Macarons

Well, last day in Paris was Friday, and I spent the day going from one shop to another :) It was rainy. but that didn't stop the hoards of shoppers out buying their holiday treats. I waited 15 minutes in line to get in Pierre Herme! I think there are about forty macarons for David, Veronique and I to get through :) 
To follow the adventure, please go to www.carolynkessler22.blogspot.ca   I'll won't be posting regularly, and maybe not at all once we get to Oberstaufen (moving day Dec. 30) as the internet may not be working immediately.

Hugo & Victor - very pretty store, and our first try of the macarons says they are worth the price.

Most expensive macarons in Paris I think!

Waited 15 minutes in this line to get into Pierre Herme

Bought a dozen, plus 2 of their special large macarons with raspberries, call Isphahan, flavoured with roses

One last onion soup :)

...and a walk home along the Seine

From my apartment

Galleries

Paris has quite a few inner passageways, covered in glass and often with beautiful tiled floors. These are lined with shops and restaurants, and even a hotel in one. Some, I had never seen before. Nor had I gone into the garden of the Palais Royal, now home to the Comedie Francaise, but formerly home to French kings and their wives and mistresses. The inner courtyard is absolutely huge, and parts are under construction. There are apartments for rent/sale in some sections of the building, so you could stay there on holiday even. The production of An American in Paris was, as musicals go, not one of the best I've ever seen, but it was an enjoyable evening out. Interesting to note that the audience was nearly all French-speaking, and there were subtitles posted on screens above and to each side of the stage, even for song lyrics. This production is headed for New York in the new year, with the Paris staging just a pre-show.

Entrance to one of the covered galleries

They can be pretty, like this one, or very run down

Fancy shops...

...gorgeous displays....

...like this

Kinda bright - not sure I like the red trees, but there are many of them around.

Bourse - stock exchange building

Part of the Palais Royal is a hotel

Another part is a cafe with fur chair covers :)

Long galleries line each side of the huge central courtyard

Wedding photos in the courtyard

People relaxing and having lunch in chairs just like at the Tuileries

Yep, even a fountain

Oddly named shop along the gallery :)

Stella McCartney shop at Palais Royal

Gives you an idea of how big the courtyard is - I wasn't even at the far end

Metro station just outside the Palais Royal - a crown I think :)

Ice skating - a rink is set up each year in front of the City hall of Arr. 1

...complete with carrousel

Theatre Chatelet where I saw An American in Paris

I was in the orchestra section

Pretty, but in need of an upgrade I think

Rainy day in Paris

It wasn't raining hard - just enough drizzle to wet the streets and make everything shine. I wandered and got lost again - such a fun thing to do :)

Pampered Parisian pooches

Glistening street

Art deco in Vaneau

Seafood, and especially oysers, are popular at Christmas

A very pricey chocolate shop - with no customers!

A line of 11 white police vans, each loaded with armed men -

....some had riot shields. Locals didn't seem too bothered though, so maybe it was just a practice run?

Tourists learning to segway -despite the rain

Bakeries are even MORE enticing in the rain

Oh yes

I retired to this cafe on Rue Cler....

....to gaze out the window....

....and have a treat :))

16th arrondissement

Passy is just one of the posh areas of Paris. You see lots of well-dressed ladies shopping, lunching, or walking their dogs. Sadly, it's really difficult to take pictures of people - either you're too slow to catch things, or you feel too intrusive. Best is when there is something photo-worthy in the background that you can use as an excuse for snapping away :)) Passy is on the right bank of the Seine, and includes the Trocadero area, just across the river from the Eiffel Tower. Very popular for tourist photos.

From Trocadero

Unexpected glimpse of the tower down a street in Passy

Beautiful architecture in the 16th

Market street in Passy - much like Rue Cler

Yum??  Maybe :)

Doesn't hurt to have sunshine and blue skies.

Steep bank down to the river Seine.

Art deco door awning - very pretty

Locals walking dogs at the Trocadero

Both construction, plus a movie set - something we're familiar with in Fort Langley :)

Fountain was running

New river boat dock and revamped edge of the Seine - tons of tourists lining up for river cruises

.....some of which include lunch!

Footbridge across the Seine