Sunday, August 1, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Welcome Home
We arrived at CMH International Airport Sunday evening at about 6PM. It was a long, grueling trip from Paris to Cincinnati, then Cinci to home. The flight left CDG (Charles de Galle) airport at 11AM. As we processed through the many layers of security, I found myself wondering if anyone was trying to bring explosive devices on-board. I figured that there wouldn't be much I could do about it, but was obviously hoping for a safe return to the U.S.
Luckily (???), both flights were reasonably smooth. Processing through immigration, then customs in Cincinnati was pretty painless. The plane from Cinci to Columbus was tiny. I'm glad we are now on solid ground.
Mark's dad picked us up at the airport after we retrieved our luggage. The kids and Toby were equally glad to see us.
Early Monday morning, at 4:30AM precisely, Mark told me he was going to arise and get to work, as he was tossing and turning. I decided to drag myself out of bed and make my way back to boot camp to see my lady friends and get a good workout. I'm glad I did - it helped me get myself back into our routine.
As I reflect on our lovely trip to Paris, I have decided to post the Top Ten Memories from this trip, and the Top Five Things to Know before you visit Paris.
Top Ten Memories:
- Visiting the Musee D'Orsay on a rainy Saturday afternoon
- The divine beet/mache and lentil/arugula salads at Les Editeurs
- Taking a photograph from the top of Montmartre, revisiting the site on which I based my painting
- Lunch with Peggy and Victoria at Cafe du Flore - a ladies lunch
- Fancy breakfast set up at the Hotel Louis II - china coffee cups and saucers, lovely table cloths
- Dinner with Mark and his clients from all over Europe - talking with french Emilie was a riot
- Running and exercising in Luxemburg Gardens with Mark
- Dinner with Mark at Les Ferendaise - the mashed parsnip, egg and beet emulsion dish was incredible
- Casual eveing 'in' with Mark in the hotel lobby - wine, cheese, bread, skype with family
- Having a day with Peggy - no children or spouses - how often does that happen???
Top Five Things to Know Before You Go
- Parisiennes love their dogs. They don't love to clean up after them. Watch where you walk.
- Speaking of walking, be prepared for a lot of it. It's the best way to see this LOVELY city.
- Try to speak the language. They are much more willing to help you when you put forth the effort.
- Take an eye mask and neck pillow for the long flights. They really help! (A little melatonin or Advil PM would help, too...:))
- Paris is beautiful and inefficient. The first time I went to Paris, I was astounded at how inefficient everything is. I was frustrated and wanted to reorganize everything to save time for everyone. I missed the point of Paris - to slow down, view the lovely details, and immerse oneself in this timeless place.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Paris Saturday
Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end. Today is the last day of this fantasy trip.
We started the day well, with more exercise in the Jardin Luxembourg. 100 each of squats, lunges, dips and push ups, then a 2 mile run. We followed up that feat with a leisurely breakfast in the hotel lobby. What a treat.
It was a grey day, and the forecast called for rain. We didn't let that stop us.
Our first destination was the area near St. Paul on Rue Rivoli. Mark wanted to stop by a store where he bought some work clothes. We took the metro to a stop we thought was close, but were mistaken. What we thought would be a brief walk in the rain turned into a 15-plus block trek. We were soaked through by the time we got to the store. Following a brief visit there, we made our way to the closest metro stop and took it to the Musee D'Orsay.
We decided to eat a quick lunch before touring the museum. Our lunch was terrific, in a restaurant called Place des Empire (sp?). I had a salad and Mark took part in a beef special they offered. Both hit the spot.
We moved on to Musee D'Orsay, only to find a sizable queue - everyone waiting to enter the museum on this cold, rainy day. It took 30 minutes for us to finally get our chance to enter the museum. I know that does not seem like a lengthy wait, but in the cold rain (we did not have an umbrella), it was miserable.
We enjoyed the museum, as it was Mark's first visit. My particular favorites are Van Gogh, Sisily (sp?), and Degas. These three are represented well here.
After a couple of hours in the museum we headed back to our hotel. Unfortunately, the cold rain persisted and we were especially glad to step in to the warmth of the cozy Hotel Louis II. The staff here is quite hospitable, making sure we have our every need fulfilled. We enjoyed them so much in fact that Mark ran out today to purchase a gift of chocolate, and presented it to them, much to their shock and delight.
For dinner, we chose a lovely restaurant serving country food. Mark has visited this place several times in the past couple of months. The highlight of my meal was my starter - a small dish of mashed parsnips, topped with a soft-boiled egg and beet-root emulsion. It was a WOW! For all the Julie and Julia fans, you will be glad to know that I ordered the Beouf Bourganion (sp?) tonight. Of course, I could not eat much of it, but it was spectacular! I just had to try this french classic during my time here in France.
