Le Road Trip

Yesterday I went to CDG to pick up Vivian and escort her into town to the quite fabulous tiny hotel de Nesle in the 6th arrondissement. Viv had generously taken me to JFK when I departed NYC with my mountains of junk, so it was the least I could do.

Since Vivian has 9 cats I figured she'd bring me one. No way. But she did bring me more chewing gum than I could have dreamed of (15 packs!). Gum has become popular in France. And my Timex alarm clock-radio I left behind and impossible to find in Paris. It lights in the dark, wakes you up to Cherie FM and improves your French accent immeasurably if you listen to soccer games in the background. Almost as good as having a Fr spouse.

I didn't see a live cat at Hotel de Nesle but plenty of decorative cats.

Masses of artworks and homey tchotchkes.

Even a bear or two...

There's a delightful terrace garden up on the landing for Serenity Now and peace and quiet when you need it.

Evidently every room has a different theme at Hotel de Nesle.

A short trip to Morocco was planned, so the 'Afrique' room was perfect

It's pretty normal to arrive in Paris completely jet-lagged and sleepy, but as soon as she put on her J.Peterman 'English Tunic Blouse' (No. 3774) she was transformed into a dynamo raging to go. Who knew? I must get one of these.

Top of the to-do list was a decent cup of tea (the list includes must-dos in every arrondissement in Paris(!) so good thing her J.Peterman is with her...ahem. We headed/ran out the door enroute to that essential cup of tea at café de Nesle on the corner of Nesle and rue Dauphine, 

At the café my chevre chaud was disappointing. I didn't expect it to be deep-fried inside dim sum wrappers. Viv was thrilled with her omelette nature and perfect cup of tea.

But she left the cookie that accompanied the tea, a Speculoos cookie of all things. I asked if I could have it and how come she wasn't eating it in the first place. Didn't she eat sweets?

She said long ago a friend told her,

"Don't eat dessert if it isn't something FABULOUS!"

I did not eat the cookie.

I'm immortalizing it here by posting it as the first-ever cookie I didn't eat that was there (like Mt. Everest) sitting on the table.

It's on my desktop (not my desk) too as a reminder to not eat non-fabulous desserts. (OFD)

We'll see how long that lasts...

Bonne Trip in Paris!