Bonjour, mes amies! My daughter Amy and I made it safely to Paris aboard our super clean (and large) 787 aircraft taking an overnight hop from Dallas-Fort Worth to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport. Great trip! A bit cramped but at nine seats across the airplane, it really was quite spacious…
It was raining as we came into land at CDG around 1:15pm. The outskirts of Paris are surrounded with industrial buildings. We passed by headquarters for many European companies as well as an Ikea and Samsung building as our driver headed south from the airport into Paris proper.
There was a bit of traffic but the drive was a quick 40 minutes. I was really pleased with Welcome Pickups as a driver service! This company was recommended by our hotel ~ Les Jardins de Eiffel, a beautiful 3-star hotel in the heart of the 7th Arrondisement here in Paris.
Our driver was on-time (actually early, and booked for us for 2 hours or so), showed us where to get our American dollars exchanged at CDW, and toured us around Paris which is how I shot most of these photographs. 🙂
I appreciated his giving us a quick tour around the Arc de Triomphe, a big statue in the center of town, and a view of Paris’ enormous 80,000+ seat stadium, le Stade de France (can you imagine??).
Paris is sooo beautiful! Of course, it has modern buildings mixed in with the the ancient ones, but how can you not love a city with such gorgeous architecture?? Most of my photographs are of ironwork railings and plasterwork… This is what I am looking for amongst our travels about the city.
Les Jardines de Eiffel Hotel
Our room was upgraded by the hotel staff, which was wonderful! Upon arrival, we were told that our room has a view of the Eiffel Tower and it didn’t disappoint. Le Jardines de Eiffel Hotel is a beautiful small hotel was recommended to me by our friend Jeanie from The Marmelade Gypsy and is everything she said it would be!
Charming, right off a small street ~ 8, rue Amélie ~ about a mile from the Eiffel Tower (witha great view right outside our bedroom window!). Our room had a queen size bed, a tele for watching the news, a teapot to have a nice cuppa, and an en suite bathroom with a tall tub.
It took us a while to figure out how to turn on the lights! None of them worked at first but you have to slide your room card key into this slot on the wall and then the lights and a/c radiator units work. Always fun to learn how to use things in another country!
Stohrer Chocolate, Rue Cler, Paris, France
We ended our day with dinner at a little café and a stop by a chocolate store…
We picked up some milk chocolate truffles and I found a wonderfully chocolate mousee-filled éclair to snack on back in our room.
This chocolate shop (magasin de chocolate) had beautiful marble counters and wooden display cases (why didn’t I take more photos??).
Seems as though all of the shops we poked our heads into have been there forever! Our café had solid wooden plank floors, my guess is at least 2″ thick, 10″ x 2″. They didn’t squeak or bend under my weight ~ good flooring!
The young lady who helped us talked about how Parisienne chocolates were so different than any others. We had asked about why they tasted so much better! I do have to say, the mousse inside this éclair was really fluffy but not overly sweet, which was perfect.
And that was our first day in Paris, friends!!
Jusqu’Ã la prochaine fois,
Barb 🙂
Oh Barb, I’m so glad you like the hotel! AND that they upgraded your room. When you get back, I’ll email you a painting I did of that VERY VIEW from the balcony! Our room and two beds, I think but I’ll bet it was next door to yours! Rue Cler has some lovely restaurants and very convenient to the hotel, which is nice. The chocolate shop looks great — I wish I’d found it! (And I’d forgotten but I remember about that key and the lights!). Love your report! Enjoy and savor.
Jeanie, your painting sounds lovely! We really enjoyed staying there and thought about bailing out on our final AirBnB and returning to it, but I was going to lose too much money… So, another time we will stay again! Amy is going to go back and bug her roommate to see if they can come back in two years, when Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen. She really liked it there, too!
Thank you again for your recommendations,
Barb 🙂
Barb, Lovely that you are so enjoying your trip to Paris. It is such a great city with surprises around every corner. Sitting in cafes enjoying a glass of wine or a coffee as you watch the people parade has fascinated visitors to Paris for many years. Love the pictures.
Lynne
Lynne, I couldn’t agree more! We know that it is rude to stare but a quick look is enough to study people’s hairstyles, their clothes!! We are enjoying seeing all of the shops, the incredible architecture (still haven’t found an architectural salvage shop anywhere… whaaaa!), the buildings and parks… Definitely worth a once-in-a-lifetime trip!
Merci,
Barb 🙂
Wonderful photos, enjoy Paris. It truly is beautiful and magical!
Pam, thank you so much for your sweet thoughts! My daughter Amy and I had the best time and hope to go again soon. I’m sorry I didn’t write back soon but time got away.
Happy to be home but ready to go again,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
How wonderful to get the tip for your stay from Jeanie! It looks wonderful! I recently read of a friend in Europe also trying to figure out how to turn on the lights (they refused to call the front desk and be “those dumb Americans”, lol). Turns out they learned a trick to use a credit card to keep the lights on while out so they could have air conditioning upon their return. They were having triple digits temps, but you’re probably used to that with TX! Enjoy, be safe, have fun.
Rita, that’s a great thought with the credit card. Amy thought of leaving her card, so we took mine and then we had a nice cool room upon our returns from adventures out. 🙂 And yes, I didn’t want to be the dumb Americaine but as it was, I didn’t know how to use the phone! That’s my claim to dumbness, lol!!
Happy to be home but ready to go again,
Ready for fall’s cooler weather,
Barb 🙂
Enjoy your stay!
Maya, thank you so much for your thoughts! This was the best trip… My daughter came over a little grumbly and by the time we left was all smiles! That was the best part for me. She really needed this time away to just see somewhere new… Busy writing and prepping more photos to share… 😉
Hugs from Texas,
Barb 🙂
Barb,
Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful trip….I am not able to travel so I love when others share their trips….Makes me feel like I was there right with you for thanks for that!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thank you, Debbie! We had the best time over in Paris and Grenoble!! Funny, as I was writing for an upcoming post, I realized I am writing a memoir of sorts, my diary. 😉 I’m glad I could take you with me on this trip. <3
Love and hugs,
Barb 🙂