December 21, 2009

Blogging from Paris! Day 2!

The time difference really got me and it is hard to wake up from a dead sleep at a reasonable morning hour when it is the middle of the night in California. It was very cold so we wrapped up real warm to get out and take the Paris Metro for the first time over to Place de Madeleine for a walk around the famous Paris shops.

The Metro is a network of underground train lines that take you anywhere in Paris, some connecting to other major train stations that will take you all over the French suburbs and countryside, others that will take you clear to other countries. It’s not unlike the London Underground or the New York subway. This is definitely something that the West Coast leaves to be desired. It’s very difficult to get around without a car, and you feel very stuck sometimes if you want to get around by public transport. It’s one of the things I love about Europe, it’s so easy to get around, and cheap…for about 11 Euro you can get 10 train rides anywhere.

We got off the Metro at Place de Madeleine. The streets were crowded with bundled up Christmas shoppers. We stopped into Printemps, it’s like Nordstrom on steroids, with every single luxury brand you can think of under one roof; Gucci, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Tiffany & Co, Chopard, and my favourite shoe designer, Manolo Blahnik.

There was a Russian dance show, giant Russian dolls with the Chanel or Dior logo on them. Very interesting.

We went out to the street and walked through the square to Fauchard…the best gourmet food store I’ve ever seen. On one side, fresh meats being carved right from the bone, as well as cheeses and wine from all over France. You could try caviar with blinis and champagne right there. On the other side of the store was the sweet and cake department, the choice was amazing and everything looked so pretty.

We walked up a little farther and towards the Place de la Concorde and at the other end of Rue Royale is the neoclassical church known as Eglise Madeleine. With its 52 Corinthian columns, it looks like a Greek temple.

The National assembly is straight across Concorde and over the river, and it was a beautiful sight, a gigantic Ferris wheel, the Eiffel tower over to the right, and just visible from where we stood were the spires of Notre Dame. No. 9 Place de Madeleine was home to Marcel Proust when he was a child.

We walked along the Rue de Fauborg, my fingers were numb with cold as I fumbled with my camera and we ducked into a cafe for a glass of wine and a light snack of Foie Gras pate, toast and some breaded shrimp. The waiters were only a little snooty in there!

The Hermes store was a beautiful sight as dusk approached and everything started to light up with colourful twinkling lights. Ah, now it felt like Christmas! I bought an awesome pair of boots from Salamandar for about 130 Euros. Very trendy and European!

As we made our way back on the Metro we stopped off at the neighborhood meat store and bought a mini chicken off the Rotisserrie for dinner, and visited the wine store. I love French wine, it’s very different from California wine, light, and tart, just how I like it.

I can’t wait for day 3!

Posted by:Pam Dakan