It is time to say goodnight. We have to arise at 6AM to get to the airport. We will be back in Columbus at 5:30PM Sunday evening.
What a wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing it with us!
click on the photo below for more photos from our trip:
We started the day well, with more exercise in the Jardin Luxembourg. 100 each of squats, lunges, dips and push ups, then a 2 mile run. We followed up that feat with a leisurely breakfast in the hotel lobby. What a treat.
It was a grey day, and the forecast called for rain. We didn't let that stop us.
Our first destination was the area near St. Paul on Rue Rivoli. Mark wanted to stop by a store where he bought some work clothes. We took the metro to a stop we thought was close, but were mistaken. What we thought would be a brief walk in the rain turned into a 15-plus block trek. We were soaked through by the time we got to the store. Following a brief visit there, we made our way to the closest metro stop and took it to the Musee D'Orsay.
We decided to eat a quick lunch before touring the museum. Our lunch was terrific, in a restaurant called Place des Empire (sp?). I had a salad and Mark took part in a beef special they offered. Both hit the spot.
We moved on to Musee D'Orsay, only to find a sizable queue - everyone waiting to enter the museum on this cold, rainy day. It took 30 minutes for us to finally get our chance to enter the museum. I know that does not seem like a lengthy wait, but in the cold rain (we did not have an umbrella), it was miserable.
We enjoyed the museum, as it was Mark's first visit. My particular favorites are Van Gogh, Sisily (sp?), and Degas. These three are represented well here.
After a couple of hours in the museum we headed back to our hotel. Unfortunately, the cold rain persisted and we were especially glad to step in to the warmth of the cozy Hotel Louis II. The staff here is quite hospitable, making sure we have our every need fulfilled. We enjoyed them so much in fact that Mark ran out today to purchase a gift of chocolate, and presented it to them, much to their shock and delight.
For dinner, we chose a lovely restaurant serving country food. Mark has visited this place several times in the past couple of months. The highlight of my meal was my starter - a small dish of mashed parsnips, topped with a soft-boiled egg and beet-root emulsion. It was a WOW! For all the Julie and Julia fans, you will be glad to know that I ordered the Beouf Bourganion (sp?) tonight. Of course, I could not eat much of it, but it was spectacular! I just had to try this french classic during my time here in France.
It is time to say goodnight. We have to arise at 6AM to get to the airport. We will be back in Columbus at 5:30PM Sunday evening.
What a wonderful trip. Thanks for sharing it with us!
click on the photo below for more photos from our trip:
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| paris saturday bb |
Friday, January 15, 2010
Paris Friday
Time is starting to wind down here on our little Paris excursion. To make the most of it, Mark and I got up a bit earlier this morning. We ran around Luxembourg Gardens for some exercise and returned to the hotel for some breakfast. This hotel is wonderful. Each morning, the included breakfast offers yogurt, eggs, toast, cheese, fruit, cereal and pastries. The attendant offers us coffee - mark orders "noir," black, and I get mine with Lait (milk).
We headed out, seeking the marche du puces (flea market), a 15-minute metro ride away. Unfortunately, the fleas were 'ferme,' or closed today. So we wandered around some of the antiques booths that were open or at least shifting their inventory this morning. We found some incredible wrought iron light fixtures, but they won't fit in our suitcases. :)
From there, we took a short train ride to reach Sacre Couer, a wonderful church that sits high above Paris. It's great to stop there and look at the panoramas. We walked down the hill toward Monmartre, an area that holds many fabric shops. I am on a quest to find some fabric for Marlene, so I wanted to see what Montmartre has to offer today! We dropped in to several stores, but I did not see anything I thought she would want. These stores are very large, and yet I didn't see anything so special I thought Marlene would appreciate it. I think Marlene needs to take a return trip for her own fabric shopping! ( : D )
We ate lunch in an atypical restaurant, an unexpected pleasure given the preponderance of brasseries in Paris. This restaurant specialized in food from the country - comfort food. It has been chilly here, so we appreciated the chance to sit for a while, enjoying the warm comfort food. I started with vegetable soup. It was a puree'd soup, rather than a typical Amercian version with large chunks of vegetables still visible. It was fantastic. Mark ordered a "hot pot" full of beef and vegetable stew. WOW!
Following our lunch, we had to walk some more since the restaurant would not allow me to take a nap!
