When it rains in Paris, so what!

We awoke to the rain, the first of the entire trip. The day before had been beautiful, we decided a day indoors was in order. We took the Metro from the Hotel to the Louvre, and 100,000 other folks had the same idea. It was packed, no worries Karen and I did a Blitzkrieg tour. Winged Victory, the Mona Lisa, Special exhibit of a reproduction of Versailles, Michelangelo, Rodin. It was still raining buckets so we rode the subway to Isle de St. Louis and found a Brasserie specializing in meats, Omelette's and Quiche. Dad had French onion soup. Soup was not a option on most lunch menus. It was rich and deep with the flavour or sherry. After a small pot of wine it was off to Notre Dame Cathedral. Karen and I went inside and were amazed by the architecture and sense of toil and hard work. Proportion can't be explained, the scale of these structures was fabulous. The stained glass was beautiful. I took a million pictures and lost my umbrella, some french person is enjoying my umbrella, not sure it was the wine at lunch or the amazing stunning views of the Grand Dame.

We met up with Mom and Dad and went to visit the Deportation Memorial. The memorial is in view of the Cathedral along the Seine. It is free and no pictures are allowed in this reverent place. Very well done with cells and space, steel bars, rock and darkness. It was a moving experience, you could feel the pain of jews, poles, eastern European folks herded onto boats and taken to concentration camps. Still after experiencing this, a couple of tourist were snapping pictures like crazy, oh well it takes all kinds. Back to the hotel where Mom and Dad took a nap. Karen and I went around the corner to a Cafe and had a glass of wine and watched the people, it was oil, water must and the smell of fresh bread. I met a friend, waiter who we enjoyed every day we were in Paris.

We met downstairs for an aperitif. For Dinner we walked to Sayan, a seafood restaurant. At first I thought we had met the first arrogant rude waiter. Then I realized he was very outgoing and this was going to be fun! We matched each other well and we began to delve in to oysters. then shell fish, then freshwater fish then saltwater fish. It was all fresh, succulent and prepared perfectly. I ordered way too much and the server moderated my order, so that it was just right. He could have padded the tab but did the right thing. I left all three umbrellas here. Probably the wine

Paris at Last

We arrived to the city of Paris by train. We waited at the cab stand for a little while because it was a Sunday. We hailed two cabs and off we go to the Hotel Le Gregorie, I rode with Mom and Karen rode with Dad. Our taxi driver got lost or was trying to make a few extra euros until Mom straightened him out. His English was pretty good. We were introduced to Francois, the manager who welcomed us and told a few stories about Mom and Dad's previous visits. It was completely friendly and wonderful. This night we had reservations at the Jules Verne Restaurant at the Eiffel Tower to celebrate, once again out 25the Wedding Anniversary. I have had a history of a fear from heights after Karen took me up in a hot air balloon a few years ago. The Eiffel Tower elevator ride up the leg sideways was one to remember, I had my Cowboy hat and it helped to close my eyes. We were greeted cheerfully and seated by a window overlooking the lights of Paris.

The service was excellent and after we enjoyed an aperitif we ordered the tasting menu. Dad ordered wine, a White Burgundy with a variety of seafood. Then Foil Gr as and truffles with poached Turbot was enjoyed with a wonderful 2000 Bordeaux. We tasted veal and potatoes and had numerous other mini courses. We completed the meal with and Alsatian Gewurtzaminer. Then the chocolate tasting began, yum, yum. The lights sparkle of the Tower on the hour, it is beautiful to see from inside at the dinner table. We talked about the Classic Cafe and our enjoyment of food and wine. We also talked of the special people in our lives. We talked of those who are waiting. Life on earth is a series of special occasions and important events and I have been lucky to spend these with my wife and my Mom and Dad. The entire trip was special, but this was over the top! The ride down the elevator was much easier than going up, I watched the lights!