Departure

The Depart: August 15, 2011

On arrival into Paris I had the weird feeling of being back to where I was familiar, not home but familiar and comfortable. Ah yes, back where I know, and yet I know that now this is not my home. Strange.

A French couple approached us and gave us their unused Metro tickets. It was quite a journey. The Max Mara bag was tough. We each had a roller, and then a backpack and me, a purse and a messenger bag, Jim a camera bag. Yow! It was tough.

From Ecole Militaire we walked up Rue Cler to the last hotel stay of the grand Tour de Jenn. The man at reception recommended a restaurant Chez Francois, on the lower level of the Air France building, just across the esplanade. We couldn’t get seats till 10:30 and it was 6, but 6pm on Sunday night, so not much open except cafes.

I thought given our long train ride we would walk, but fatigue set in and so we took a slow pace. We tried macarons at Lemoine, just around the corner from our Hotel. We had tried the original macarons, or so we were told, in Provence, at the market. We decided the newer combination of the cookie with the filling adds another dimension to the degustation.  Then we found a random shop open selling luggage at 30% discount and located our new cheap bag to get the new purchases home.

I made a path across the Pont Alexander, and then through the Palais, down past place Concorde, and realized all of a sudden that the steel barriers that had been up then entire time we were in Paris, along the Champs Elysee and around Place Concorde, were GONE. How much more beautiful and approachable the Place and Champs is without the litter of the barriers. We then entered Tuileries, and decided to surrender to the north café near the central boat fountain for refreshment. We made it up through the Louvre courtyard, and the back, east gate. The space was so amazing to experience without throngs of people. As we crossed the bridge, Pont Neuf, the sky began to illuminate with a kaleidoscope of colors. We each tried to capture our versions all the way back.

Bateau Mouche

Seine Sunset 

Saxophonist Seine-side

We changed into dinner attire, I in my new Max Mara black ensemble with new boots! Though it was cool as the sun set, and Jim felt comfortable in his windbreaker, now, as it seems to happen often, after the sunsets, it isn’t as cold.

On arrival at the restaurant, it seemed nearly empty, but all the guests were on the subterranean terrace. We had a lovely waiter, and a good meal.  Jim had steak, which I have to say is not really a French specialty, with an appetizer of smoked salmon, I had an appetizer of bouillabaisse gelee , and white fish with spinach. For dessert, which I had to have given the day, was a meringue topped with a whipped crème and strawberries. Jim had fromage.  No café, no Armagnac, to hotel. We had really done it up the night before and we both were recovering much of the day.

Straight to bed and morning came early. We tried to linger but the time-clock called us up and out. I loaded our new bag which made the journey so much better. We metroed it to the station, but on trying to get the RER elevator, a man showed us the donated passes didn’t cover CDG, so he took us to buy the tickets and did the purchase for us with his card and we paid him 20 euro. We caught a 10:55 to CDG and arrived to terminal 2, which is much nicer than the one we arrived in on AA. We were flying out on Air France. We navigated the entry well, first getting the boarding pass and then doing the detax, which was very rewarding. We got a full 20% back in cash on the Max Mara purchase. Now we made it back to check the bags, did a little bag content juggle for weight and got all packed back in, even the Veille Prune bottle. Through security and into duty free, no Jean Patou Enjoy was findable.

I wanted to get Jim a Hermes belt I had seen on men in Paris, but I didn’t know how to with him there. Then he said let’s meet at the gate, you get the macarons, at La Duree, and I’m going to the wine market.  At La Duree I couldn’t believe the set up. No pre-boxed assortments, just a line with a choosy pregnant woman individually selecting macarons and then asking each child and then her spouse what choices they wanted. I was so, ugh, that I only opted for a box of 8, and couldn’t even think of who else I wanted to give. I collected my reward, had to charge and then wished I had asked for more, but found my way to Hermes. I wanted to find the belt and how much it was. I worked my way back to Hermes. Quick in and to the back, where I find not only the belt, but also a shoe resembling that of which Jim has been talking.  I eye the belt, but what size? Guess what, in the airport they only have limited choices. I speak with the attendant, but she is really of little help. I thank her and make it to the gate. I find Jim and tell him of the shoe, he looks, but not the right size, and at 540 euro it is pricey. Even the belt I had wanted to get him was 406 euro duty free. No Hermes for us, to the gate.

I found a short line, but it was 1st class, but Jim reminded me, that maybe we had priority entry, so we tried the line. On boarding, we found ourselves in row 14, business class. WOW!! We had earphone earpiece covers, socks, leg rest, pillow, a lap blanket, and a champagne aperitif! Jim said my face when I realized our seating was priceless. We had such a smooth ride, 3 full movies, Midnight in Paris, and two French Films, one about Justine who has a challenged relationship with her father, “The First time I saw your Heart”, and another “Tous Les Soleils” set in Alsace, a widow who finally finds love 15 years after ant at then end of the movie, and then finally Water for Elephants.

Harry is to pick us up. Jim called as we boarded. I still struggle with getting Jim a gift. He didn’t like the H Hermes belt buckle, and the shoes lacked the buckle bridle he wanted.