2 Kids, 2 Countries (Slight Return)

[MattA]

From my experience walking on the high line those toilet signs didn’t necessarily mean that they were not locked or not accessible

I guess that explains the signs on the door then: that's what you look like when you can't get in.

 

[VPS]

I guess that explains the signs on the door then: that's what you look like when you can't get in.

Exactly and same with non functioning lifts

 

[MattA]

I am going to finish this TR, I promise. We’ve been back in Oz for a week now but time, jetlag and life gets in the way sometimes.

Where was I? That’s right. We were wandering Paris’s High Line. We didn’t make it all 4kms to the Bois de Vincennes, obviously…



When the kids expired we exited the line and caught the train back to the Novotel, where we were rewarded with free soft serve in the lobby. Nice touch.



After a short rest and some googling we emerged from our room with a few nearby dinner options. But first we took advantage of our Accor welcome drinks in the Novotel’s virtually empty restaurant (we were offered anything from the beers, wines or soft drinks on the menu).

That did mean that when we headed out for dinner we were a bit more into normal Parisien dining hours than some of our previous meals. Our first pick was Le P’tit Bistro, opposite the Tour Saint-Jacques. We arrived to find it absolutely heaving and were turned away with a shake of the head, even to my hesitant “plus tard, peut-être?” “Non, monsieur”.

Ok, no bother. Our second choice, Au Bourguignon du Marais, was a little further but looked equally good. But there too, there was no room at the inn.

“Next time, make a booking” was the helpful advice. I mean, yeah, thanks but I didn’t know you existed until an hour ago and I’m leaving Paris tomorrow… It did look and smell good though, so you never know. Maybe there *will* be a next time.

Our third choice was further still, just over the river on the île Saint-Louis. But we arrived to find it stiflingly hot with broken air conditioning. We were offered an (admittedly slightly cooler) indoor room, but it wasn’t quite the atmosphere we wanted for our last Paris meal.

Now we were 20 minutes walk from the hotel and out of ideas. I resorted to the time honoured technique of randomly clicking on nearby restaurants on google maps and hoping for the best.

And somehow we found a gem in the form of Chez Mademoiselle, tucked away down a quiet backstreet. We had a delicious meal: steaks, risotto for the children and a beautiful Bordeaux to accompany it, followed up by a divine chocolate mousse served with a disproportionate amount of cream.



Night saved.