Being in Germany for the last month, the news that has permeated the zeitgeist (and the language barrier) most readily was Spain prevailing over England in the World Cup. But there has been a LOT going on globally and I’ve been catching up on the past month’s news over the last 24 hours since I got home. Over the last couple of weeks: the UK booted out their conservative government, France also rejected right wing extremism, there was an assignation attempt on Trump, J.D. Vance was announced as Trump’s running mate, Israel’s occupation over Gaza has been declared illegal, Crowdstrike and Microsoft demonstrated some stunning global IT vulnerabilities, Biden withdrew his candidacy, Harris has emerged as the presumptive Democratic nominee and is steaming ahead with a record breaking campaign (in terms of donors and volunteers). I have no idea what’s been happing in Australia, haven’t got that far yet… other than Gina Whatsherfart and Dutton deciding they like nuclear power a couple of weeks ago (?), but I’ll get into that later.
Any way, one thing I saw stood out a LOT, even among all this noise, was these signs at the fascism-fest that was the Republican National Convention…
Yeessss… subtle they are not! They are fucking huge alarm bells going off.
A couple of weeks ago I was at the Jewish Museum in Berlin and was struck by a room that was lined on both walls with displays of the chronology of legislation that was enacted to slowly restricted the freedoms and rights of the Jewish people under the Third Reich. It started in 1933 and it showed how the lives of the Jewish people in Nazi Germany and eventually Nazi occupied Europe, were slowly and steadily having their rights eroded.
One week, it was Jewish lawyers losing the rights to practice law, the next it’s Jewish student teachers being sacked. The following week Jewish people can’t serve in the civil service, then Jewish doctors can’t treat non-Jewish patients, then Jewish tax accountants had their licences revoked, then civil servants can’t be married to Jewish people. And so on and so forth, until the edicts were codifying that Jewish people can only live in certain parts of various cities, that the property of Jewish people will be forfeited to the state, then Jewish people will be deported and they end up in walled and patrolled ghettos, then they get pushed out of the ghettos to concentration camps, and we all know where this tragic history ended up going.
(If you want to know more about how and when these insidious and pervasive laws were rolled out click HERE.)
The Jewish people in Nazi Europe were frogs in a boiling pot – slowly but inevitably having their rights and humanity stripped away from them, and if they (and the global community) had known where it was going from the outset, history might have turned out completely different.
It is not alarmist to say the Trumpian vision of the US is on the same trajectory – only they’re not planning on boiling that frog slowly. Trump and his advisors are stating unequivocally that they plan to forcibly remove ‘illegal immigrants’ from the United States via forced expulsion and deportation camps. DEPORTATION CAMPS. They are promising to remove 20 million ‘illegal immigrants’; this is a number that far exceeds the estimated number of undocumented residents currently living in the United States, many of whom have been born in the US and have never seen the countries they would be theoretically deported to… And if anyone thinks these deportation camps would be run with any administrative rigour or with any humane consideration whatsoever – just remember the family separation policy that was instituted under the last Trump administration. From April 2018 to June 2018, families arriving at the border saw adults prosecuted and held by in federal jails and subsequently deported, and their children were placed under the supervision and control of the US Department of Health and Human Services. This resulted in over 5,500 children being removed from their parents and the short lived ‘children in cages’ media outrage. No one is talking about it anymore, but as at March 2024, this year – just four months ago! – there are still 2000 children that haven’t been able to be reunited with their families.
“MASS DEPORTATIONS NOW!” is not a slogan for a slow and inexorable removal of rights for people who land on the wrong side of Trump’s bigotry… it is a massive red flag heralding the systematic xenophobic persecution of immigrants based on the ultra conservative values outlined in the Project 2025 manifesto. Trump has stirred and stoked the worst type of fear in these people with his asinine assertions that migrants are ruining their lives. Crime is statistically much lower than during his tenure, but he’s at those rallies and on Fox News bleating about ‘migrant crime’ and, ’Biden migrant crime’ and it’s feeding the worst impulses in his followers.
The pot is already boiling. The whole world can see where this is going… I find myself hoping that the average American is more decent than deplorable, but whenever I think about it too long I worry that most of them are largely apathetic.
The Kaiserliche Schatzkammer or the Imperial Treasury of Vienna! Where we are hoping to see all the things that we have seen copies of so far! lol For people into medieval embroidery or early medieval gold work, this place really is a treasure trove. I was super excited to be here, before we even entered the building.
Tabard of the Herald of the Princely County of Tyrol -Johann Fritz (embroider) Vienna, 1838, Silver lamé, velvet, gold, silver and silk embroidery, silver fringing braid.
