After dropping off our luggage at Novotel Suites, 335 Rue de la Belle Etoile (near Charles de Gaule airport), we ordered an UberX to downtown Paris (Sainte-Chapelle).
We were picked up by an English Jaguar (right-hand steering wheel) and taken to Sainte Chapelle on the Isle-de-Paris. We purchased tickets (20 euros for 2 adults and 1 teenager) and explored the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle church.
The stained-glass windows on the second floor were genuinely breathtaking.
Since we were a bit hungry, we decided to stop by for lunch at the well-rated Café Brasserie Les Deux Palais nearby. Inna and I ordered a delicious "chevre chaud" salad (with goat cheese), while Alex selected the "Croque Monsieur" sandwich. Inna also called the "French Onion soup," which she enjoyed immensely. For dessert, we shared the delicious "Tarte Tatin," and Alex savored his "Mousse au Chocolat."
After lunch, we walked 7 minutes to the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral. It was beautifully decorated inside with Christmas trees and replicas of Jesus' birth. We marveled at the size and beauty of this one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
From here, we decided to walk to the Louvre Museum.
On the way there, we stopped by to taste Italian gelato. It wasn't bad - but not as good as Grom in Turin. Alex was astounded by the size of the Louvre museum. Although he had visited the museum when he was younger, he did not recall it.
Since Alex also wanted to see the Arc de Triomphe, we decided to save time by taking the underground metro.
We purchased a 10-pack of tickets for 14.90 euros and rode the metro to Charles de Gaule-Etoile station. We exited the metro and walked over to the giant Arc de Triomphe. We decided to climb to the top, so we purchased tickets and proceeded on the long climb up the narrow, winding staircase to the top. Inna was getting a bit tired and had to take a break.
When we reached the top, the view of the Champs Elysees and Eiffel Tower was spectacular.
After walking around and taking a few photos, we returned to the ground level and took the metro to Montmartre to be closer to the Moulin Rouge show.
When we reached Montmartre, we decided to get dinner before the show. We had difficulty finding well-rated restaurants and finally settled on Café des 2 Moulins. When we first sat in the cafe, loud rhythmic music played, and most other customers drank wine. I was a bit doubtful about the quality of the food here. Luckily, my apprehension was unnecessary.
I ordered the "Amelie Bowl" salad (an unusual combination of vegetables and fruits), while Alex selected the "Bacon Cheese Burger." Inna chose the traditional "beef bourguignon," which she shared with me.
The food came back very quickly, expertly prepared, and quite delicious!
We enjoyed our dinner very much. The service was speedy and friendly. And efficient. I didn't expect Paris to be so friendly.
After dinner, we rushed to the Moulin Rouge show nearby (for which we had pre-purchased tickets for the 21:00 show). After depositing our coats, we sat at a table across from the show (not too far away) with a bottle of wine to share.
The Moulin Rouge show was less exciting than anticipated. I hoped to hear more powerful, tuneful songs (like Edith Piaf's "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien") for the high ticket price. Although there were many beautiful, bare-breasted dancing girls, the show lacked substance. It was a strange combination of cabaret and Cirque du Soleil (with some great acrobat acts). The singing portion was relatively weak (lacking any singing talent).
I hoped for a more thematic show, with a logical progression between songs and acrobatic acts. In Moulin Rouge, the progression of acts seemed aimless to me. I am happy to have seen it, but I wouldn't necessarily see it again. I did like the Boogie-Woogie dancing act, the incredibly flexible girl, and the muscular guy acrobat. I did not understand the point of the girl swimming with snakes. I found her act boring.
The Cirque du Soleil shows (in Las Vegas) are vastly superior (and usually cheaper too: i.e., Love, KA, "O," Mystere)
Right after the show, we ordered UberX and were quickly driven back to our Novotel Suites hotel near Charles de Gaulle airport (chosen for the early flight back to San Francisco).
Tuesday, January 8, 2018
In the morning, we ate a buffet breakfast at the Novotel Suites. The yogurt croissants and slices of bread were quite tasty.
After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and boarded the shuttle to the Charles de Gaulle airport. We had to wait in a long line to check in our luggage, go through border patrol, and then security. We were tired when we finally boarded our return flight to San Francisco.
While on the plane, I felt fine and watched a few interesting movies. My favorite, by far, was the Grand Budapest Hotel.
We were picked up by an English Jaguar (right-hand steering wheel) and taken to Sainte Chapelle on the Isle-de-Paris. We purchased tickets (20 euros for 2 adults and 1 teenager) and explored the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle church.
The stained-glass windows on the second floor were genuinely breathtaking.
