And did manage to keep another one

The trip to Paris was about a month ago but with two house moves and Christmas there hasn't been much time to write part II.....

So while on a break elsewhere I'll take some time to remember and recount. And the score stands, Paris visits12+ : Louvre visits 0.

We had an unknown arrondissement to explore and ducked down off the streets to some lovely places.

This path along the former Petite Ceintuire suburban railway. On its eastern stretches it's still wild but in the 16th there's a section officially accessible between Porte d'Auteil and Gare de la Muette.

http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71366/La-petite-ceinture

Wandering around delivers other surprises, this Castel Beranger an early example of social housing.

 

And if it looks familiar that's not surprising, it was designed by one M. Guimard of Metropolitan fame, it was his first solo commission.

We couldn't visit Paris without our now customary cemetery visit, at Cimetiere de Passy we paid our respects to Manet

And despite getting our Municipals closed Monday, Nationals closed Tuesday a bit mixed up we did manage quite a few not-the-Louvre museum visits, including Maison de Balzac (best if you speak or at least read French), Musee Cernuschi and the Petit Palais.

Through the square window at Musee Cernuschi.

 

Petit Palais

 

And there's still more to see at these and others to call us back another day.

 

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And now takes a break from sorting them

Last time I posted I was planning a trip to Paris. It seems so long ago. We had a fabulous time, continued to avoid the Louvre, ate at some wonderful restaurants and enjoyed beautiful music at Notre Dame (though it has to be said it was just a tad chilly, I was glad of two coats). But since our return it seems to have been non stop packing; not the travel kind, house packing. Packing and sorting and disposing and then depositing the contents of a house around an already full flat. Oh dear those Parisian champagne bubbles have burst.

So now with as much stowed away as possible and before Master Starke moves out, there's a little time to share those bubbles.

Paris wasn't the first stop on the journey. It had started in Brussels. A very quick whirl through, time to catch up with old friends, eat some mussels and stock up on chocolate. We didn't really do it justice only managing to scratch the surface and it seemed well worth a second look.

Our bed at The Royal Windsor was very comfortable and if the turn down treat wasn't as big as the one here it was still pretty tasty.

 

The hotel was just off the Grand Place and close to the Galleries St Hubert, a great place for chocolate and accessory shopping, though the former could challenge your waistline and the latter your wallet.

With Mr Starke busy elsewhere I visited the Beaux Arts Museum. I loved the old Flemish Masters and the new exhibitions.

And I was fascinated by theses faces from the past, dug out of the rubble beneath the Cathedral

Business over, we boarded the Thalys for Paris. There can't be a better way to travel between these two cities. One hour and twenty minutes from one capital to another, with a check in time of two minutes. And so much comfier than the plane too.

Paris. Many visits but this was the first solely for leisure, and also the first at a five star hotel. It was a very tranquil way to arrive. Taxi swooshing from the Gare du Nord through (for Paris) fairly traffic free streets, out past some Paris icons to the 16th and a relaxed check in and Earl Grey tea while our bags found their way to our room.

The hotel Raphael ( or Chevalier, if you're a fan of Wes Anderson)

Not the room from the film but the view wasn't too bad

 

And I can't kid myself I'm Natalie Portman.

And yes I know it's kitschy and cliched but the view of the golden twinkling tower from the rooftop terrace just can't be beaten. No photos, that one is for your imagination. The terrace was officially closed for the winter but we were encouraged to wrap up warm and go up for a look. We arrived at the stroke of the hour. Sometimes things just fall into place. Five minutes of sparkle.

 

This doesn't capture it at all

 

A bientot

 

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