We're HERE! Bonjour, Paris!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Hello!  And whew!  We made it to Paris!  

To recap a bit … We picked up the rental car at Tucson Airport about 11 am on Friday, and had the house cleaned and were ready to leave about 2 pm.  The drive to the DoubleTree hotel in Phoenix wasn’t at all bad, until we were about to hit Phoenix traffic, when a very clever Robert and his GPS buddy, Emmy, got us off the freeway and on to a really slick road to the west of the freeway, leading us right to the hotel.  Yeah!!  We got into our lovely DoubleTree suite – we really do like that hotel, complete with free, warm cookies!  I had thought we would go to the steakhouse that is just down the street, but we got distracted by the DoubleTree’s bar, and before you know it, we were in a nice booth in the pub and never had to leave the hotel.

We started with an order of their home-made chips with sriracha hummus – wow, that was terrific!  Then R had their skirt steak and frites (getting into practice for France) and I had their cobb salad.  R’s selection won, but we were both happy with our choices.  Then back upstairs to our suite.  I went to bed at 8 pm, and I’m not quite sure when R came to bed … but having a wake-up call for 3:30 am, I wanted to get every second I could.  As it was, I was up at 3 pm, and we were out the door and heading to the airport by 4 am.

Dropped the car and checked in with no problems, and TSA-Precheck got us to the front of the security line … and, we didn’t have to take off shoes or coats, and we could leave liquids and computers in our bag … what a great idea!  

Our flight was scheduled for 6 am, so our airplane was ready and waiting for us.  While it was a very full flight, and it seemed that all the seats were filled, it didn’t feel all that crowded or uncomfortable.  Because it’s a bit under 5 hours, we didn’t spring for United’s Premium Economy seating; really didn’t seem to need it.  Arrived a bit early, and made our way into Newark Airport for our change of flight to Paris.

As we were too early for the DoubleTree’s breakfast and hadn’t had anything on the plane (really?  Surprise!), we were really hungry and decided to eat first thing off the plane.  We found the restaurant Saison and experienced, yet again, Newark’s “thing” about ordering food.  Each place has an iPad in front of it, and someone comes around and help you get your food ordered.  Oh, and did I mention that it automatically adds an 18% tip to the bill?  You can change it, if you notice it, but … oh, and then try to get a refill on drinks or water after your order is placed!  R again found skirt steak, with frites (which were excellent) and I (yet again) had the cobb salad … not as good as the DoubleTree’s.

We then went to the United Red Carpet Club, as we had passes to use, and spent the next four hours enjoying the (relative) peace and quiet, along with their cheese/crackers/chocolate-covered-graham-crackers and assorted other noshes.  The time quickly passed, and we were able to make sure that all our electronics were fully charged for the next part of the trip.

We boarded on time for the Newark/Paris flight, but apparently there was some problem with the cargo loading, and we got off about 45 minutes late.  We were still able to arrive about 10 minutes early into a very dark Paris morning!  The flight – normally about 7 hours – was actually 6 hours 1 minute.  We had the first row bulkhead of Premium Economy, and lots of room to spread out.  Even though there was someone between us (R likes windows, and I like aisles) it wasn’t a problem at all.  (On the way home, our plane is only two across, which we prefer.)  Robert got to see Bridge of Spies which he loved (and will add to our collection.)  I watched the Minion Movie [which, not surprisingly, is already in our collection – R] and followed that up with the Fantastic Four … me and my superheros!  So, before we knew it, voila! We were in Paris!

I had wondered if, all things considered, the entry into the country would be somehow made more rigorous (and onerous) but it wasn’t!   All the immigration windows were personed, and we breezed through and up to baggage claim in minutes.  Our luggage came very quickly, and we were able to make our way to the shuttle train for Terminal 2 and the RER into Paris.

Recently renovated Pantheon

A Jet-lagged me w/Eiffel Tour in back!

As it was just getting light (about 9 am!!) and it was Sunday, the train was very empty, so we didn’t feel guilty about taking up four seats with us and our stuff.  Then, off the train at Luxembourg, and UP the hill to Hotel des Grands Hommes, which is DIRECTLY across from the Pantheon! 

Petit Palais

Christmas market

Market on both sides of street; Arc de Triomphe behind

The Grands Hommes had used to be “our” hotel of choice in Paris, and we had stayed there many times, until they took it into their heads to “upgrade.”  The prices became rather ridiculous, and we started going elsewhere.  However, I found a really good rate at about Thanksgiving time, which we took – and it includes breakfast!  So, thought we’d try it again.  (The problem with the upgrade, not only with the much higher rates, was that they did it in “period” – and the rooms are rather small, and with that BIG furniture, we found we couldn’t really both be moving at the same time!  So…we’ll see.

