Paris - bad and good.
MAL:Day before.
It was freezing cold and pouring down in Manchester and the central heating was on max.
The forecast for Paris was not good.
Kev insisted he was coming down with swine flu.
BON:
Flight good.
Paris was warm, sunny, confident and vibrant.
The swanky hotel (well the flight was free) surpassed expectations.
We mingled with Parisians enjoying the last evening of August.
Drinks in pavement café in Chatelet and a wonderful meal at La Fresque (a favourite from previous trips) ended the excellent day.
MAL:
Manchester weather came across to join us. It was raining chats and chiens.
It was a perfect day to visit The Pompidou. We hadn't done our research - it was closed on Mardi.
My pathetic Primark umbrella was woefully inadequate to the task of protecting two persons of such disparate altitudes. I insisted we would find one of those little bags containing an anorak thingy in GAP. No. Trying more shops (even C&A) brought no luck. Why hadn't I packed a mac?
As saturation point approached I was ready to assault and mug anyone wearing anything waterproof.
Kev's
BON:
Mercredi was wonderfully Sunny again.
A wander through the wonderful Marais (this guy tells it so much better than I could) and a walk up the Rue du Temple brought us to the exotic Arab area in Belleville .Some of the window displays were more fabulous than others.
Summer had returned. We stayed out late - eating, drinking and people watching.BON:
Cloudy but dry.
Ideal day for visit to Pompidou - same old wonderful stuff.Here's Moi with the famous Matisse cut out. Great to see where the kneecap (click to enlarge) was stuck on afterwards.
MAL:
Time to go home.
..........................
I loved Paris even more than in previous visits.
It's much better than Manchester (Ha Ha) and (I hate to say this) but I think it's better than Barcelona too.Paris is proud of itself, it's showing off and out to make an impression - and it succeeds.
I love it.
KAZ.
Labels: Did I mention Paris?
posted by KAZ at 11:21 am
23 Comments:
Glad you enjoyed it, even although the man flu must have cast a blight on proceedings. The poor wee lamb. I fear more preplanning on the umbrella front is required. We never travel anywhere without our trusty rain jackets. We're sensible like that.
No. Still don't like. Ain't going.
Such a shame the bad weather and man flu had to come along.
Great you saw the Matisse in all it's splendour.
And the vin? Was it tres bon? Did you manage to avoid those pesky grenouiles?
Welcome home!
Must go back again, it's been far too long.
I have that same shot of Sacre Coeur from the Pompy (I'm sure they call it that for short) and I always think it looks elongated from that distance.
oooooo looks tres lovely, je suis tres envious - glad vous are back though
Robert Elms says Paris is for the easily impressed.
But he's a twat and he's wrong.
I want to get on a Eurostar train again as soon as I feel confident I've got a job for the foreseeable future. Till then it's staycations for us.
I abandoned umbrellas years ago - they don't make 'em like they used to; they never last. Now I go prepared with a wsterproof and a cloth cap. I look like a reject from Last Of The Summer Wine but I stay dry.
MJ Creations is sadly lacking in pizzazz.
They should hire a new window dresser to sprinkle some sparkles and tart the place up a bit.
That reminds me...
Where's CyberPete?
Madame:
The surprising thing about 'man flu' is its ability to disappear as soon as someone mentions eating, drinking or carousing.
Re the sensibleness - I guess I was just a bit too determined not to look like Bill Oddie on this trip.
Vicus:
The Parisians will be devastated.
Roses:
There was only one bad day and we managed to squeeze in much eating and drinking.
As you may recall - I may be even more addicted to Matisse than the wine. Re food - I stuck with the poisson and actually found a delicious vegetarian tarte at La Fresque.
NiC:
Thanks.
You absolutely must - I insist.
I noticed that about Sacre Cour as well. Refraction?
Ziggi:
It was tres lovely and bon.
I see we had the same French teacher.
Geoff:
Robert Elms likes to easily impress - Paris would be easily underwhelmed.
If only Eurostar went from Manchester I'd be on it tomorrow.
I would like to give up flying for ever.
Steve:
I'd rather drown than look like Norah Batty - but I usually have a cagoule thing with a hood.
What surprised me was how much I hated those people who were equipped with the sort of hatred I normally reserve for people who look like Kate Moss.
MJ:
Kev obviously wondered why I was taking that pic.
That CyberPete wasn't in the gay quartier of Paris.
I asked around.
The signage says "GROS." Was the visit to M.J. CREATIONS on Filthy Vendredi?
Better than Manchester, such high praise!
I'm so glad you had a good time and thanks for the compliment. I agree - being prepared for rainfall involves a price not worth paying. I say that having gone to Carcassonne earlier in the year in the company of two people clad head to foot in waterproofs. I'd rather be wet and stylish.
glad les bons made up for les mals
(-:
have you ever seen The Belleville Rendezvous, also known as Les Triplettes De Belleville?
ohh La-La!Welcome Back.Yea, Paris has a Confidence that's Hard To Beat!
xl:
Ha Ha
Very well spotted.
Doesn't gros mean fat in French?
It's a mystery why it says that.
Emerson:
It had to be said - much as it pains me.
Mr London Street:
It was brilliant - we spent a whole warm summery evening strolling, drinking and mingling in the Marais.
I could have bought one of those 'total cover plastic bag with a hood things' from the streetsellers - but I didn't come to Paris to look like a prat!
View:
No - I missed that one. You must try to revisit Paris asap.
Tony:
The confidence rubs off as well. I've come back feeling inspired.
tha needs a proper cloth flat cap tha knows...
Good to see that the weather's brightened up on your return. I may have to put the central heating on.
i miss paris. it's been 2 years since my last visit and i don't see a visit in the near future. *sigh* if i send my address, will you send me a postcard from your next visit? xoxoxo
(i'm feeling so housebound!)
I never really forgave Paris from the time I got stuck there in 1967 and slept under a bridge. I'd gone hitch-hiking through France which would have been fine if any of the miserable bastards had given me a lift.
Went back to La Defense a couple of years ago and it was rather gob smacking.
Sorry but Paris ( although lovely ) is just not as good as Barcelona but glad you had a good time.
Primark, although good for cheap knickers is just not the place for quality wet weather gear. However if it had a picture of a cat on it and or sparkles...
Kevin:
You could start a fashion of cloth cap and shorts.
Savannah:
Of course.
I shall e mail you.
Roger:
Is that what they call you in Linconshire?
Tres fomal!
la Defense is awe inspiriing.
It's Paris showing the world that she's not all about nostalgia.
Kerrie:
I was amazed to find myself writing that opinion. But I still stand by it.
Perhaps it's a bit like 'Love the one you're with' as you mentioned recently re The Colin.
Isn't Paris just impossibly romantic despite itself?
It certainly is - but I feel it works at it.
Post a Comment
<< Home