We walked all the way to Gallerie Lafayette (an incredible department store) and Opera Garnier. Gallerie Lafayette has an open atrium at its center, capped by an incredible stained glass dome. Another WOW. After buying a substitute present for Marlene in Gallerie Lafayette, we made our way over to Opera Garnier in hopes of seeing the stunning interior. (I was lucky enough to take a tour a couple of years ago. Mark has not seen it.) We were told the building was not open for visitors at the time. Ferme again! Oh well.
We decided to continue our walk all the way to Notre Dame. The sun was setting as we passed the Louvre and crossed a bridge over the Seine to the famous old church. It doesn't matter how many times you see Notre Dame (and the many old churches in Paris). It is still every bit as stunning as the first time one approaches. We stepped inside to find that a mass was starting soon. We decided to stay and participate in the mass (I expect extra credit points from you, Dad!). Though we did not understand any of the words, the Catholic Mass is built on the same rituals around the world, so it was somewhat easy to follow. Sidenote: I was freezing! It must have been as cold inside as it was outside. I don't think they had central heat in the 12th century. They need to work on this....hee hee...
After Mass, we strode toward our hotel, planning to pick up a loaf of bread and some cheese to share in the lobby, a makeshift picnic dinner. With so many incredible choices, we decided upon a small loaf of olive bread, a bit of camembert cheese, and some almonds to round out the picture. Of course, we are sipping wine and glasses of water to make the evening complete.
Click on the photo below to view our experience today!
We headed out, seeking the marche du puces (flea market), a 15-minute metro ride away. Unfortunately, the fleas were 'ferme,' or closed today. So we wandered around some of the antiques booths that were open or at least shifting their inventory this morning. We found some incredible wrought iron light fixtures, but they won't fit in our suitcases. :)
From there, we took a short train ride to reach Sacre Couer, a wonderful church that sits high above Paris. It's great to stop there and look at the panoramas. We walked down the hill toward Monmartre, an area that holds many fabric shops. I am on a quest to find some fabric for Marlene, so I wanted to see what Montmartre has to offer today! We dropped in to several stores, but I did not see anything I thought she would want. These stores are very large, and yet I didn't see anything so special I thought Marlene would appreciate it. I think Marlene needs to take a return trip for her own fabric shopping! ( : D )
We ate lunch in an atypical restaurant, an unexpected pleasure given the preponderance of brasseries in Paris. This restaurant specialized in food from the country - comfort food. It has been chilly here, so we appreciated the chance to sit for a while, enjoying the warm comfort food. I started with vegetable soup. It was a puree'd soup, rather than a typical Amercian version with large chunks of vegetables still visible. It was fantastic. Mark ordered a "hot pot" full of beef and vegetable stew. WOW!
Following our lunch, we had to walk some more since the restaurant would not allow me to take a nap!
We walked all the way to Gallerie Lafayette (an incredible department store) and Opera Garnier. Gallerie Lafayette has an open atrium at its center, capped by an incredible stained glass dome. Another WOW. After buying a substitute present for Marlene in Gallerie Lafayette, we made our way over to Opera Garnier in hopes of seeing the stunning interior. (I was lucky enough to take a tour a couple of years ago. Mark has not seen it.) We were told the building was not open for visitors at the time. Ferme again! Oh well.
We decided to continue our walk all the way to Notre Dame. The sun was setting as we passed the Louvre and crossed a bridge over the Seine to the famous old church. It doesn't matter how many times you see Notre Dame (and the many old churches in Paris). It is still every bit as stunning as the first time one approaches. We stepped inside to find that a mass was starting soon. We decided to stay and participate in the mass (I expect extra credit points from you, Dad!). Though we did not understand any of the words, the Catholic Mass is built on the same rituals around the world, so it was somewhat easy to follow. Sidenote: I was freezing! It must have been as cold inside as it was outside. I don't think they had central heat in the 12th century. They need to work on this....hee hee...
After Mass, we strode toward our hotel, planning to pick up a loaf of bread and some cheese to share in the lobby, a makeshift picnic dinner. With so many incredible choices, we decided upon a small loaf of olive bread, a bit of camembert cheese, and some almonds to round out the picture. Of course, we are sipping wine and glasses of water to make the evening complete.
Click on the photo below to view our experience today!
 |
| paris friday |
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Well, Mark and I had a nice start to the three days left of our vacation. Always tagged with the label "morning people," our friends and family would be shocked to know that we slept in until after 9AM. Such is the life of the leisurley Parisienne.
Today we walked the Marais district, saw many wonderful sites and of course enjoyed a couple of wonderful, yet simple meals.
A highlight of our day was talking via skype to Bradley, Joan and Pat, Peggy, Steve and family, and Monty, Marlene and our kids. What a way to end our day.
