Friday 9 April 2010

Our visit to Nancy was such a treat - after the last blog entry Lynda and I decided to have a quick bite to eat before catching the train back to Paris. We ended up at a little seafood "fruits de la mar" restaurant and had the most fantastic 3 course meal for 12 Euros each: salmon riette, prosciutto (jambon) and potatoes, seafood risotto, chocolate mousse and caffe - just so delicious. It has truly been a gastronomic experience in the short time we have been here. Every café, boulangerie, pastisserie, chocolaterie demands my attention…..no chance of losing weight while we are here!!

Last night we explored the famous shopping strip of Rue La Fayette and the spectacular Printemps department stores in the most spectacular buildings. The range of designer clothes, shoes, perfumes etc that people are madly shopping for was breathtaking! How do people afford to dress themselves like this?? We enjoyed the voyeuristic experience and being left alone to browse through Armani, Christian Dior, Balenciaga, YSL, Jimmy Choo etc, like it was all quite normal!

Today we strolled down the Champs de Elysee, along the Seine river to visit the Tuileries Garden and the Louvre - wow! Had lunch in the Tuileries Gardens which was wonderful. The gardens are full of Parisians playing with their children, exercising, playing soccer and enjoying the stunning spring weather - sunshine and not hot. The days are getting longer and the flowers, tulips and violets, are emerging in the gardens.

The Louvre is massive and amazing - we managed to get a front line view of the infamous Mona Lisa and the Wedding Feast. The sculptures, artwork and architecture are amazing and as many would know, you need many days to begin to soak in the breadth of what they have on display there.

Then to Madrigal's in the late afternoon sunlight for chablis and foie gras de chambon (duck pate) on the Champs de Elysee. This is a decadent and delightful bar that opens onto the street, very trendy and very expensive.The fashion and style here is quite something to behold, especially the men. It was interesting that it attracted a wide age demographic of people, especially as it promotes itself as 'unisex'!! Today the sunshine has brought out the people in their many hundreds onto the streets anticipating the weekend and more good weather……………….Au revoir nous ami J