Florence and Paris Part Deux!

Paris - we land in CDG (Charles de Gaulle) airport and taxi to our pied a terre; an apartment in the Marais district of Paris. The heart of the Marais is a lively neighborhood with lots of trendy bars and restaurants and it's also known as the center of gay nightlife. 

Marais district

The rue des Rosiers is a centerpiece of Jewish lifestyle in Paris and the Ile St. Louis and the Ile de la Cité are the oldest parts of Paris. The Marais is one neighborhood after another; the patisserie, boulangerie, chocolatier are all located outside your front door. The area is also home to several fabulous museums; the Musee Picasso, Musee Carnavalet(historical legacy of Paris), Maison de Victor Hugo, Centre Pompidou and Musee d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaisme(just to name a few)!

One of the prettiest parks in Paris is located in the Marais, the Place Des Vosges. Surrounding the park are restaurants and shops, all with a view of the park. This area of the Marais houses Maison de Victor Hugo, the museum. .

Above the stores and surrounding the park on opposite sides are apartments.This area of the Marais houses Maison de Victor Hugo, the 

museum. 

Place Des Vosges is a wonderful place to sit and watch the world go by.

On our first afternoon, we had a quick lunch at a small cafe on the Rue des Archives,visited some art galleries and then the shopping started! It was hard to decide where to stop first but we found some great boutiques with that one of a kind look we love.


Dinner was at a small neighborhood bistro, Cafe des Musees.
The menu changes daily and it is possible to eat well for 20 euros!
Service was very good and the atmosphere was just what you would expect in a small French bistro. 

We always make it a point to visit a museum we have not yet seen.

It is hard to believe that after 10 visits to Paris I have not seen all of them! Paris houses over 70 museums; some would argue there are more than that. This time we visited the Musee Carnavalet, the history of the city of Paris. As it is located in the Marais, it is the perfect choice for the morning and it is free.     

The clock as seen from the inside of the Musee d'Orsay in Paris; a picture that was too cool not to share!(taken by Maureen MacLeod)

After our visits to the museums, we headed for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for a site visit and lunch with one of my favorite Parisians, Alex. 
The Mandarin Oriental is the newest kid on the block; that is if you call the Place Vendome and the rue Sainte-Honore a block!   
138 guest rooms and 39 suites, many with private balconies,  soundproofing and state of the art technology in all the rooms, dining overseen by award winning chef Thierry Marx AND a full service drop dead gorgeous spa! 
Of course, Gateway Travel offers the full Virtuoso amenities during your stay:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
American Breakfast for up to two in-room guests daily
$100 USD equivalent Spa Services credit to be utilized during stay

The Lobby

Deluxe room

Above:suite bath 
Left:Premium suite 

Bar 8 - you can just imagine the buzz when the locals drop in for an aperitif! 








As my farewell to Paris, I always try to dine at my favorite restaurant,
 Le Voltaire.

This trip was no exception. We taxied from the Marais to the Left Bank for a dinner we knew would be magnifique! We dined on Entrecote and frites, a bottle of Sancerre and for dessert we splurged on the chocolate mousse(denser and richer than anywhere else).
The service is perfect and the atmosphere is how I always want to picture Paris.


Unfortunately, the next morning I must bid my daughter and Paris adieu!
It is sad but not final; I will always return!

A Long Weekend in Florence and Paris, Part I



The view from the Ponte Vechio in Florence

Florence and Paris, November 2012

Part 1 - Florence

The mother daughter reunion with great food, history, shopping and visiting some of our favorite places.

Saturday, November 17, we set off on a walking tour with our guide, Chiara. Concentrating on the architecture and history we were able to see Florence from a medieval perspective.  

The Basilica di Santa Maria del
Fiore or the Duomo as it is commonly called, took two centuries to be completed!   Inside we gazed at the frescoes and learned the history of it's construction. Brunelleschi built this masterpiece without scaffolding! It is one of three of the largest in the world; the others being St Peter's in Rome and St Paul's Cathedral in London. 

Right across from the Duomo are the famed bronze doors of the adjacent Baptistery
 

We moved on to the Galleria dell'Accademia to gaze upon Michelangelo's David. The museum was originally founded as an art school.
Insider tip:
Having your tickets in hand will save time, especially during peak tourist season (late spring and summer). Book tickets at least a day in advance.

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Saturday morning we had our tickets for the Uffizi for the 10:30am spot.
Along with the  Louvre in Paris and El Prado in Madrid(been to both!), the Uffizi is considered to be one of the most important museums in the world.Housing 13th- to 18th-century Italian and European masterworks—paintings by Botticelli, Hugo van der Goes, Titian, Rubens, Caravaggio, Raphael and Rembrandt, among others. 
Another tip:The line at the Uffizi can get very long, so we strongly encourage advance reservations.



In the Garden at the Ufizzi Gallery, you can sip an expresso.





Gelato - è necessario!

We sampled several local restaurants within walking distance of the Plaza, all recommended by our friends Alexandra and Antonio from Siena.

There was also shopping and all the Medici history!

Hotel Savoy was our home in Florence. Located on the Piazza Repubblica, close to Florence's renowned landmark the Duomo, the hotel is just a short walk from the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio. Rocco Forte's Hotel Savoy; wonderfully comfortable beds and classic marble and mosaic bathrooms with a great location and a  great staff. For families traveling, they have a great selection of connecting rooms.

Deluxe bedroom at the Hotel Savoy

Virtuoso Exclusive Benefits 

Virtuoso Exclusive Benefits:
Upgrade upon arrival; subject to availability
Daily buffet breakfast. for up to two in room guests
85 euro food & beverage credit, once during stay
*****************************************
We also visited the Four Seasons Firenze, located in an 11 acre park with an on site spa.Your room will either be in a 16th century Conventino or a 15th century palace with original frescos. Gorgeous rooms! 

Premier room

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

• Daily Full breakfast, for up to two in room guests

• Welcome amenity in room on arrival

• $100 USD Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay
(not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

• Daily Full breakfast, for up to two in room guests

• Welcome amenity in room on arrival

• $100 USD Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay
(not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

• Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests

• 85 EUR Food & Beverage credit, once during stay
(not combinable, not valid towards room rate, no cash value if not redeemed)

Lobby

Royal Suite Living Room

Virtuoso Exclusive Benefits:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

Daily Full breakfast, for up to two in room guests
Welcome amenity in room on arrival
$100 USD Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay