Laundry wasn't that bad today, but getting change was!!! Bank said no, so I went to three different cafés and ordered a coffee with the largest bill I had. No one will give me change here, lol! All good, clothes are clean, and don't have to worry about laundromats anymore.
Tried to go to Notre Dame again today, stupid line again. So I went back to the Pantheon area to have some lunch and hop on WiFi for awhile. I got steak tartar, and it was awesome. Not all mixed together with too much sauce. They left everything on the side so I could prepare myself, and they actually asked me here if I'd like that, or them to prepare for me. I liked that, nice touch. Waiter agreed with me, that's the way to do it! It was also served with a small salad, and fried potatoes. Def my best tartar of the trip... As im sure you can tell, this is one of my favorites. I'm sure it's a little weird to some of you, but you're all crazy!?!
Went to this other place today that I saw a few weeks ago that has a huge beer selection called La Gueuze. I promised Blake that I would try something other than the all of the normal draft beers they serve here. After I told him what I had had so far, he said, "that's pretty much the Budweiser and Miller of Europe!" so I went and had a Gallia. Waiter told me its a classic French beer, actually from Paris. I know it's a blonde Blake, if you are reading this (sure Chrissy is), but 90% of the French beers here were and they all cost 10-20 euros per so, I stuck with the recommendation. It was really good!
Headed to dinner at Chez Blanchette!!! Found this place on google maps. Wanted to go all out on my last night to eat out, but all the top restaurants here range from 200-400 euros per person, I mean. This one spot I was looking at, the entrees ranged from 160-420 euros each!!!! I want to experience good cuisine, but come on... That's Mikey money:->
This place was really far from my hotel, but wanted to check it out. It was a phenomenal dinning experience. The food was good, but the service from the owner, made it amazing. I arrived and ordered some wine, very nice Bordeaux he recommended. Then I showed him my ID, and he laughed! "Mousier Blanchette!!!". I took his recommendation and had the ravioli and the filet of beef. More on the food later. The wine and the bread were worth the trip! I'm serious... So freakin good. I must learn how they make their baguette in France, so much better than bck home.
They were slow, only two other tables total, so after he delivered each course, and tended to the other tables, he came to sit with me and talk. He used to work in Orlando for, "Mickey Mouse," lol! He even had his Disney diploma on the wall inside behind the bar. We talked about life in the states, and the economies in Europe.
And I got a huge history lesson. He told me all about how France won WWI and how they were so lucky to have the allies (USA, Canada, and England) help them in WWII. Really cool to hear his perspective, and I'm sure most French people, on these issues. He told me about about how after Hitler knew the war was over, he called a general he had stationed in Paris, and told him to plant bombs all over the city. Well this guy disobeyed and that's a big reason why Paris is still one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and why he doesn't speak German!
He told me about why Spain is doing so bad right now... I had no idea Franco was in power til 1976!!!! That's crazy! About how you would go to jail if a you kissed a woman on the street, while he was in power. And so many other things. Basically, Franco is to Spain, as Hitler was to Germany. He referred to it as living "pre-historic," and then all the sudden, Franco dies, and Boom, they start livin like the rest of the world. Grew way too fast, and I'm sure a lot of other reasons, but they are in a bad place right now. Unemployment is around 30-40 %!!!!!!
After dinner, I went inside to the bar, and he poured me some more wine on the house. We drank and smoked cigs til almost midnight, the last table and the chef left about 10. This guy Jean made my night! It was a pleasure dining at his restaurant. I don't go to dinner that often by myself, but I'm certain that not that many owners would take the time to sit down and talk with their guests like this. Who says all service is bad in France?!?
Made the last train back to my spot! I was literally all the way on the furthest Metro station on the south side of the city, and my hotel is two shy of the furthest north. That would've been a pricey cab, or an expensive bar tab until 5am when the Metro opens up again, lol!
What a great last meal:-). I still have a few days left, but glad I chose this place as my last spot to eat out...
Pics
Random shot off one of the metro stations
Cool little church down my Pantheon
La Gueuze, beer spot
First course at dinner, cheese ravioli in cream sauce with Parmesan and chives
Wine he chose for me. I like how they will sell you a 1/4,1/2,3/4, or a full bottle too!
The wolf and the goat. I'll explain... So theres an old story about this here. The was a goat farmer who's herd would always escape and go up the mountain because they thought the grass was better. Well they wolf lived on the mountain and would always eat them when they went up there. Well his last goat was named, Blanchette. So the farmer put him on a leash, took extra good care of him, but finally he escaped and went up the mountain. Well he got eaten of course, and so...this is kinda how they explain, "The grass is always greener on the other side." Not sure if I explained that well enough, it sounded a lot better when he said it, even with his broken English!
So theres this bridge I walked across with tons of locks on it, they even sell the locks at the little tourist shops. I bought a lock for the trip, but haven't used it yet, so I marked it Tex 2012 and put it on. Maybe one day I'll be back to see if it's still there?!?
The restaurant from inside
My new friend Jean
Another pic of the goat and the wolf. I you look at what's on their plate, the wolf is eating the veg, and the goat is eating the meat in both pics. There's another story about that, but it was hard for me to understand. If ya really wanna know email me and I'll try to explain,lol!
My amazing stark tartar for lunch
Chez Blanchette
My French beer
Another random pic off the metro
They have these Perrier bushes everywhere, kinda cool
Dinner, filet with pepper sauce. Sauce was killer, just like the one Ma had at restaurant with the Canadians. And he told me here in Europe, or Paris at least, they don't do Med Rare or Med Well. They have Blue(cold in center) Rare, Medium, and Well done. Basically the same, but still, interesting...
Never saw the locks before .....now that is cool!! So glad you left your "mark." Treasure the last few days.....until your next trip!!! Hugs MA
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