Since we were a bit hungry, we decided to stop by for lunch at the well-rated Café Brasserie Les Deux Palais nearby. Inna and I ordered a delicious "chevre chaud" salad (with goat cheese), while Alex selected the "Croque Monsieur" sandwich. Inna also called the "French Onion soup," which she enjoyed immensely. For dessert, we shared the delicious "Tarte Tatin," and Alex savored his "Mousse au Chocolat."
After lunch, we walked 7 minutes to the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral. It was beautifully decorated inside with Christmas trees and replicas of Jesus' birth. We marveled at the size and beauty of this one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
From here, we decided to walk to the Louvre Museum.
On the way there, we stopped by to taste Italian gelato. It wasn't bad - but not as good as Grom in Turin. Alex was astounded by the size of the Louvre museum. Although he had visited the museum when he was younger, he did not recall it.
Since Alex also wanted to see the Arc de Triomphe, we decided to save time by taking the underground metro.
We purchased a 10-pack of tickets for 14.90 euros and rode the metro to Charles de Gaule-Etoile station. We exited the metro and walked over to the giant Arc de Triomphe. We decided to climb to the top, so we purchased tickets and proceeded on the long climb up the narrow, winding staircase to the top. Inna was getting a bit tired and had to take a break.
When we reached the top, the view of the Champs Elysees and Eiffel Tower was spectacular.
After walking around and taking a few photos, we returned to the ground level and took the metro to Montmartre to be closer to the Moulin Rouge show.
When we reached Montmartre, we decided to get dinner before the show. We had difficulty finding well-rated restaurants and finally settled on Café des 2 Moulins. When we first sat in the cafe, loud rhythmic music played, and most other customers drank wine. I was a bit doubtful about the quality of the food here. Luckily, my apprehension was unnecessary.
I ordered the "Amelie Bowl" salad (an unusual combination of vegetables and fruits), while Alex selected the "Bacon Cheese Burger." Inna chose the traditional "beef bourguignon," which she shared with me.
The food came back very quickly, expertly prepared, and quite delicious!
We enjoyed our dinner very much. The service was speedy and friendly. And efficient. I didn't expect Paris to be so friendly.
After dinner, we rushed to the Moulin Rouge show nearby (for which we had pre-purchased tickets for the 21:00 show). After depositing our coats, we sat at a table across from the show (not too far away) with a bottle of wine to share.
The Moulin Rouge show was less exciting than anticipated. I hoped to hear more powerful, tuneful songs (like Edith Piaf's "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien") for the high ticket price. Although there were many beautiful, bare-breasted dancing girls, the show lacked substance. It was a strange combination of cabaret and Cirque du Soleil (with some great acrobat acts). The singing portion was relatively weak (lacking any singing talent).
I hoped for a more thematic show, with a logical progression between songs and acrobatic acts. In Moulin Rouge, the progression of acts seemed aimless to me. I am happy to have seen it, but I wouldn't necessarily see it again. I did like the Boogie-Woogie dancing act, the incredibly flexible girl, and the muscular guy acrobat. I did not understand the point of the girl swimming with snakes. I found her act boring.
The Cirque du Soleil shows (in Las Vegas) are vastly superior (and usually cheaper too: i.e., Love, KA, "O," Mystere)
Right after the show, we ordered UberX and were quickly driven back to our Novotel Suites hotel near Charles de Gaulle airport (chosen for the early flight back to San Francisco).
Tuesday, January 8, 2018
In the morning, we ate a buffet breakfast at the Novotel Suites. The yogurt croissants and slices of bread were quite tasty.
After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and boarded the shuttle to the Charles de Gaulle airport. We had to wait in a long line to check in our luggage, go through border patrol, and then security. We were tired when we finally boarded our return flight to San Francisco.
While on the plane, I felt fine and watched a few interesting movies. My favorite, by far, was the Grand Budapest Hotel.
- The Children Act (2017) with Emma Thompson
As her marriage crumbles, a judge must decide a case involving a teenage boy who is refusing a blood transfusion on religious principle.
- Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) with Ralph Fiennes
The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend.
An epic adventure set in the last Ice Age, ALPHA tells a fascinating, visually stunning story that shines a light on the origins of man's best friend. While on his first hunt with his tribe's most elite group, a young man is injured and must learn to survive alone in the wilderness. Reluctantly taming a lone wolf abandoned by its pack, the pair learn to rely on each other and become unlikely allies, enduring countless dangers and overwhelming odds in order to find their way home before winter arrives.
I really wanted to watch this interesting movie about Civil Disobedience during the Cold War but there were no English subtitles available
- Peppermint (2018) with Jennifer Garner
Five years after her husband and daughter are killed in a senseless act of violence, a woman comes back from self-imposed exile to seek revenge against those responsible and the system that let them go free.
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