Paris, France
Tuesday, November 30 2004 @ 07:01 am EST
by Andy
I've really enjoyed Paris the few times I've been there, and when I was invited to go celebrate my friend Derek's birthday there, I jumped at the chance.
Derek had no idea his friend Dhimant and I were going to be there. Dhimant flew in on Saturday morning from Philidelphia en route for business in Germany. I arrived Friday evening from Geneva to meet Derek and Allison at Le Petit Marché, a nice little bar/restaurant. I arrived early and was at the bar when Derek walked in, and I don't think he recognised me initially. I'm sure he was expecting a nice little weekend away with his wife Allison, but Allison had made other plans. That evening we had a really nice meal and a couple of drinks and arranged to meet up the following morning.
Unfortunately I wasn't there to see the look on Derek's face when Dhimant showed up at his door at the hotel, but I'm sure he was in shock. I met them at their hotel and we took a stroll. Allison had done some great research and found an excellent restaurant called Mon Vieil Ami on l'Ile St. Louis, near Notre Dame Cathedral. After feeding ourselves in the style to which we have become accustomed, we wandered around a bit and stopped by a bistro beside Notre Dame for a drink. Derek ordered two 'large beers' for himself and Dhimant. I don't think they were quite expecting the size of the things. Several people walking by were quite amused as they struggled to lift the obviously heavy glasses.
After a bit of a break in the afternoon, we boarded the train for Versailles where we went to wander and soak up the atmosphere of Les Grandes Eaux Nocturne. On certain evenings during the summer, they light up all the fountains and play music while the public strolls around the garden. At the end they have some pretty spectacular fireworks. We brought our own champagne and glasses and sat on a bench in the gardens next to a group playing baroque music and toasted Derek's birthday. It was a really great moment.
On Sunday we went for brunch in a trendy part of of the city to a place Derek and Allison had been to before, and we had a really nice chat over brunch outside. Dhimant had to leave, and Derek, Allison, and I spent the afternoon down by Le Bibliothèque National where we went to see Shrek 2.
I stayed in Paris for another couple of days and wandered around some of my favourite places, stopping often at cafés for an espresso or two. As usual, I found many new and interesting things in Paris. I will be back!
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Derek had no idea his friend Dhimant and I were going to be there. Dhimant flew in on Saturday morning from Philidelphia en route for business in Germany. I arrived Friday evening from Geneva to meet Derek and Allison at Le Petit Marché, a nice little bar/restaurant. I arrived early and was at the bar when Derek walked in, and I don't think he recognised me initially. I'm sure he was expecting a nice little weekend away with his wife Allison, but Allison had made other plans. That evening we had a really nice meal and a couple of drinks and arranged to meet up the following morning.