I am in the hotel lobby. Mark just left to retire for the evening. My eyes are getting droopy so I will retire too.
Enjoy the photos by following the link below.
Today we walked the Marais district, saw many wonderful sites and of course enjoyed a couple of wonderful, yet simple meals.
A highlight of our day was talking via skype to Bradley, Joan and Pat, Peggy, Steve and family, and Monty, Marlene and our kids. What a way to end our day.
I am in the hotel lobby. Mark just left to retire for the evening. My eyes are getting droopy so I will retire too.
Enjoy the photos by following the link below.
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| paris thursday |
Time with Peggy
On Tuesday, Peggy took the train from Amsterdam to Paris, and arrived at about 1pm.
Just in time for us to walk to Cafe de Flore for lunch with the lovely Victoria Tang. Peggy met
Victoria during her time living here.
Cafe de Flore was terrific. The conversation was marvelous. We continued talking during the drive over to Musee Marmisot (sp?). An old, very large apartment in another area of Paris, it houses many of Monet's works. Apparently, Monet's son offered the works to the Louvre upon the artist's death, but the offer was declined. The museum was also hosting an exhibit of expressionists. That art is marked by strong colors and bold strokes/lines.
Victoria was kind enough to drive Peggy and I to Peggy's former neighborhood, near avenue de terne. We shopped for a bit, then headed up avenue wagram toward the arc du triumph. We were lucky enough to arrive at the arc in time for a daily ritual - a parade of veterans who march to the arc and lay a wreath.
Peggy and I then walked down the Champs, admiring the incredible storefronts. We dropped into Louis Vitton to view the merchandise and the store's incredible decor. We decided that we liked the intricate gold rings on the windows better than the traditional LV bag designs.
We made our way over to a restaurant called laduree (sp?). It is famous for breakfast and the ultra-sweet macaroon cookies. We wanted neither of those, but wandered into their bar to sit for a glass of wine. The bar was unusual. It was as if we were immersed in an aqua spider web with butterflies clinging to the walls. After enjoying a lovely break, we made our way back to the hotel to drop our things and head out for dinner. It is a short walk from the hotel to Blvd. St. Germain. We chose a nice restaurant there. We shared a vegetable plate and a salad. Both were delightful. We turned in for the night.
Following another nice breakfast in the hotel lobby, Peggy and I traveled to Pont Nouilly (sp?), to visit the Mary Mont school her kids attended for several years. Rumor is that this school is the house that inspired the Madeleine books. We took a tour of the schools new gym, science facilities and classrooms. It seems like a wonderful haven for children from around the world.
We made a return trip to Peggy's neighborhood to retrieve some goodies for Brian, Shannon and Steve. We stopped for lunch at Chez Clement (Brian's favorite restaurant, and the place where Kathy and I enjoyed an incredible lunch several years ago). At Monoprix, Peggy purchased some baked goods for the family.
Unfortunately, our time together was winding down and we had to return to the hotel to get her suitcase. She left for the train station at about 4:15. I then waited for Mark to return from his meeting.
Mark got here at 6:15. We sat in the lobby, chatting about this and that, for about an hour. The lobby is decorated with many gold suns (Hotel Louis II - the sun king) and wonderful artwork, all backed by lovely tan velvet wallpaper, giving a soft cozy feeling to the room.
We dined with Mark's client group at a neighborhood restaurant near Pont Nouilly, ironically enough. It was a wonderful evening.
Here is a slideshow:
Just in time for us to walk to Cafe de Flore for lunch with the lovely Victoria Tang. Peggy met
Victoria during her time living here.
Cafe de Flore was terrific. The conversation was marvelous. We continued talking during the drive over to Musee Marmisot (sp?). An old, very large apartment in another area of Paris, it houses many of Monet's works. Apparently, Monet's son offered the works to the Louvre upon the artist's death, but the offer was declined. The museum was also hosting an exhibit of expressionists. That art is marked by strong colors and bold strokes/lines.
Victoria was kind enough to drive Peggy and I to Peggy's former neighborhood, near avenue de terne. We shopped for a bit, then headed up avenue wagram toward the arc du triumph. We were lucky enough to arrive at the arc in time for a daily ritual - a parade of veterans who march to the arc and lay a wreath.
Peggy and I then walked down the Champs, admiring the incredible storefronts. We dropped into Louis Vitton to view the merchandise and the store's incredible decor. We decided that we liked the intricate gold rings on the windows better than the traditional LV bag designs.
