Experiencing Paris via degustation!

This week I have been divulging in a little movie watching with one being called Midnight in Paris.  It certainly wasn't an academy award winning story line but it was definitely worth watching just for the scenery. 

It bought back so many awesome memories of our trip there is 2006, and it made me want to dig out my travel journal and reminisce.  I am sure one of the restaurants in the movie was one that we dined at.  I wish digital cameras were better back then...and I was blogging so I could have EVERY thing in details.  Keeping a journal back then was enough of a big deal....

Paris was our first taste of Europe and boy did we start on a high note!  My husband was attending a conference (kind of) so we experienced Paris like it should be experienced a gastronomers delight!!  These are some of the memories that I wrote about in my journal.

Day 1

Lucas Carton 3 star Michelin restaurant where we dined one night

Paris was refreshing. By the time we caught the morning shuttle bus and arrived at the Le Meridian Etoile.  We unpacked and hit the street around 11am. About 1km away is the Arc De Triomphe which we walked via the Champs Elysee - heaps of top French brands but all out of my price range! Back to hotel, slept 2-7pm.  Out to dinner to a restaurant overlooking Church Magdalene - Lucas Carton.  It was AMAZEBALLS, 10 course degustation,about 300 euros pp.  I had lobster, Andrew, caviar (like you do) Left around 12pm via the lit up Eiffel Tower that was looking beautiful.  Slept like a baby..

Day 2

After a big evening last night, a run was definitely on the agenda at a nearby park (Paris central park)around the Jardin Du Luxembourg was the obvious choice. Andrew turned around first, which was a big mistake.  We managed to loose each other and it turned into a 2.5 hour run.  I was looking at the Eiffel Tower, which told me I was heading in the wrong direction, but a nice French man ran me home.  Waited for Andrew in the lobby..

Outside Le Laurent restaurant

We then decided to walk to the Eiffel Tower via Trocadero.  We sat for a while and took it all in, then headed over to right bank where we bought a baguette with vegemite (from home) and flan. We walked down toward the Louvre and visited Church Magdalene, beautiful with an organ playing.  With tired legs we headed back to the hotel via Boulevard Malesherbes which has all the top labels...window shopping..  After a snooze we went to dinner at Le Laurent near the Louvre. Another degustation at  400 euros pp.  Nice but not really my style.  Bed by 12.30pm

Day 3

Andrew thought he should go to the conference so I started the morning with an hour run in the park then headed off to Montmartre district looking for Jim Morrison's grave. I returned via La Fayette Galleria shops and after 5 hours of walking returned to the hotel for a sleep, and meet Andrew for dinner.  We were taken to Manray restaurant (apparently now called the Le 1515) where the medical company hosting the night booked the whole place.  At the time it was owned by Johnny Depp, Sean Penn and John Malkovich - 60 euro just to get in the door! We left early and  walked back via the Arc De Triomphe which was lit up and gorgeous.  Gets dark around 9pm. Bed by 10.30pm

Day 4

After a sleep in, Andrew was at conference for a few hours so I set off for a walk to see The Moulin Rouge and view from the Sacre Coeur Church on the hill.  It was full of tourists at Montmatre and stinking hot. Took photos then headed back. We had a Louvre tour focusing on the Da Vinci Code booked at 3pm so we walked to the Hilton were we started with drinks. A British guide showed us through, viewed the Mona Lisa, then went out and focused on the meridian line ending us up at the St Sulpice church in the Latin Quarter, Paris's oldest church.

Snails at Restaurant Vagenende

By 6pm we were ready for dinner so headed to Vagenende, where we enjoyed a more civilised dinner of prawn,s salmon and snails! We were home by 10.30pm so headed to the top of the convention centre bar for a view of the Eiffel tower at night. Flopped into bed.

Day 5 and our last day in Paris .........TBC

As it is holiday season, I thought I would do a holiday series so I will continue our European holiday adventures next week....;)