#14: Paris and Annecy
Paris
I decided to go to a Patricia Kaas concert during March break. This meant I would fly to Amsterdam, take a train to Paris, a train to Annecy and a cab to Geneva. What I will do to see a concert!
It was COLD in Amsterdam, particularly riding a bike through the countryside. However, once I got to Paris I warmed up to the food and the sights! I took the Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris and got there in about 3.5 hours.
I stayed at Hotel Diana (73 Rue Saint-Jacques 5arr) as it is in a great location and is reasonably priced. Even though it was mid-March, the weather was sunny and warm (16 degrees C) and perfect for spending time at Champ de Mars by the Eiffel Tower.
While I always enjoy sandwiches from Kayser, one memorable meal took place at Brasserie Bofinger (7 Rue de la Bastille, 4arr), a famous bistro in Paris, known not only for its food but also for its authentic ambience.
As usual, I wrote in my journal during dinner and spoke at length to the waiter. At the end of my delicious dinner ( oysters, lamb with olives, 1/2 bottle of Cotes du Rhone, and an apple crumble dessert), the 2 American ladies sitting next to me asked if I was a restaurant critic. They assumed this because of my note-taking and speaking french to the waiter. Hmmm….my next career?
In addition to shopping and walking around the city I visited Maison de Photgraphie (free after 5 pm): interesting exhibit of black and white photos.
Annecy
The train from Paris to Annecy in the French Alps only took 4:40 hours. I had only been to Annecy in the summer and I was pleasantly surprised that it was so nice in March.The hotel I stayed at (Best Western) was only 5-10 minutes from the old town.
Dinner: Le Pichet (13 Rue Perrière) is still around and I had a lovely dinner there (salad, trout, rice, chocolate mousse) with a 25cl pichet (of course) of wine for 18 Euros.
My final night in Annecy was spent attending a Patricia Kaas concert. I took the bus there but was unable to find a cab or bus to get back to my hotels I had to walk back. Thank goodness the weather was very mild that night. It took me 45 minutes and I did not have a map or GPS. Amazing I did not get lost!
I slept for about 4 hours and then took a (very expensive—115 Euros0) cab ride to Geneva. There was no other way to get home in time. The flight went to Paris and then Toronto. But it was worth it.