In 2018 my wife and I decided to spend Christmas in Paris ...
Stayed at the newly opened "LaFauchon" 5 starred boutique hotel which was nice enough but was suffering from some opening teething problems (felt more like a soft opening to us), a slightly quirky hotel, and most certainly not a true 5 starred hotel, but generally comfortable overall.
I have been to Paris countless times over the last 40 years with my work, and to be honest, was never really that impressed, always thought it was dirty and with rude people (Outside of Paris a different story though), however visiting as a couple on a romantic trip put a different spin on it, my wife spent some time at a French ballet school 25 years ago and is enamoured with all things French, so happily under the Cosh.
We did most of the usual tourist traps, Eiffel Tower, Versailles Palace (never been before and a pleasant surprise), Notre Dame (sadly 4 months later it shocked us and all the world with the truly awful fire), Sacre-Coeur Basilica (always a lovely view of Paris, a little like Hampstead Heath in London), The Louvre Museum (The Mona Lisa painting is tiny) etc ..
Went to see an Opera at the "Opera Bastille", very good it was too, but imagined that not as good as seeing it at the truly beautiful and Iconic and extravagantl "Opera de Paris"...
Of course culinary experiences are a plenty in Paris from the simple (just give me some freshly baked Crusty French bread with melting butter and a nice chunk of "compte" cheese, yum yum, we went to several restaurants for evening dinner including the Japanese 1 starred Michelin restaurant "Matsuhisa" which is inside the "Le Royal Monceau Raffles Hotel", but hands down the best food and experience was the gastronomic experience "Durcasse Sur Seine" a 100% electric boat with floor to ceiling windows affording spectacular views whilst gently floating along the river Seine, owned by the most decorated living Michelin starred chef (19 I believe), the outstanding "Alain Ducasse" (next time in Paris we will book at the "Le Meurice), whilst not a Michelin starred restaurant, it was outstanding, fabulously good service, great wine pairings, in fact with the Beef Wellington, the wine was "Chataeu Margaux", a very pleasant surprise as one my most favourite wines period, once this information was burted out and released to the waiter, she promptly kept my glass full (Needless to say a big tip was forthcoming at the end).
A truly lovely time was had by both of us....
Stayed at the newly opened "LaFauchon" 5 starred boutique hotel which was nice enough but was suffering from some opening teething problems (felt more like a soft opening to us), a slightly quirky hotel, and most certainly not a true 5 starred hotel, but generally comfortable overall.
I have been to Paris countless times over the last 40 years with my work, and to be honest, was never really that impressed, always thought it was dirty and with rude people (Outside of Paris a different story though), however visiting as a couple on a romantic trip put a different spin on it, my wife spent some time at a French ballet school 25 years ago and is enamoured with all things French, so happily under the Cosh.
We did most of the usual tourist traps, Eiffel Tower, Versailles Palace (never been before and a pleasant surprise), Notre Dame (sadly 4 months later it shocked us and all the world with the truly awful fire), Sacre-Coeur Basilica (always a lovely view of Paris, a little like Hampstead Heath in London), The Louvre Museum (The Mona Lisa painting is tiny) etc ..
Went to see an Opera at the "Opera Bastille", very good it was too, but imagined that not as good as seeing it at the truly beautiful and Iconic and extravagantl "Opera de Paris"...
Of course culinary experiences are a plenty in Paris from the simple (just give me some freshly baked Crusty French bread with melting butter and a nice chunk of "compte" cheese, yum yum, we went to several restaurants for evening dinner including the Japanese 1 starred Michelin restaurant "Matsuhisa" which is inside the "Le Royal Monceau Raffles Hotel", but hands down the best food and experience was the gastronomic experience "Durcasse Sur Seine" a 100% electric boat with floor to ceiling windows affording spectacular views whilst gently floating along the river Seine, owned by the most decorated living Michelin starred chef (19 I believe), the outstanding "Alain Ducasse" (next time in Paris we will book at the "Le Meurice), whilst not a Michelin starred restaurant, it was outstanding, fabulously good service, great wine pairings, in fact with the Beef Wellington, the wine was "Chataeu Margaux", a very pleasant surprise as one my most favourite wines period, once this information was burted out and released to the waiter, she promptly kept my glass full (Needless to say a big tip was forthcoming at the end).
A truly lovely time was had by both of us....
