I think it will take a week of posts to fully report on our weekend in Paris. Jeanne Marie and Christine Elise did in deed have a wonderful time and are eager for more. We made a few notes for our next trip with the first being that we should have a better grasp of some of the key french words. I was so nervous that I would say por favour instead of si vous plait that I forgot about things like exit, left, right, tickets and good evening. My mother always taught me to politely say hello, please and good-bye and that is how I prepared...and that is it! It made for a bit of confusion when we arrived at the train station at Gare du Nord and I quickly thought 'merde'. Mr H. had suggested we just pop in a taxi. The queue for the taxis was beyond belief and given that I did not know anything beyond bon jour, si vous plait and au revoir and I could see that reading signs was not going to be a help either. What was Sortie again??
My quick thinking daughter suggested we take the Metro...which we did... an hour later. FYI...much faster to go to the ticket booth...(I now know what billet means) and push the english translation button to purchase two one way tickets to your destination. Do not wait in line with other non-french speaking tourists holding maps. Lesson learned, never travel to another country assuming an english translation will be posted next to everything! Enough of our early travels...it was smooth riding from there.
I will dedicate this post to Meredith at Count It All Joy and Stephanie at La Dolce Vita who both suggested that we go to Laduree to try their famous macarons. I must confess their were times when I thought this would be an impossible task..especially when faced with this scene at 5:00 pm on Saturday.
Je voudrais..des aspirines.
I had a headache..
Never mind...we will persevere...we do live in Britain. Lucky for us Laduree was one of the only places open on a Sunday and we happen to be staying right around the corner. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel because by this time I really really really wanted one of the macarons! How lucky were we??? Sunday morning 10:30 am, after a 20 minute queue outside we were in like flint. I dragged Christine Elise in behind me and I asked for the lovely table in the corner. Wonderful! Nothing like a sense of accomplishment! We stayed for breakfast and had it all....the sampler of patisseries, the jams, the butter (heaven), two cafes, a big bowl of fresh fruit, fresh squeezed orange juice and a taste of Christine's french toast made with brioche...melted in your mouth! Of course, the piece de la resistance was the chocolate and strawberry macarons at the end. Tres magnifique! Never mind the price (53 euros) we felt like we died and had gone to heaven and if my stomach could have wept with joy it would have.
So to Meredith and Stephanie I thank you. If you had not have mentioned it, we would not have experienced it and that would have been a sad, sad thing indeed!
merveilleux!
Images taken by me
Laduree
21 Rue Bonaparte
75006 Paris, France
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