From the Left: 1) Staff of the Grand Controllers – Southern German, 1600-1610. 2) Staff of the Grand Steward of the County of Gorlzia – Southern German, c.1660. 3) Staff of the Hungarian Grand Equerry – Vienna, 1700-1725. 4) Staff of the Grand Comptroller – Vienna, 1835. 5) Cane of the Grand Equerry – Vienna, 1790-1800. 6) Staff of a Master of Ceremonies – Vienna, 1800-1850. 7) Staff of a Junior Master of the Table – Vienna, 1800-1810. Staff of the Grand Master of the Table – Vienna, 1835. 8) Staff of a Master of Ceremonies – Vienna, 1800-1835. 9) Staff of a Grand Master of Ceremonies – Vienna, 1850-1900…. Wood or cane, bronze, gilded, and silver mounts.
The Hereditary Banner of Austria. Austria, c.1705. Silk, damask, embroidered with metal and silk threads.
Keys of the Imperial Chamberlain, from 1711 to 1918. As a sign of their privileged status chamberlains at the Habsburg court wore a key that symbolized their access to the ruler’s chambers. The office of chamberlain was reserved to members of the high nobility. The holders of this office belonged to the “first society” and were part of the emperor’s retinue at official ceremonies. The falconer’s gear as well as the tabards and staffs on view here are similarly the insignia of various officials or families in the hereditary lands and indicate their rank and status.
Dog Collar, Insignia of the Grand Master of the Hunt, Vienna, 1838. Velvet, leather gold embroidery. Mounts silver mounted.
Austrian Archducal Coronet of Joseph II, c.1764. Silver glided, diamonds, semi-precious stones removed. As early as the reign of Duke Rudolf IV (1339-65) the Habsburgs pursued the goal of being raised to the dignity of archduke. Their claim was finally recognized in 1453, and the archducal coronet, an insignia resembling a crown became the official symbol of Habsburg rule in the hereditary lands. Such an insignia was created for Archduke Joseph in 1764 based on medieval models. The coronet’s gold foil frame, or “carcass”, is exhibited in this room. The jewels were soon removed from the coronet to be used for other purposes.
Insignia for the Hereditary Grand Master Falconer, Vienna, 1835. Leather, velvet, gold braid, gold embroidery and feathers. Falconers pouch and two falcon’s hoods.
Tabard for the Herald of the Roman King, Vienna, 1600-1650; gold lamé, satin, gold embroidery, finger border, glass beading.
Tabard for the Herald of the Roman Emperor, Vienna, 1613 and 1719. Gold lamé, silk and glass.
Tabard for the Herald of Emperor Francis I Stephen, Vienna, 1775-1750. Velvet, satin, gold and silver lamé, gold silver and silk embroidery, gold and fringe border.
Tabard for the Herald of the King of Bohemia, Vienna, 1600-1700. Velvet, gold and silver embroidery, fringing braid, glass beading.
Tabard for the Herald of the King of Hungary, Vienna, 1600-1700. Silver lamé, gold, silver and silk embroidery, fringing braid.
Crown of Emperor Rudolf II, later crown of the Austrian Empire Jan Vermeyen goldsmith, Prague, 1602. Gold, enamel, diamonds, rubies, spinels, sapphires, pearls, velvet
Imperial orb for the crown Rudolf II. Andreas Osenbruck goldsmith, Prague, 1612-1615. Gold, enamel, diamonds, rubies, sapphire, pearls.
Sceptre for Emperor Matthias for the crown of Rudolf II. Andreas Osenbruck Goldsmith, Prague, 1615. Ainkhürn (narwhal tooth), gold, enamel, diamonds, rubies, sapphire, pearls.
Ceremonial robes of a Knight of the Hungarian Order of St Stephen, Vienna, c.1764. Velvet, fake ermine, gold and silver embroidery, gimped embroidery in gold.
Robes of a Knight of the Austrian Order of Leopold, Joseph Fisher (1769-1822), Vienna, c.1808. Gros de tours, fake ermine, gold embroidery, metal foil, ostrich feather, silk
Mantle of the Austrian Emperor, designed by Philipp von Stubenraüch (1784-1848), Vienna, c.1830. Velvet, gimped embroidery in gold, Paulette’s, gold braid, ermine and silk.
Robes of a Knight of the Austrian Order of the Cross, designer Philipp von Stubenraüch (1784-1948), Vienna 1815/16. Velvet, silver embroidery, leather silver embroidery.
Conronation vestments of the Kingdom of Lombardy and Venetia, Designer Philipp von Stubenraüch (1784-1848), Vienna, 1838. Velvet, gimped embroidery, gold, ermine, moiré, gold and silver embroidery.
The Robes worn by King of Bohemia as Elector, Vienna or Prague, c. 1625-1650… Mantle, gloves and matching ermine hat.
Jewellery Box of Empress Marie Louise, Paris, 1870, silver gilded velvet. Martin Guillaume Biennais (1764-1843) and Augustin Dupré (1748-1833).
Marie Louse, Empress of the French (1791-1847). Francois Pascal Simon Gerard, Paris, 1812, oil on canvas.
Cradle of the King of Rome, Paris, 1811. Silver gilded, gold, mother of pearl, velvet, silk, tuile, gold and silk embroidery. Designers and craftsmen: Pierre-Paul Prud’hon (1758-1823), Henri-Victor Roget (1758-1830), Jean-Baprise-Claude Odiot (1733-1850), Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843).
