Euro Travel & More

A friend who was heading up to Paris asked me where he should go eat – a must eat – in Paris and I recommended an outdoor cafe in Paris called the Au Petit Sud Quest – located at the  Avenue de la Bourdonnais.  If you can’t find your way there – check with your hotel concierge.   The prices range from $50 – $90 per person but it will be one of the best meal you’ve eaten anywhere.

What so special about this little outdoor cafe?  first you can sit indoors if you wished but I always choose to eat outside because of the beautiful scenery and all walks of people come by here.  The service is awesome and they have a very well stocked cellar in the cafe.  I loved the way they are so personable – while everyone says that in Paris – the french just don’t want to speak in other languages – but the owner of the cafe is very nice.  I speak very little french – but they were very kind to us. The best part was that they took time to explain to us about the dish and how it was cooked.  This place is about wine, duck and foie gras  and because I loved mushroom so much – they made a nice crepe with mushroom for me.  For dessert we had the creme brulee – what else!  so if you are headed out to Paris – check out this little cafe/restaurant.

When folks talk about DisneyLand – they think about USA – Florida – but little did we know that there is also one in Paris – and it was definitely a real treat for us because no other theme park in Europe is as good as the one in Paris Disneyland.  Children below the age of 7 stays free as well – so you can imagine why I want to bring my kids there before they turn 8 yrs old.

I strongly encouraged those with children to stay at the resort – because it definitely makes everything so much easier and more convenient and you don’t have to worry about getting transport to bring you back to your hotel. As you can see – we only arrived in the evening and wasted no time.

Had dinner at one of the Walt Disney restaurants – food was very expensive everywhere – so don’t be too shocked and be prepared for it.  A regular sandwich for one cost as much as $20!

And headed to the Disney Village and began our fun and more food.  There is the rainforest cafe that we liked a lot and of course planet hollywood.   The Mickey mouse cafe is a must to visit if you have kids – and they have some set lunch at pretty good prices.  Don’t forget to stay for the Parade and the fireworks!

One of the best Parisian Cafes that I had been to – is the Cafe de Flore at Boulevard Saint-Germain – this place has a history – a very long and interesting one – if I may add.  I read that the name ‘Flore’ came about because there is a little statue of the Goddess Flore across the street. Modigliani, Picasso and Soutine used to frequent this cafe – interesting right?    Cafe de Flore is also a historical landmark in Paris since 1890, this cafe was a favorite of many great 19th-century writers and artists. French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre always took his coffee and croissant on the terrace.  These days you can drop in for a quick snack or glass of Champagne having shopped-till-you-dropped in the district’s luxurious boutiques. The smart set that revels in the cafe’s upmarket style ensures that its reputation lives on.  For me I had the perfect hot chocolate at Cafe De Flore and watch the world go by every time I am in Paris.

Is Paris only about the Eiffel Tower someone asked me – the other day and I had to smile because I remember those days when i was studying in UK – how we would take any chance and free time to take a trip to Paris.  We make sure we be friends with the people who had car and make them drive us to Paris for a day or two.  Paris is more beautiful than you can imagine and there are just so many things one can explore there – even if i had to exchange my Robern Medicine cabinet for a day trip to Paris – i would do just that.

People claimed that the people in Paris are rude and sometimes demeaning and refuses to speak in English – well that was a long time ago.  And one cannot blame them because they feel embarrassed to speak a language they haven’t perfected? well that was my explanation for their horrid behavior then.   But there are many wonderful people and spring is in the air – and a love affair with Paris is what i long to do with my kid when he is older.

I love the LV stores in Paris but remember – they don’t like you to take any pictures inside – most stores don’t mind but some can be quite Nazis.

Easter in Paris was most memorable because the chocolate makers were definitely trying to outshine their competitors all around Paris.   All of them were awesome with their window display and this one was from Ladurée @ Metro Str.  Germain des Pres.  Check out their deal of the day and even though it’s Easter – you have to try their macaroons.

Don’t forget to check out Patrick Roger who was voted the best chocolate Maker in France for his window display of a collection of eggs, with some of them covered with 24 karat of gold leaf.  I heard that 1000s of hours and 1500 Ibs of chocolate was used.

This wasn’t exactly the room i stayed it.. but it was similar size .. and almost similar decorations and wallpapers. Mayfair Hotel is at the heart of Paris between Place de la Concorde and Place Vendome, A 4 star hotel and going rate per nite is about $150 €, which not many people like us can afford unless you are on a business trip like me.

My bosses stayed here.. and didn’t think it was convenient for me to stay in another .. with another co-worker. A luxurious hotel .. Mayfair is.. and expect professionalism.. and extended hospitality .. once you become a house guest. The front desk takes time to remember your name. In my whole time there.. they called me by my family name. Each room has it own unique decoration and reflects the unique Parisian style.

The hotel has room service .. but not 24hrs.. a business center, concierge to make those special dinner arrangements for you. Cable TV, Hair Dryer ( you need not bring yours) . .safe in the room and of course air conditioning. For those traveling with children, you will be glad to know that they have a day nursery as well. Call either the Concierge or Housekeeping for arrangements.

