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Published: January 22nd 2007
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Le Tour Eiffel in all its Shimmering Glory
the site of our New Year's Eve Celebration!! Bonne Année!!!!
Happy New Year!!!!
What a way to ring in 2007! Once back in Paris and reunited with my buddies from abroad, including an exciting new addition who some of you might know as Phil, the festivities began. We started off the Happy New Year Happy Hour in the hotel with lots of red wine, champagne, fine french fromage and baguettes and of course les chocolat. Once we were completely fired up we hailed a taxi to the glittery Eiffel Tower where we celebrated in complete french fashion...popping champagne shouting "bonne 2007" to passers by and of course, les bisous!
At the stroke of midnight the entire Tour Eiffel sparkled and fireworks were set off, truly trés magnifique!!
After a night of minor debauchery with mes amies , Rachel, Phil and I thought it best to put our bodies into motion and feel the burn. With gorgeous Paris weather we stepped out and strolled around the city's many androissments. First off was ice skating outside under the blue sky at Hotel de Ville. I think I was putting my life on the line since I quickly observed that Parisians ice skate in the same chaotic manner thay they
Like old times...
familiar faces and new places!! drive in. No wipeouts though, rest assure. After hitting the ice we paraded down the world famous Champs-Élysées and visited L'arc De triomphe and enjoyed a yumy Viennois(like a suped up hot chocolate, yeah suped up, as in it has sweet rims that are off the chizain!) at a nearby café.
The next day we started off with a view above the city in a ride in a giant Ferris Wheel at the edge of the tuilleries gardens in Place de la Concorde.
Once off the wheel the group concensus was that we needed to pop into a museum to do Paris right. Easy, eh? Paris has hundreds of museums to choose from....Oh France, how much aggravation you do cause me at times. After trekking in rain, sunshine and wind to several museums including the Louvre and Museé l' Orangerie, we learned that lots of museums in Paris are closed on Tuesdays...hope was not lost. While the sun shone and rain poured at the same time we made our way to a café and regrouped. Of course it never rained while we were in the café, instead the french weather gods chose to let it rain whenever we stepped
outside. We finally settled on a 'neglected' little museum in a quiet residential district(we took this description as a plus that meant no crowds) And it turns out that the most fickle weather day of life led us to Musée Marmotten. After an intense game of 20 questions to pass the time in line (apparently it wasn't as neglected as we had hoped) we got in. The Marmotten houses hundreds of Monet works...including a huge room chockfull of his famous Water Lillies. I would definately recommend paying a visit to Marmotten, its not too big or crowded and it is housed in a gorgeous old mansion. Worth a trip!
That night we spent time above the city again, but sans the Ferris Wheel. Phil and I enjoyed spectacular nighttime views of Paris in the hip and beautiful restaurant 'Georges' atop Le Centre Pompidou, Paris's modern art Museum. Followed by a birthday drink(s) special for Rachel at the restaurant's trés chic bar. The interior looks like a piece of modern artwork, bright pink lights, exposed metal sculpture works and curved table tops and walls, lots of fun!
For a last Parisian supper of sorts we all dined at the
New Years Bisous
everyone kissed, oh grand ol Paris! most delicious and mouth watering Indian dinner these taste buds have ever experienced!! We just stumbled across this place and the food, service and the (free) drinks were amazing! (for future reference it is in the Bastille area, but I cant remember the name...right next to the Ibis Opera Bastille though!)
Sadly, all good fun must come to an end and I had to say Au revoir to my friends. After a quick bye bye breakfast at a cute café we parted ways. Phil and I haded to Chartres to see the Cathedral, Rachel and Christian took a flight back to Germany and Jessie stayed in Paris for another few days of sightseeing. It was sad to say adieu but I know we have many more rendez-vous plans in the future! And I am sure more travel blogs will be documented of course!!!
à plus!!
Shelly
There are more photos if you click Page 2! *photos courtesy of Phil, Rachel, and Christian*
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Ngaire
non-member comment
Happy new year
How wonderful!!! All the NZ kids back together again!! I wish I was there too, I celebrated the new year at a dub concert in a Gisborne winery, pretty different from FRANCE! Love Ngaire