We made our way over to a restaurant called laduree (sp?). It is famous for breakfast and the ultra-sweet macaroon cookies. We wanted neither of those, but wandered into their bar to sit for a glass of wine. The bar was unusual. It was as if we were immersed in an aqua spider web with butterflies clinging to the walls. After enjoying a lovely break, we made our way back to the hotel to drop our things and head out for dinner. It is a short walk from the hotel to Blvd. St. Germain. We chose a nice restaurant there. We shared a vegetable plate and a salad. Both were delightful. We turned in for the night.
Following another nice breakfast in the hotel lobby, Peggy and I traveled to Pont Nouilly (sp?), to visit the Mary Mont school her kids attended for several years. Rumor is that this school is the house that inspired the Madeleine books. We took a tour of the schools new gym, science facilities and classrooms. It seems like a wonderful haven for children from around the world.
We made a return trip to Peggy's neighborhood to retrieve some goodies for Brian, Shannon and Steve. We stopped for lunch at Chez Clement (Brian's favorite restaurant, and the place where Kathy and I enjoyed an incredible lunch several years ago). At Monoprix, Peggy purchased some baked goods for the family.
Unfortunately, our time together was winding down and we had to return to the hotel to get her suitcase. She left for the train station at about 4:15. I then waited for Mark to return from his meeting.
Mark got here at 6:15. We sat in the lobby, chatting about this and that, for about an hour. The lobby is decorated with many gold suns (Hotel Louis II - the sun king) and wonderful artwork, all backed by lovely tan velvet wallpaper, giving a soft cozy feeling to the room.
We dined with Mark's client group at a neighborhood restaurant near Pont Nouilly, ironically enough. It was a wonderful evening.
Here is a slideshow:
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A run in the park
Mark left early this morning for two days of work with his client. I
enjoyed a nice breakfast in our hotel lobby then went to jardin
luxembourg for a run. Beautiful yet brisk morning. MAny people out
for their morning exercise, including some doing tai chi.
Now back at the hotel. Will get dressed and wait for peggy to get here!
enjoyed a nice breakfast in our hotel lobby then went to jardin
luxembourg for a run. Beautiful yet brisk morning. MAny people out
for their morning exercise, including some doing tai chi.
Now back at the hotel. Will get dressed and wait for peggy to get here!
Sent from my iPod
Day One in Paris, January 11, 2010
We flew to Cincinnati and caught a Delta flight to Charles de Galle airport, arriving in Paris at 8:00 AM, Monday, January 11. The flight over was smooth. Mark was able to sleep much more than I did. For some reason, the woman behind me took up a continual habit of kicking my seat. Big bummer. Once on solid ground, we took a taxi to our hotel. A quaint, Parisian hotel with a lovely lobby and tiny rooms. Our big American suitcases need a room for themselves (ha ha).
Mark took part in a video conference call, so I strolled over to Luxembourg Gardens, a short distance away. It is a large, lovely park. During the warm weather, it gets lots of Parisian sunbathers and loungers. In January, it is much less crowded. But beautiful nonethless.
When Mark completed his work, we walked around the area we'll call home for the next 6 days. St. Germain de Pres, the river Seine, lots of lovely streets to stroll. Each corner beckons you to explore the inviting paths. Paris is a city explorer's dream, full of interesting discoveries.
We ate at Les Editeurs, near our hotel. We started with two salads: beet carpaccio and lentils with arugula. Both were superb. We then shared a croque monsieur (french for grilled cheese sandwich). The salads really topped the sandwich.
Mark took part in a video conference call, so I strolled over to Luxembourg Gardens, a short distance away. It is a large, lovely park. During the warm weather, it gets lots of Parisian sunbathers and loungers. In January, it is much less crowded. But beautiful nonethless.
When Mark completed his work, we walked around the area we'll call home for the next 6 days. St. Germain de Pres, the river Seine, lots of lovely streets to stroll. Each corner beckons you to explore the inviting paths. Paris is a city explorer's dream, full of interesting discoveries.
We ate at Les Editeurs, near our hotel. We started with two salads: beet carpaccio and lentils with arugula. Both were superb. We then shared a croque monsieur (french for grilled cheese sandwich). The salads really topped the sandwich.
Click on the photo below to view more photos from our trip.
 |
| paris jan 2010 |
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
CIMG0282
/This is Mark, watching Patrick's first bball game. Go Polar Bears! Good Job! No worries about winning and losing! You are doing great!!!!CIMG0279
CIMG0274
First photo: Toby and Chloe - soulmates and littermates. We had a nice time with little black girl visiting us while Kathy and Jim were in Florida.
Second photo: A rare moment when Chloe slowed down long enough to catch some zzzzzssss....
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