The breakfast room serves continental and buffet breakfast from 7am to 10.30am daily. We didn’t eat here.. because we usually have breakfast meetings in another hotel.. or the office in Paris.

To cruise the Mediterranean was my dream and at first I was quite worried that my sea-sickness would ruin my holiday. However I’m glad to let you all know that I didn’t feel queasy at all, in fact the only time I did was when I was getting down from the cruise ship back on to land.  Like most cruises that I had been on, the Mediterranean cruises boast of having the finest food and entertainment on board.  With a 7 story high ship one cannot help but feel that you are in a fully equipped hotel.

The people I worked for in the UK had won a huge contract and gotten some big awards, therefore we were all given a 6 day cruise on the Mediterranean Sea.  We were just finishing our project in Spain and flew to London to catch a connecting flight to Nice, France.  Since we didn’t want to waste any time we decided to take a short tour around Nice for a couple of hours before embarking on our cruise ship in the late afternoon. Of course first came the mandatory safety drill for any cruise, then we took a short nap.  The Mediterranean cruise was truly, truly amazing and we not only were in Nice, we visited Florence the next day and then headed to Rome.  We covered a lot of places in such a short time.  We also managed to visit Monte Caro and then headed back to Nice, France to end our week.

The evenings on the cruise ship were eventful and we ate and drink the night away.  There were just so many things we wanted to do that we never thought we could.  And truly amazing were the people on board the cruise.  They were excellent, everyone was friendly and we had a ball.  If you asked me if I would go for another cruise I’d have to tell you that I most definitely would.  It is entertainment for the whole family and our Mediterranean cruise covered so many places that it was worth every penny the company spent.

This large glass and metal pyramid is the Louvre Pyramid .. the entrance to the museum.  There are a few more small ones in the courtyard as well and there is an urban legend to the Pyramid too.. i heard.  The 666 panes was the talking point of many .. when we visited it, associated with “Satan” because of it’s 666 number.. it was definitely a thrill to be here.  Most tourist would choose only to visit the Eiffel Tower.. but we are definitely blessed to have co-workers.. who were so willing to show us the real stuff in Paris.

This picture of sunset at the Pyramid is a magnificient isn’t it..?  I loved it.. and wished i had another camera for it .. to take a better picture.  But of course, the museum is the biggest part of our trip, it was such a huge museum.. we didn’t managed to finish touring it at all. It was a crowded little place.

This is the inside of the Louvre and this visit to the Louvre Museum which was the first time actually makes me feel how charming Paris can be especially for someone who loves photography.. and who can appreciate paintings that are masterpieces of the world.  Paris definitely has a lot to offer and having lived in Florence for 3 months.. i wished i had gotten a chance to do so in Paris too.  But I know I would have gotten lost here.. with all the tourists that I saw during 7 days in Paris.  And I kid you not.. there were TOURISTS everywhere.

Andre Citroen Park is just a little park just a few minutes walk from Eiffel Tower .. located across the Seine River.  It wasn’t crowded at all.. when we were there.. for a look at the balloons that my co-worker had wanted to show me.  But i already saw it from afar.. when walking towards the 15th arrondissement.  I think the people who were in the park that day .. must be Parisian with their families.  I saw several children with their mothers.. playing there.

Told yer.. !! i can see the balloon from afar.  This gas balloons were for tourist who wanted an overall view of Paris.  I didn’t go up.. so i didn’t know how much it cost. I hear that this was where the former Citroen auto mobile plant was and as you can see there were lots of children playing here because of the waterfalls that keeps them entertained.  There are also 2 huge greenhouses that had some exotic Mediterranean Vegetation.

A closer look.. and on the other side is the garden .. where the moat was dry and there were kids playing there.. by running up and down it.  A third access point to the lawn was for the hot air balloon. Andre Citroen was a very large park. .and i didn’t really get to see everything of the park..  but the garden was also known as the garden of movement.. and it was a nice different from the usual.. touristy places. A contemporary park between nature and artifice.

This is the famous T3 line of the tramway in Paris, it serves the south of Paris nearby the Ivy gate.  It is said that this tramway ferries as much as 100,000 people everyday. This tram line runs within the city areas and is definitely a plus for everyone living in the city… or even working around that area.  It is said that it was the aim of the City of Paris to bring health and well being to its people by introducing the Tram.. and diminishing both pollution and noise and reduce the space given to parking of your auto cars.  “Auto-bus” in french is the way to go.

PS :  Yes.. i did ride on the tram near Seine .. just because.. and it cost me like about a few euros.. i can’t remember right now.. i only know it was very cheap.. because a co-worker had mentiioned that it was run by diesel.  It was very clean and almost new.. and i was greeted by a very happy conductor .. who greeted me .. with “boujour” and since i know very limited French.. i didn’t wanna be too, too friendly.. if you know what i mean. I only wrote for a few stops.. and decided to Parc Montsouris with my co-workers.