Well, today started with checking out of the hotel in Central Marais and wondering how I would get the embedded cigarette smoke from my clothes and belongings. I made my way to the main street and hailed a cab for the trip across the Seine river towards the Eiffel Tower for the hotel that Francis and I would be staying for the next few days called the Hotel Ares Eiffel. Francis found this hotel through Trip Advisor and it had great reviews. I arrived at the hotel and stashed my bag at the lobby and then set out for the Gare de I'Est train station where Francis would be arriving on the Train from Luxembourg/Metz. I arrived early and killed some time in the cafe and watched the people hustling about.
The train finally arrived and Francis appeared looking just like he did in 2007 when we last met. We decided that we'd have lunch before moving to the hotel so he took me to a Belgian fast food place called Quick. I decided against any burger since they put mayonnaise on it instead of ketchup so we both got seafood salads. The salad was actually very good. We then set out for the hotel and checked in. The room is small but very elegant and certainly an eye for details is apparent. It has Versace tile in the bathroom, Hermes toiletries, Bang & Olufsen sound system and red velvet accents with the headboard and bed throw. I think Elvis might have been happy here!
We set off on our first day and stopped at the Arc de Triomphe. There are 12 streets that converge on this round-about and it really is chaotic but it all meshes together without damage or injury! The Arc has the tomb of the unknown French soldier buried underneath from WWI and an eternal flame. This eternal flame was the idea for John Kennedy's eternal flame...the story has it that when the former President and First Lady toured Paris they were taken here and the First Lady remembered the flame and requested it for John Kennedy's grave at Arlington. There are 284 steps to the top of the Arc and it provides a good view of the city. The weather is overcast and visibility isn't all that good. We can look down the Champs Elysees and then spin 180 degrees and look towards the business district and where the Arc of la Defense is located. This Arc has had victory marches underneath by many armies and not always French.
We then strolled along the Champs Elysees and what Francis described as the most beautiful boulevard in the world :) In order to open a store along this street you must be approved by a committee of the city...sounds like a homeowners association, and probably equally painful. The city wants to prevent the mass commercialism you would see in like NYC's Times Square. Of note, Abercromie and Fitch has been approved for store space and will open a store this year sometime. The boulevard would really be different looking when the trees are in full foliage.
Our next stop is the Arc of la Defense located in the business area of Paris which is actually not in the city proper. This area has steel and glass buildings jutting into the sky in may shapes and designs. The Arc is a perfect cube and a monument to humanity and humanitarian ideals rather than military victories. We then walked through the mall adjacent to the Arc so Francis could buy a toothbrush and contact solution. Strangely, you cannot buy eye solutions over the counter at a pharmacy and must come to an eye store AND it is way expensive...like you are squirting gold in your eyes.
We then returned to the hotel and prepared for dinner at Leon's restaurant. This place specializes in mussel dishes (clam family). Francis got his favorite mussel dish while I opted for a Belgian beef pot roast type dish. It was quite good and Francis enjoyed his meal too. Eating in Europe is a slower event than what we are generally used to in America. I always finish my meal before Francis. In addition, dessert is usually ordered and followed by coffee or tea. I cause some surprises when I order my tea before the meal as a main beverage.
After returning to the hotel, reviewing the plan for the next day it was late and we needed sleep since we would be using the gym in the morning! The first photo is of a sign in all the Metro stations about "Wall Street" English. I found this quite amuzing since at first glance you'd ask yourself what the hell is Wall Street English...sure they have their own lexicon but cmon. I do realize that they are speaking about the Wall Street Institute school for English....what a laugh. Anway, the second picture is of the Arc of la Defense. The third picture is of the Champs Elysees and the last picture is of the Arc de Triomphe.
I couldn't write about my favorite French boulangerie without mentioning my favorite French hotel. On a spur of the moment trip to Paris (I was living in London at the time), I decided to venture outside of the typical hotel booking one tends to sway towards when they are in a last minute crunch. I was only staying for 2 nights, but I never like to miss an opportunity to experience something out of the ordinary. So I decided to search for the perfect boutique hotel with that je ne sais quois.What I found was Hotel Ares, a true little gem that beams with charming French architecture, while incorporating modern furnishings & luxury amenities.
The chic little lobby shown below is set with sleek white couches, whimsical pillows, and a library nook filled with the most interesting books you can imagine (think Taschen). I could have spent hours in there, but hellooo, I was in Paris!
After all these fantastic features, I haven't even spilled the best part...It's just 5 minutes walking distance from the Champs Elyssés & 10 from the Eiffel Tower! It's hard to beat this location without really sacrificing your wallet. Hotel rates are always changing depending on the season, the day of the week, even the weather, but on my trip I payed around 150 Euros/night.
Hotel Ares was the perfect way to spend a couple nights in Paris and I know you boutique hotel lovers will eat this one up!
The rooms have several different colored interiors, most of them bright, and I was lucky because mine just happened to be my favorite color! All the rooms have these sexy, dark hardwood floors, adding a truly luxurious feel.
When I said luxury amenities, I wasn't kidding. Versace tiled bathrooms and Hermès soap bars! I didn't even know that Hermès made soap, and recently I heard that there was an Hermès fireplace. Wouldn't you love to see that? (I'll track it down).
