My recent family holiday to Europe turned out to be a culinary experience. When I say culinary experience, I mean pigging out to the maximum. We landed, first in Paris. I think it’s the most beautiful city I have seen, in terms of architecture, preservation and conservation. Now the people, that’s a different story. If you don’t speak French, the experience is a little less enjoyable. But nothing a map of Paris and a spirit of adventure can’t fix.
The day we arrived, were greeted with cold weather and the reality that our room was on the 3rd floor and there was no lift. Our first meal was Chinese take away as the hotel only had the number for Pizza Hut, and for me Chinese beats pizza. The next morning, breakfast was croissants with butter and cream cheese and good coffee. The French really, and I mean really, can make croissants and bread and pastries. We headed for the Torre Eiffel, normally a fifteen minute walk from where we were staying, but with the kids, fifteen minutes turned to half an hour. It was breathtakingly beautiful. Narrow streets, colourful flower shops, street cafes, Boulangeries (pastry and bread shops), Charcuteries (butchers) and ornate heritage buildings form part of the sight on the way. Then we reached the banks of the river Seine, lined with boats and floating restaurants, sculptured statues and beautiful bridges. We had already burnt our breakfast so it was time for a snack. Crepes filled with Nutella, sugar crepes, Jamon (smoked ham) and cheese crepes and chicken Pannini was what we had. It was nice, not thrilling, but nice. The Torre Eiffel was worth the walk and it definitely is an amazing erection.it is much bigger than i expected. We then went to the Louvre, a beautiful area with its glass pyramid in the center and palatial buildings on three sides. The Jardin du Luxembourg was impressive, with its never ending landscape, colourful flower beds, ponds full of ducks and strangely sculptured rectangular trees. Later we met a friend we had made in Goa, at the Notre Dame, a beautiful cathedral with eerie looking ghouls looking down, on the outside and amazing stained glass and intricately carved statues adorning the inside. From there we went to the Sacré-Cœur, a majestic church on top of a hill with the most amazing view of the city. They had musicians and dancers entertaining people. Then we walked down the charming narrow cobbled streets of Montmarte. A very charming area. The next day, after breakfast, we met our friend again. This time she took us to Champs-Élysées, where the Arc de triomphe stood. A triumph of architecture, the huge structure in the center of Place Charles De Gaulle, was Built in honour of those who fought for France, particularly in the Napolionic. Then as expected, when women get together, shopping malls and boutiques become part of the sightseeing and Champs-Élysées amply provides for this indulgence. Paris is a beautiful city and the French know how to maintain it. We met some Other friends who we were introduced to on facebook. They took us around and gave us a local feel of the city. It’s always nice to have someone known in a new place. More crepes and sandwiches followed. Then one night I had to have the Cote de boeuf, notwithstanding its ridiculous price. what i got, was four hundred grams of perfectly marbled goodness grilled medium rare. I think that was the highlight of my French culinary experience. Eating in restaurants was prohibitively expensive. I think only the Escargots Bourguignon (snails cooked in garlic, parsley, anise liqueur and loads of butter, served with goat cheese and garlic bread) and Pommes Dauphine (sliced potato baked in cream, egg yolks, cheese and garlic) are the only two French dishes that impressed me. The croissants of course are unparalleled. They also have great cheese and great bread, but then most of Europe does.
It was time to leave for Barcelona, where we hoped the weather would be better. On our way to the train station the rame came to bid us farewell. To be continued
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