Paris dispatch

We bought some croissants in Paris yesterday and I’ve just eaten some now and they were delicious! Anyway, so Paris in the autumn (although at times it was more spring-like than autumn) the weather was clear, dry and mild and it made all the difference. Although most people have travelled on Eurostar by now, it was my first trip on Monday. It was a pleasant experience; no hold ups, no delays, a clean, comfortable train and quite mind boggling that it only took us 2hrs 15 minutes to be in Paris! I no longer travel so much that stuff like that doesn’t impress me!

We jumped in a taxi at Gard du Nord and arrived at our lovely hotel in about half an hour. We were staying at the Hotel Cadran (walking distance from the Eiffel Tower). It was lovely! Because we had gone for a Eurostar deal i.e., travel and accommodation in one, we had no prior knowledge or experience of the hotel but we had checked some independent reviews and the lowest the hotel had scored was 7.5 out of 10. And the main criticism was that the rooms were quite small.

It’s a small, stylish boutique hotel. Impeccably clean, well furnished and the staff were very nice. There was a bar, large open fire, international newspapers and hundreds of books you could borrow in the foyer, and had we been there longer I would have definitely spent more time in the bar area, it was very relaxed and the large windows facing the street meant you could watch the world go by...

The rooms were small but not excessively so, we were very comfortable and it was nice to have a mini bar as well. Every room was en-suite and the showers were very powerful so waking up wasn’t a problem! Breakfast was, as you would expect, a mixture of cereals; croissants; baguettes; cheeses; ham; fruit; yoghurt; lovely strong coffee and creamy hot chocolate – and you could have as much as you wanted! So we left every morning well fed and watered.

We only really did one touristy thing and that was a river tour. Highly, highly recommended, even if you have been to Paris before (which we all had, my partner on quite a few occasions because she has French relatives). It was so relaxed and a lovely way to see the city. But really, we concentrated on shopping! We made several trips to Lafayette a famous department store, akin to Selfridges. Where we bought food, a dog toy and some Christmas decorations! The Champs Elyse’s where we bought music and for me, a Quicksilver hat (finally a hat that doesn’t make me look like I need constant adult supervision!), we bought art prints, champagne, cheese, biscuits, even a penknife! We went to the Louvre which was closed but I did take some pictures of the glass pyramid which always impresses me. Then we found a cafe where I made the mistake of ordering a ‘large’ beer. Well... see picture! Everyone in the cafe burst out laughing because clearly I had thought I was ordering a pint, when in fact I was ordering a keg! (I finished it though!) We ate well, drank lots of coffee and wine and had a very chilled and enjoyable time.

Parisians are generally quite rude, but like Londoners who are also very rude at times, ask for help and they will show great kindness. I guess it’s a big city thing. It’s difficult dealing with tourists all the time – tourists that don’t speak the language, don’t know where they are going, and often don’t know about the unwritten rules of city etiquette that exist to keep us rushing from one place to the other often with a sense of our own importance. Basically, tourists get in the way!

Buses are a great way to get around. It costs 1.50 per trip, or there is a day pass for 5.50. Don’t expect to get a seat though, not just when things get busy but there are less seats on French, or certainly, Paris buses. Expect to see a lot of small dogs being carried in large bags. If you intend to drive then you are mad. Paris drivers are the most impatient and risk taking drivers I’ve ever clapped eyes on, it’s like a stock car race. And if you decide you still want to drive, may whichever god you believe in, go with you, because you’ll need all the help you can get!

Don’t dismiss Eurostar deals –we thought they might be expensive, but we got a great deal and ended up in a lovely hotel. (But don’t forget to look up independent reviews of the hotel online to make sure you choose a good hotel.) If you like well-done meat, you may end becoming a vegetarian for your stay. It’s just easier. Even a cheeseburger I had was red in the middle and if you get a steak and want it well done, well, let’s just say it’s would be easier if you carried around your own grill! If you drink black coffee but are surprised that you keep getting an expresso, ask for a long coffee. That way you get a regular cup of coffee and not a teeny cup of, delicious but not really what you want, expresso. Oh and be careful what size beer you order! Look up restaurants around the hotel as well, there’s nothing so nice as to have a lovely meal, too much wine, and then to be able to amble back to the hotel taking in the night air.

I definitely want to go back, and would try and stay in the same hotel. This time though I think I would like to do more touristy things. Paris is just so interesting it deserves many visits! My mum had a great time as well, it was after all, her birthday present. Right now though, reality beckons – unpacking, laundry and walking a very relaxed Mr. P who had his own holiday with friends. Although I might have another long coffee and some apricot flan before I start work, keep the holiday spirit for a little longer...