Europe2013: Day 40 Wed 24th July Paris by day and a night to remember

* I don't have time to proof read this so please excuse the mistakes!

We woke early and looked out our 19^th floor window to Paris below. It is a stunningly beautiful city. We had breakfast and Lorraine & Murray went on the half day guided sight-seeing tour. After lunch Lorraine went to see Versailles which she said was absolutely stunning.

Paul & I had decided to relax and do our own thing in Paris this time so after breakfast we went for a big walk and then purchased a 2 day Paris Visite card which allowed us unlimited travel in Paris. We got very adventurous and tackled the underground trains. It’s quite easy really. All you need is a map and to know what the name of the station at the end of the line you are travelling on is. We changed trains on our way to the Marais district as I had heard there was a good and very old market there. The map is a bit hard to follow as none of the streets in Paris are straight so it’s very easy to get lost. We found the market eventually and were very disappointed in it.

We wandered around the little shops and had some lunch in a café. We went inside as outside (where we would prefer to sit) EVERYONE is smoking. The menu was written in French on a board and the waiter spoke a little English. We chose something with smoked salmon for 8.50 euro which was very cheap we thought. We have no idea what was in the salmon but it tasted delicious and came with salad and fries. It was a nice place to have a rest and a free toilet which was a bonus. While we were eating there was a car accident out the front. Very minor but lots of yelling in French and 2 police cars arrived in minutes. It was very entertaining. The waiter loved us when he found out we were Australian. We gave him a good tip and he chased us down the street when we left to give us some chocolates! After walking a bit more we caught the two trains back to our station after a very enjoyable few hours.

As it was Murray & Lorraine’s last night in Paris we decided to go out for a nice tea. We had been recommended a bistro by two of the Avalon guides but decide to go up to the 56^th floor of the Montparnasse tower opposite us to have dinner and look all over Paris. About 5 pm it started pouring but by 6.30 it had passed. We went to the top of the tower and after much discussion, into the restaurant. It was going to cost 69 euros each for a meal without drinks!! The table they gave us was towards the back, the restaurant was very hot (no air conditioning) and the view over Paris very poor after the rain. I didn’t want to stay there for all that money so we walked out!!

We then decided to go to the recommended restaurant which was about 1km from where we were. When we arrived it was a huge restaurant with not many people in it. Lorraine went in to check and told us it too was very hot. We couldn’t be bothered going elsewhere so decided to stay. The waiter took us right down the back and we wondered why BUT that’s where the magic of the night began. The maitre’D called Vincent came to serve us, heard our accents and asked where we came from. When we said Australia he shook his head and walked away. We thought he didn’t like us but then came back with 4 glasses of champagne. He said his son Nicholas was working and Byron Bay in Australia (its had to get work in France) and he LOVED us and thanked us very much for looking after his son!!!! Then he brought out some beautiful toasted bread, and some lovely nibbles. He talked non stop about Australia and what a beautiful country it was and how bad France was. He couldn’t do enough for us. He bought out 2 entrée platters to share and we had the recommended main courses. Paul had been craving for duck and he had the best duck he had ever eaten with red wine sauce, cherries & potato. Lorraine, Murray & I had chateaubriand, which was top charolais steak cooked to perfection with a butter laden and delicious béarnaise sauce, fries and beans.

The whole time Vincent attended to us discreetly (when he wasn’t thanking us for looking after his son and saying how wonderful our country was) He gave Lorraine & I souvenir chefs hats and on them he wrote “La Coupole 24/7/2013. For my Australians friens. From a good souvenirs of my holidays in Byron Bay. Vincent Maitre’D”

He insisted we had a dessert to share (we were so full of food and calories by this stage we couldn’t move! He brought out a huge plate of profiteroles filled with ice cream, masses of whipped cream holding them together and poured a very war, rich and decadent chocolate sauce over the top. We could hardly move when we had finished. The whole night cost us 50 euros each!!!! (and that included drinks) When we left he scribbled something on a piece of paper and insisted we finish off our night by taking a taxi to the Hyatt on the other side of Paris, going to the 45^th floor to the bar and having a drink while watching the lights of Paris. We did just that and will never forget our magical and wonderful night in Paris!
When we got back to the hotel we farewelled Lorraine & Murray as they are leaving for London early in the morning. They are flying Qantas (British Airways) to Singapore where we will meet up again.

The street signs all over Europe are fascinating

Our 8.50 euro lunch. It was yummy

the sign for the toilet

the cafe where we had lunch.

when we asked one of the waiters to take our photo with
Vincent he took one of the floor!

one of the restaurant

one of himself!

and finally one of us with Vincent

the food doesn't look that good in these photos but believe me it was amazing
this is one of the entrees which turned out to be tuna (I though it was beef!!) a yummy
and sauce and the thing on the left is actually a big potato chip