Paris

Night 1

After a short afternoon nap, we headed out for the evening.

First for drinks at a neighborhood bar and then another block from the hotel to one of old haunts from when we lived in Paris for a month, a couple of years ago. Relais de l'Entrecote serves steak and frites, all you can eat in precision assembly line fashion. Turnover is the key here. The doors open at 7P, with a line outside the door, and by 7:30P the place is packed, and like many Paris restaurants, with little room between tables.

Waitresses ask two basic questions, "how do like your steak?" and "what do you want to drink?" They write your meat preference (3 options only: rare, medium or well done) on the table cloth, so the refills are easy to track.

Round 1...

Round 2...

Dinner. OMG delicious and done in 45 minutes! Now we're off down the street to The Crazy Horse for some T&A. Swear to god, it was Mrs. SFO's idea. Although the girls were all beautiful, young and pretty much undressed, the best part of the show was the two male jugglers. That alone was worth the price of admission. Am I getting old?? Sorry, no show pics as I was too chicken to go against the bouncers.

Someone has a sense of humor...

Couple of pics from our short walk back to the hotel.

After breakfast and a lazy morning, we bundled up and headed out into chilly +2C temps to see Christmas in Paris...

The Plaza-Athenée.

And the rest of Avenue Montagne.

Up to the Champ-Elysées

And over to the Petit Palais.

And it's wonderful architecture.

Across the street, the Grand Palais is now the Grand Palais de Glace with indoor Patinoire or skating rink just opened for the holidays.

Back up to the Champs-Elysées where security was pretty evident.

Interesting Christmas market stands, shops and activities line both side of the Champs-Elysées.

On the Tuileries side of Place de la Concorde is the Roue de Paris, a 200' high portable ferris wheel. It first appeared here in 2000 then moved around and recently returned. Not anywhere near as high or as luxurious as the Singapore Flyer, but it gets you above the city for some great views. Three spins for 10 euros.

For lunch, we stopped at another old hang-out, classic Mini Maxim's on rue de la Paix and then headed up to rue du Faubourg St-Honoré.

...and the gorgeous Christmas lights at Place Vendome, where The Ritz appears closed and undergoing a major and much needed renovation.