Dennis & Aimee's Big Gay Paris Adventure

Dad came to visit last evening for his first visit to Paris, for a total of 1-full and 2-half days. By the time his 7 hour train journey from Stuttgart, Germany was over he was a bit tired. I left work a early to meet him at the Gare de l'Est train station and to navigate him the rest of the 2 trains on the le Métro.

Our favorite local bistro, Le Contre Allée (photo from early March) was experimenting with a prix fixe menu and jazz. It was a good time, with some falsetto singing Jack Brice, a (fake) piano player and an electric stand up bass. We enjoyed our set of classic jazz tunes with some Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder songs mixed in, with a 5 course meal. The menu consisted of:

• fried dough, with minced shrimp and green onion - something similar to 'hush puppies' served in The South of the goode olde U.S. of A.
  
• disc of guacamole, topped with crabmeat and a medley of fresh herbs - mm!
  
• 1/4 roasted chicken with gravy and "frites maison" (home made fries) - mm!
  
• some delicate french cheese and frisee salad - mm!
  
• some sort of mouse cake, atop a chocolate cookie with dark, fudgelike sauce - mm!
  

That was it. We decided to pack it in about 2-2+1/2 hours and later head home.

Today, his only full day in Paris, we decided to make the most of that and do a double decker bus to see the main attractions. We walked to the arc to catch le bus rouge. Here we are!

Audio tour and everything. Of course, I was being blinded by the sun, hence my interesting pose.

The thing behind us is the Grand Palais. One of Aimee's favorite structures, it is being remodeled and is closed for the time being, but the roof is indeed spectacular.

Guess what is next?!

Good guess! Le Tour Eiffel is on the other side of the river from Le Trocadero, which borders a nice neighborhood and has some hot dog stands.

We drove around the other side and parked for a quick view from the other side.

Also, just to let you know... we are not really tourists.

Onward! This is where the decomposed remains of Napoleon are, at Les Invalides, now a war museum:

On the way to the leaning cathedral Notre Dame,

We passed the Louvre, the biggest museum in the world.

And the oldest bridge in Paris (ironically named Pont Neuf or New Bridge).

Lastly, after getting off at the Opera stop,

We decided to get a snack. This place right across the street was very neat on the inside and even had a weird array of belt driven ceiling fans with grape lights.

We took a break, nap, watched some soccer and then went to Camille across the street. Dinner was good and then, since we are all so old, hit the sack. That conculded the day of tourism.

Tomorrow I bring pops back to Gare l'Est for his return and Neck comes!

Stay tuned!

-Dennis