Hi girls, we had a great time in Paris, it was nice to have some alone time together, we havn't had alone time in about 4 yrs, and a lot has happened in those 4 yrs so it was a nice welcoming break. We arrived to lovely sunshine on tuesday, we had some champagne on the plane to kick start the holiday.
We arrived at the hotel about tea-time and were brought up to our room, only it wasn't the room we had booked, we booked a room with a view of the Arc de Triomphe, this room had a view of a wall. We told the porter that this wasn't the room we booked just as the phone in the room rang, it was the manager, he realised the mistake. By the time we stepped outside the door of that room the manager was standing there with a key to another room. Because of the mistake which he kept over and over apologising for, we got one of the best rooms in the hotel.
On the corner with a wrap around balcony, 3 sets of double door opening out onto it, it was so luxurious we even had a view of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe from the toilet
. We got ready and headed out, we got the subway down to the Eiffel tower and just walked around the are soaking in the Parisienne lifestyle, then strolled back up to the Champs-Elysee area where we had something to eat and took in the sights. Our hotel was at the top of the Champs-Elysee, so we stopped in a supermarket and picked up a bottle of champagne and went back to the hotel where we sat on the balcony drinking it watching the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe all lit up, it was magical.
Next morning we woke up to wind and rain, and my chest wasn't feeling great, i could feel an infection coming on but that wasn't going to stop me. We woke early to get to the Eiffel Tower before the crowds, we got there before opening, one of the lifts were out of order so only one entrance was open and there was a queue over an hour long in the wind and rain, we decided it wasn't worth waiting in that weather so we headed off to a patisserie that we had seen in the final Sex and the City episode, the Cador Patisserie.
We had gotten the address and directions for everywhere we wanted to go ready in advance, so we got the subway to the patisserie, only to find the patisserie was closed about 4-5 years ago!!!!
It didn't say that on the net. Still got my pic taken where Sarah Jessica Parker stood though. We headed up to the shopping area instead where we knew we could get indoors out of the rain. We got some lunch in the Galleries Lafayette, beautiful french handmade macaroons and a glass of champagne (i could get used to that lifestyle). We walked around and did some souviner shopping and headed back up to the Champs-Elysee to the Disney store for the kids pressies, i was in so much pain by now, in my chest, my hips and down my legs.
After the disney store we headed back to hotel (after picking up some bubble bath in Sephoria) where i had a nice hot bath which really eased the pain and i had a lie down for a half on hour which gave me a new lease of life. We got all dressed up and headed out again about 7pm.
First stop was the Hotel Plaza Athennee, another Sex and the City site, this is where Carrie stayed with Alexandr Petrovsky. We had one cocktail in the cocktail bar there each and the bill came to €56
That wasn't even including the tip, so needless to say we only had the one cocktail before moving on. We then got a taxi to Kong restaurant where Carrie met Alexandr petrovsky's ex-wife for lunch. The food was so yummy, i got the steak and oh my god it was the best steak we ever had, followed by a dessert called 'Insanely chocolate'.
I was in heaven. We had a lovely bottle of wine with dinner, so was quite tipsy by now as i hadn't had a drink since Oct of last year till this trip so i wasn't used to it. After Kong we took a walk down the river to a bridge called Les Pont de les Arts. Which is another Sex and the City site (you couldn't tell that im a fan could you, lol) this is the bridge where Carrie and big walk over when she says 'i miss new york, take me home'.
Then we got the subway up to the Champs-Elysee and took a midnight stroll up along it towards our hotel, we found the biggest ice-cream shop ive ever seen, Haagen Daz, so we got another dessert there and took it back to the hotel. Yummy.
Next morning we didn't wake till about 11, packed, gave the bags to the porter to mind, and went to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, the views were just wow, made the 200+ steps to the top worth the climb. We then got our bags back and headed to the airport where our flight got delayed by an hour. We arrived back in Cork for 18.30 and my Dad and Amelia were waiting for us
, Amelia was out with us and wouldn't even look at us for about 20mins but soon came around and then the boys were waiting in mam and dads house. We had a wonderful time, but it was great to come home too, because i missed the kids like crazy. I have been battling the chest infection since and i would imagine the wetting i got all day wednesday didn't help but it was worth it, if i was to be sick at least i was sick in Paris rather than at home huh.
First night on our hotel balcony
Mark on our hotel balcony
Partial view from our toilet, eiffel tower was off to the right, had to share this one with you lol.
Eiffel Tower at dusk.
Me at the eiffel tower.
Me at the eiffel tower, 10 mins later this umbrella was in the bin the wind was so strong.
Mark and I on our second night out. The only pic of the two of us together the whole trip.
.Me outside le hotel Plaza Athenee.
Electronic menu's in the hotels cocktail bar, should have known then it was expensive lol.
Me and my €28 cosmopolitian, i enjoyed that drink, every sip.
At Kong restaurant.
View from our table.
Just loved the chairs so much.
My 'insanely chocolate' dessert.
View from our hotel balcony at night.
Eiffel Tower from the top of the Arc de Triomphe
Our hotel is the second building back on the left and our room is top floor just below the roof windows, the corner one with the wrap around balcony.
On les Ponts des les Arts.
Outside what used to be the Cador Patisserie, which was featured in Sex and the City.
