Premier jour à Paris

It was the day before Mum’s birthday – and we got on a very early flight to Paris. Quite a few of you asked how we travelled – and thought we will do a blog about that next week.

We checked into Hotel Costes, one of Mum’s favourite hotels – to find out that it had been relaunched! Once a Jacques Garcia eclectic, opulent and theatrical immersion, they’ve added a whole new “house”, this time designed by Christian Liaigre. So when we entered the new hotel lobby, we were greeted by minimalism and sobriety which is his style.

But our room was in the Jacques Garcia House … and we loved it!

But there was no rest for the weary. We must meet Margaret and Lisa for lunch. One the way, the taxi driver commented how good I was. And in conversation, he learnt that we were in Paris to celebrate Mum’s birthday – and he broke into song!

He finished singing as we arrived at Alain Ducasse’s Benoit (20 Rue Saint-Martin, 75004 Paris). The driver asked for a tip, and Mum was so chuffed, she paid double the fare! LOL! Think that put her in a good mood.

It was a feast – but this was only the beginning of a gastronomic affair and all out Parisian days! I was not included in the next few items on the day’s agenda – so I’ll pass it over to Mum to carry on telling you about the birthday celebrations and adventures.

May’s comment: We did manage to squeeze in a couple of cultural things.

We visited the Hotel de la Marine while George stayed at the hotel. The museum was just around the corner and he wasn’t left alone for long, but then he is very comfortable at being left.

Now why did I single out this bedroom?

Of all the refurbished apartments, this room was the one that attracted my attention the most. Note the little dog bed on the left of the side.

Next! We met Lauren, who is an American in Paris. She is a licensed tour guide and she invited us to the Cercle Suédois/ Cercle Norvégien (Swedish and Norwegian Club) on the rue de Rivoli – for a glass of champagne and there in one of the rooms was the desk from which Alfred Nobel laid the foundation in 1895 when he wrote his last will, leaving much of his wealth to the establishment of the prize.

And that was not the end of our first day in Paris. That evening we were booked for dinner on the Bateau Parisien. I have never done this boat ride before and Margaret thought it would be something special – and I guess one to tick off the list.

And as the boat trip came to an end, the Eiffel Tower lit up and sparkled!

All this and it was just the first day …