A NIght Out

One night a few weeks ago we went to the 5th arrondissement for dinner with several other couples from my husband’s office.  We got there a little early so I took some pictures in the neighborhood.

These lovely baskets full of wine bottles were sitting in front of a wine store. Man, I love this place.

Well hello there, Pantheon!

The restaurant was fabulous.  It isn’t open for lunch, has two seatings at dinner, and only takes cash.  This place definitely needs a reservation, but you will be glad you did.  They make their own chorizo sausage, which was amazing, and their steaks were incredible.  I’m not crazy about the red meat here in Paris, but these steaks were delicious.

After dinner we walked to a metro stop and passed some beautiful night-time scenery on the way.

Shakespeare and Co. bookstore looks even more inviting at night!

Not yet ready to call it a night, we took the metro to the Champs Elysees and then walked to the swanky Hotel Plaza Athenee, in hopes of having a drink in their bar.  Apparently we were not looking hot enough for the 5 star hotel, as the doorman told us that the bar was only for hotel guests, and suggested we move on down the block a ways.

So that’s how we ended up at the Four Seasons George V, another 5  star hotel in the neighborhood, which was delighted to have us pay exorbitant prices to drink in their bar.  I had never been in the place and was taking pictures in the lobby like a country mouse in the city.

The flower arrangements were more like “flower architecture” and were gorgeous.

Orchids? Really? Now they’re just showing off….

It’s really hard to see, but the flowers in the lower area are actually in the vases upside down, with the flower part in the water.

And that was one of very few evenings that we have been out in Paris past midnight.  We were so proud of ourselves that we actually called our son to tell him how hip and happening we were.  Even if we weren’t hip enough for the Plaza Athenee.

I am out the door and off to Vienna on a business trip with Mark.  We’ll be gone two nights and I hope to be able to find time to post a blog while I’m there.  Thanks for hanging in there with me as my life as been super busy these past several weeks!