December 23 to December 26 - 2006 First four days. |
Back to DONNA AND NORBERT main page Paris is well north of the latitude of New York City and during our stay the days were short (sunrise 9AM to 5PM sunset) and damp cold (seldom higher than 40 degrees) and never any sun. . Day One: We arrive at the apartment in the very fashionable Sixtheenth Arrondissement at 9:30. After a brief rest we all took off to…where else but Cathedral of Notre Dame. Snack at local restaurant. Shakespeare and Company. Jardin de Luxumbourg and Montparnasse for a crepe. Return to apartment to recover from jet lag. Day Two: We survey the beautiful apartment. Metro to Gare St. Lazare to gape at the Grands Magazins (the big stores) Au Printemps Gallerie Lafayette. A long walk through Place de l'Opera to Place de la Republique where we took a welcome chocolate because the weather was brutally cold. Then we met Ken and Elise for dinner at a restaurant in Place de la Contrascarpe. We end the day with a Christmas Eve musical mass at La Madeleine. Day Three: We attend a Christmas Day performance of Giselle at the opulent Opera Garnier. Afterwards we walked to Place Vendôme Place de la Concorde and up the Champs Elysee where we met Ken and Elise for dinner an upscale restaurant. . Day Four: Ste. Chappelle and the Conciergerie where those to be guillotined during the terror were held. A walk through Chatelet to Centre Pompidou which was closed and then through the Marais (the old Jewish Quarter where there are still Jews) to Opera Bastille where we unsuccessfully tried to get tickets for Der Rosencavalier. We finished the evening with dinner at a restaurant at Les Halles. |
The modest apartment in the 16th arrondissement. | The owners of the apartment had an atonishing collection of music and books...to be envied. | Ken and kitchen |
It was cold...but we always knew where we were. | A crepe | Indiana is a cafe chain. | Chez Julien where Norbert used to eat when it was a cheap workers joint. | Marianne in Place de la Republique. |
Another Indiana...for a chocolate. | We have dinner at Place de la Contrascarpe on Christmas Eve. | On the way to Madeleine for Christmas Eve mass and musicale. |
Still on the way...the transfers are called | Day 3. Christmas Day. On the way to LOpera for performance of Giselle. | THIS is a chandalier. | Sometimes Norbert does not take such good pictures. |
Merry Christmas | Champs Elysee | Day 4. Ile St. Louis. |
Ste. Chapelle. Every panel is supposed to tell a famous bible story... | ...but no one we know was able to find one. | Outside Centre Pompidou...which was closed that day. |