower when “oohs and aahs” abound.

Laying of the wreath at Arc de Triomphe.

This is us on a boat getting ready to take a trip down the Seine and hear a narrative about some of the buildings along the way.

Barb buying a purse at Maroquinerie St Honore at 334 rue St Honore in the 1st arrondissement.

Joan and Marsha strolling in the Tuillerie Gardens.

Marsha on a rare break at our apartment.

Me and Barb after we had dinner with her friend, Brittany. We ate at Marly, a cool restaurant with a view of the Louvre.

Barb and Marsha were on a boot buying mission. In Barb lingo "they had to kiss a lot of frogs before they found their prince". These were not the winner. — Barb and Marsha were on a boot buying mission. In Barb lingo “they had to kiss a lot of frogs before they found their prince”. These were not the winner.

Categories: ParisTags: Cafe de la Paix, Louvre, Marly, Verjus

1 Comment

Trish says:

March 7, 2013 at 8:20 pm

Great pictures and comments. It would have been nice to come over. Just no space on the leave board for me to come. Maybe if it happens in the future I will get in on the begining of the trip.

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