A Wonderful Wet Weekend in Paris

We had to be in the area near Paris for business purposes, so we decided to explore the city over the weekend. When I realized my last trip to Paris was in 1997 as an 18 year old college student, I knew I had to return ASAP. The weather proved to be quite rainy and windy -- we should have expected that in January -- but it didn't dampen our good time!

We stayed at a very comfortable 4-star hotel the K+K Hotel Cayré in the Saint Germain des Prés neighborhood of the 7ème arrondissement. The Rue du Bac metro stop was just outside our front door; and we were an easy walk or metro ride to all the attractions, shopping, bars, restaurants, and other offerings of the city.

Our first night, I was craving sushi so we stopped in a fantastic nearby joint called Blueberry. A strange name for a sushi restaurant (famous for their rolls), but it did not disappoint. The fish was so fresh, and the creative flavor combinations were very satisfying. And the unusual cocktails were marvelous. We spent the rest of our Friday evening relaxing over a glass of wine at our hotel bar.

Saturday is when the weather got really bad, but we donned our waterproof hiking boots, carried an umbrella, and set out on the long, cold walk to the Eiffel Tower. After catching a glimpse, we "ducked" into a specialty duck, goose, and foie gras restaurant called Au Petit Sud-Ouest for lunch. We were greeted by the friendly owner who has created a special atmosphere for diners to enjoy some of this fabulous French delicacy. Every table has its own toaster so you will have fresh, warm bread on which to spread the creamy foie gras. We had a nice appetizer of goose foie gras with fig; and my main course salad came with its own duck gizzards and foie gras. Jon's duck confit was cooked to perfection. This restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic meal to enjoy some traditional French cuisine.

After a wonderful meal and gorgeous wine, we walked off some calories doing some window shopping in the rain. The Concorde area has some very unusual stores, along with typical touristy shops. And we couldn't miss out on Angelina's famous hot chocolate.

Follow up shopping in and around the Bon Marché eepartment store led us to the very beautiful white paper art installation by the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.

One of our favorite experiences of the weekend was our Saturday evening spent at Aux Deux Amis. This place was a recommendation from a Parisian we met in Geneva, and is not on the tourist radar. As wine lovers, we were over the moon. They serve fantastic tapas, cheese, and natural wines in this bar; and the atmosphere is crowded, noisy, and full of locals. It is well off the beaten track, and some knowledge of French was helpful.

On Sunday, we got moving early to meet our gracious tour guide Richard from Eye Prefer Paris for a fun afternoon touring La Bastille and Le Marais districts during a private market and gourmet walking tour. We sampled cheese, crepes, pastries, breads, rotisserie chicken, and so many other delights. It was such a fun afternoon as the rain began to lift.

In the evening, we were so impressed by the hospitality and generosity of our kind hosts (Jon's coworker and his wife). They provided us with delectable wines, the most amazing cheese plate I have ever seen, and delightful conversation we didn't want to end.

Just before leaving Monday morning, I went to check out the Mercure Paris Centre Eiffel Tower and Pullman Eiffel Tower hotels for my upcoming destination wedding clients group trip to Paris next summer. Taking the TGV high speed train between Geneva and Paris makes for a most comfortable and convenient way to travel, and we look forward to returning to Paris often!