it's been a while since we updated our blog. We had a quiet November here in Paris with a bitter cold spell in December. Paris is pretty dreary in the winter with sunrise after 8 am and sunset around 5 pm. It rained or snowed almost every day which is hard when you have to walk to transportation, grocery, etc. Apparently the winters in Paris haven't had much snow so they aren't used to using salt to clear the sidewalks so they were pretty icy. You all know how much I (Sydelle) love ice!!!!! But as xmas approaches all the neighborhoods put up lights and the Eiffel tower is lit up as well. So the city becomes illuminated and is beautiful. The lighting really helps with the winter blues.
We were thrilled to see 2 families from Cleveland: The Browns and the Greggos. First the Browns flew into Paris in time for Marcia to go with Abby to a birthday skating party at the Hotel de Ville. This meant that Joe and I could go out with Bob and Catherine Scallin to the Brasserie Lip. This is a place where politicians frequently eat. They sat us upstairs since we were not part of the French elite but we didn't care. The atmosphere, service and food and wine were wonderful. Marcia stayed with Abby for a couple of nights which was great for us. It was great to hear the girls laughing again. That is a sound I have really missed. Abby and Marcia went shopping along rue de Commerce where there is a great H&M. The H&M here has very different merchandise from home in Cleveland so definitely worth a trip. Also they went to Pimkie which is another great store for teens. Probably they went other places but they didn't talk to much about it with me. The Browns invited us to dinner at the oldest restaurant in Paris, A La Petite Chaise, located on rue de Grenelle. It was established in 1680. The food, wine, and service was superb. Our girls are all grown up now and looked so. The next night both families attended a concert at Notre Dame Cathedral. It was their annual xmas concert. The acoustics were amazingly great. A note here - I did not go to this since I was home sick with the stomach flu. This flu began to make the rounds between me then Joe then Abby.
The next day, Tuesday Dec 21, the Browns left to return to Cleveland and Leah Greggo flew in from Cleveland. I was well enough to go with Abby to meet her but Joe had to teach so just Abby and I to meet Leah at the airport. Unfortunately, my name wasn't listed as a responsible adult to pick up Leah so her Mom quickly sent an email to Air France giving me permission. So nice to know the airlines take their care of minors travelling alone seriously. The staff at Air France was really nice. They were have lots of hassles but alls well that ends well. We finally reached our apt by 5 pm Paris time at which point I fed the girls and Leah took a well deserved nap. As I was making dinner, Joe comes home from teaching at CNAM saying "I don't feel well I don't think I will eat". Sure enough he became ill with the stomach flu. The sound effects were not pleasant. The evening passed as the girls and I ate dinner and they just hung out and caught up with friends and drama back home. Then at 2:30 am Abby gets the tummy bug. So Wednesday I took Leah to lunch and some shopping close by at a nice mall while Joe and Abby napped. This tummy flu passed by thursday or friday when Abby and Leah went on their own shopping around rue Muffetard and rue de Commerce.
Christmas eve I made a dinner of pot roast cooked in red wine, home made challah, and roasted carrots. We all enjoyed it then had take out chinese food xmas day - but of course. But not done yet with disasters - on xmas eve the neighbors upstairs had a broken radiator which was leaking into our apt!!!! They were away for 2 weeks and the concierge didn't have their key. So we called the fire dept who used their ladder to get into their apt via the patio having to break a window in the process to get in. What a scene!!!!! We did meet some neighbors (both bilingual) upstairs who live across from the broken radiator apt. They were wonderful to us helping to translate to the concierge who of course speaks no english and doesn't want to do anything or take any responsibility. This couple opened a bottle of champagne so this took the edge off the hassles involved. The firedept. closed the radiator so it would stop spilling water which helped us in our apt. However the leaks didn't stop until 1 am. In the end the people who live in the apt were contacted and apologized for the inconvenience to us. They turn out to be bilingual also and very nice.
On Xmas day evening after a dinner of chinese food we went to the movies which were pretty crowded. But we saw Victor Victoria. Really good movie. The next day Leah's Mom arrived. We all met at the Louvre and started walking to the Place de Concord where you have great views of Paris from all 4 sides of the Place. Then we walked down the Champs Elysee. This Avenue was so crowded with locals and tourists. The street had a large xmas market with foods, clothing, etc for us to buy. The champs elysee is lit up unlike any street in Paris so it was lovely to walk down although I could do without the crowds. When we reach the Arc de Triomph we headed to the metro where we got off at the Trocodera stop. This has amazing views of the Eiffel tower as well. Then we went to what has become our favorite restaurant here in Paris, The Rotisserie de Beaujolais. It is on Quai de la tournelle which is across from the Ile st. Louis and Behtillon which we skipped that nite.
Doris and Leah and Abby did a few sightseeing tours together. One bus tour around Paris with Leah and Doris then another day the 3 of them took a boat ride of the Seine followed by the Eiffel Tower. Nice to do a tour that way you can get around the line at the Eiffel tower which is always long. One day the 4 of us toured the Shoah museum, the marais (jewish section of Paris) and walked around the area of the hotel de ville. The weather was cold and wet which really makes you cold even if you are from Cleveland. So we came back to the apt in the afternoon for warm drinks. Doris and Leah took a day trip to Normandy which they really enjoyed. Meanwhile, Joe Abby and I went to see the Monet Exhibit at the Grand Palais. It was a chronological view of his work from when he was a young man to his death. A wonderful exhibition. The 3 of us also went to Notre Dame to hear the Gregorian Chant. Another wonderful evening of music.
New years eve we had been walking around the marais. But made a wonderful dinner of french onion soup, grilled hanger steak, mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, chocolates, and champagne. A wonderful evening to welcome 2011 with good friends and food. The custom in Paris is to shoot off fireworks at midnight so that was fun to watch as well.
The next day we saw Doris and Leah off to the airport and were sad to say goodbye. We really do miss our friends and family back home. Abby got ready to go back to school on Monday.
I had signed up for a course on bread baking at Le Cordon Bleu which was held on Saturday Jan 8. It was an all day course which began with breakfast of lovely pastries, coffee, water, milk and juice. Then we began the course in a huge kitchen with a chef who spoke french but another chef who translated into english. We made baguettes, country break with walnuts, rye break, kouflak (brioche with dried fruit), olive break and finally a "gallette des rois". This is simply king cake with a surprise in it. whoever gets the slice with the surprise is the king/queen. It is a french tradition for the month of January. Indeed, one family from abby's school invited everyone over for a gallette des rois on friday night. Great fun for the kids and parents as well had time to "shmooz" over champagne and appetizers. Alot of champagne drunk here in Dec and Jan. Glad I can have a little. Don't worry I drink one glass at most.
So that has been our Dec and early January. We hope all of you reading this have a healthy happy new year 2011. Love to all
Sydelle
Doris - Leah's Mom -
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