As it was about 9:30 when we arrived at the Grands Hommes, (and a Sunday, when of course people want to sleep in …) a lovely gal checked us in, and stored our luggage as our room wasn’t ready.  So…no shedding of dirty socks just yet … DARN!  

We headed outside and down the street to Comptoir du Pantheon for a “French” breakfast – wonderful croissants and baguette with strawberry jam, orange juice and hot beverage (café for R and chocolat chaud for me). 

View from our window!

Our tiny balcony

 From there, we want back to the Luxembourg RER station to get day passes for today, as well as charge up our Navigo Decouverte cards for the rest of the week that we’ll be here. 

 

Decided we would head towards the Champs Elysees, to see if their Christmas Market was in progress.  Caught first a 27 bus to the Opera Garnier, and there transferred to a bus taking us past the Madeleine and Place de la Concorde, getting off in front of the Grand Palais.  We walked the block or so back to the Champs Elysees, and oh, my!  A market there was – with buses coming from all over this part of Europe and then some!  We strolled for a bit, and then decided enough was enough … my socks definitely needed to come off, and we were really dragging!

R with "clippers"

Me in front of our hotel

So, bussed to the hotel and voila, our room was fortunately ready!  We’re in room 51 on the 5^th floor, with two sets of French doors leading out to a tiny balcony!  Very cute, and the restoration work on the dome of the Pantheon is lovely.  (Not sure how the inside is doing…)  Our room is very, very tiny inside … with HUGE furniture, as expected.  It fits a double bed, a HUGE desk, and two night stands … and that’s about it!  However, the location is great, and the view is amazing, so I’ll stop complaining.

As we began to unpack our bags, we found the lock on one case was gone, probably removed by TSA and not replaced.  The second lock was not one of ours; we use the TSA style lock with a combination (for us) and a key (for TSA), so we have no idea where it came from. 

Opera Garnier

Notre Dame

Since it wasn’t ours, our combination did not work.  I asked at the desk if they had any tools to cut the lock off.  The girl at the desk didn’t have anything and, being a Sunday, there were no maintenance staff around.  Later, though, she called the hotel next door and came up with a full-fledged, heavy duty bolt cutter that made short work of the puny lock on our suitcase.

It was so wonderful to peel off our socks … We both had showers (and tomorrow I’m going to take a bath!) and then tumbled into our very comfortable bed for a nap.  Whew!  Slept about four hours, which was sorely needed, and got up around 5 pm.  We’ve decided that rather than a big dinner tonight, we would go to L’Ecluse, our favorite wine bar overlooking the Seine and Notre Dame, and then go back to the Street Market on the Champs Elysees.

R at L'Ecluse

Me at L'Ecluse

Finally together about 6 and outside.  Very mild evening, which was nice.  We were just a few minutes before 6, and watched until the Tour Eiffel lit up and sparkled right on the hour.  There is an observation area right in front of the Pantheon, with a great view of the tour. Watched for a couple of minutes, then headed down to Saint Michel to L’Ecluse … only to find out that that particular L’Ecluse was closed!!  (There are five in all.)  So … we saw another one earlier, near the Madeleine, which we knew was open, so we headed there.  Bussed to the Opera and walked down some stunning streets, beautifully decorated.

Plenty of room in the “new” L’Ecluse; very nice, and much larger than “ours.”  I had the special buratta with truffles, the French equivalent of bresaola (air-dried beef)  and mache salad with cherry tomatoes. 

My wonderful dinner!

R loved his dinner too!

R had their steak tartar with wonderful boiled new potatoes with butter and chive sauce, and a mache salad with mustard vinaigrette.  R chose the Pomerol wine, and I got a Saint Emilion.  Everything was WONDERFUL!  

Christmas Market

More Christmas Market

Me and Nutella Crepe!

We finished dinner about 9 and walked down the street and around the Place de la Concord to the Champs Elysees and the market at night.  Wow!  What a scene!  I was able to have my first “street” crepe with Nutella – YUM!  Excellent!  We did some looking, and then decided that today had indeed been full. 

La Madeleine at night; very colorful!

Ferris wheel at Place de la Concord 

Headed home on a combination of buses, arriving here about 10 pm.  Now to post and get everything up to date, then hopefully a good night’s sleep!  (After I finish watching Despicable Me 2 in French!)

So, au revoir pour ce soir!  Lots and lots of love!

m

xxx