Our hotel here in Paris is typically old-world Parisian. Positioned right opposite the Hotel de Ville, it has a lovely charm about it. An old wooden circular staircase is central to the building. Entrance on ground level, reception and salle de manger/lounge on the first level and the hotel rooms on the floors above. The hallways are lined with wallpaper and there are hundreds of framed paintings, old maps and drawings throughout. I am the last member of my family to have stayed here at the Hotel de Nice (Paris). My brother Andrew had recommended it as a taste of what Paris used to be like, before much of the modern accoutrements of today (save for a split system air-conditioner and flat-screen TV). My parents have also stayed in this hotel.
All the rooms are styled differently and, as if planned, our room is a rich red colour. Red drapes, red and gold bedspread, red and white wallpaper, red carpet. It looks like something from the 18th century (today's featured pic is of our room). Someone must have known that we both have a penchant for Red. Very appropriate, on the honeymoon and all.
The room we have been allocated looks out onto the busy Rue de Rivoli. We have two little balconies that overlook the street. It is a nice, vibrant area here. A large gay population, Jewish population and heaps and heaps of restaurants and cafes. On our walk yesterday, we noticed how busy all the food places were. Even the fast food places were overflowing. McDonalds, KFC, Quick had every aisle open and people queuing onto the street - why aren't Parisians fat? Maybe we should open a fast food business in Paris and retire off that? Yeah right, we couldn't even afford the rent!
Today we concentrated on the two Iles (islands) which are the geographic and historic heart of Paris. We started with a visit to the famous Shakespeare and Co bookstore featured just over on the Left Bank. A tremendous experience to wander through the new and second hand books on display. Very good indeed. Then we got caught looking at souvenirs for a short while, as you do on your second-last day. Had a nice lunch in Rue de Rivoli - Quiche Lorraine. Delicious (and some rather nice desserts too).
We then headed back to the two islands to do what Rod's brother Andrew had suggested. Thanks for the great tip, we followed it exactly. A nice stroll down Rue de Barres (from R de Rivoli), down some cobble-stoned steps, across Pont Louis Phillipe and onto Ile St-Louis, where we descended some stairs to the banks of the Seine - just delightful. We loved Ile-St-Louis - and much of the exclusive Paris apartments are here. There was one on sale with no view of the Seine for just over 2,000,000 euros, but it looked very nice. So we have started to save up.
Loved wandering around the streets of Ile-St-Louis and then we headed over the bigger Ile-de-Cite which houses the famed Notre-Dame cathedral (which we were lucky to get into at evening with no queues at all) and we also had a delicious caramel-flavoured glace from the famed Berthillon ice-creamery. Yummo. We continued to wander through the streets and did a lot of window-shopping looking at all the up-market shops, which are very different to their counterparts on the mainland.
Not too late tonight, as tomorrow is our final day in Paris and our final day of the trip. So we intend to make the most of it. There are a couple of places we wish to revisit and will finish with a nice dinner somewhere - there are so many options. Bon soir for now.
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