Ewer and Basin used for Imperial Baptisms, Spanish Master, 1571, gold and partly enamelled.
Egg Cup form the estate of King Louis XVI of France (1754-1793), Paris, c.1774/80. Silver gilded.
Family Tree showing Kings and Emperors from the House of Habsburg. Gold and chalcedonies. Tree: Vienna, 1725-30. Intaglios: Christoph Dorsch (1675-1732), Nuremberg, 1725/30/
Cameo showing the Portrait fo Emperor Franz I – Giovanni Beltrami (1777-1854). Made before 1840. Onyx, and enamelled gold.
Set of Jewels from the estate of Archduchess Sophie (1805-1872), Paris, 1809/19. Gold, silver, diamonds, emeralds, topazes.
Emerald Unguentarium, Dionysius Miseroni, Prague, c.1641. Emerald 2860 carat, enamelled gold. ‘As early as the 17th century the 2,680-carat emerald vessel was regarded as one of the most famous objects in the Imperial Treasury. The tremendous value of this unique showpiece, whose lid was cut out of the jewel’s interior, is illustrated by the story that Genoese jewellers declined to value it as security for a loan which Emperor Ferdinand III (1608-57) sought, avowing that they were not accustomed to dealing with such large pieces.’ Sadly the light in here is so bad, that I had to pluck an image off the internet.
Crown of Stefan Bocskay, Turkish, c.1605. Gold, precious stones, pearls and silk.
Case for the Crown of Stefan Bocskay, Turkish, c.1605. Fabric: Persian, c.1600, wood and silk.
The “Two Considerable Treasures” – Emperor Ferdinand I (1503-64) bequeathed to his successor, Emperor Maximilian II, two treasures of special importance: an enormous agate bowl (about 50cm across), and the “Ainkhürn” or unicorn horn. It was laid down that these two pieces would forever remain in the possession of the eldest male member of the family in perpetuity as ‘inalienable heirlooms’ and could not be sold or given as gifts.
Agate Bowl, Constantinople, 300-400AD. Carved from a single piece of agate.
“Ainkhürn”or Unicorn Horn. Ferdinand I received the “Ainkhürn” as a gift from King Sigismund II of Poland in 1540. During this age the mythical unicorn was thought to be an actual animal, which might only be captured in a virgin’s lap. The unicorn was thus regarded as an allegory of Christ, and its horn a symbol of divine power, from which secular dominion was derived. The horn, which was also thought to be an antidote to poison, was traded in Europe at tremendous prices. Only in the 17th century was it recognized that what had been believed to be unicorn’s horn was in fact the twisting tusk of the narwhal (Monodon monoceros).
Christophorus Relief, Upper Rhine, c.1475-1500, cast copper, gold-plated, glass stones.
Chalice from the Propety of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico. Circle of the Rondino Di Guerrino, Sienna, c.1375. Silver, gold plated copper, pit enamelled.
Late Gothic Chalice, Hungary, c.1500. Gold plated silver, gemstones.
Chalice with the Motto of Emperor Friedrich II, Southern Germany likely Nuremberg, 1438. Gold plated silver.
Blue Tunicella (Dalmatia), Palermo, Royal Court Workshop, 1125-1150. Silk, gold embroidery, small gold tubes, gold with cloisonné enamel, pearls, tablet weave.
The semi-circular Coronation Mantle of red silk was produced in Palermo in the 12th and early 13th centuries; with its depiction of a lion subduing a camel, the long, richly embroidered outer garments-blue tunicella and white alba-as well as shoes, stockings and gloves together with the belt reflect, (in part based on their inscriptions in part on other evidence), a connection with the Norman kings of Sicily. The overall design and elements of the decoration are derived from the court attire of Byzantine emperors. The older textiles probably came to the Empire through the Hohenstaufen emperor Henry VI. He married the Norman princess Constance in 1186 and became king of Sicily in 1194. In the empire they were apparently thought to be priestly vestments, used for coronations and complemented by additional textiles.
Coronation Mantle, Palermo, Royal Court Workshop, 1133/34. Samite silk, gold and silk embroidery, pearls, enamel, filigree, precious stones, tablet weave.
OMG… finally a chance to see this! I’ve been looking at pictures of these objects in books for nearly three decades. I can’t believe I get to see them in person.
The Eagle Dalmatic, South German, c.1330/40. Red silk twill damask, embroidery in silk, gold, small axinites.
The Stola (below) imitates a ‘loros’ an older type of textile of Byzantine or Norman origin. The six metre-long sash of yellow silk was decorated with black imperial eagles in medallions, only one of which has been preserved. Differently than the original manner of wearing the “loros”, in the medieval Holy Roman Empire the long sash was worn as a priest’s stola, that is forming a cross across the breast. This can be seen in Albrecht Dürer’s famous portrayal of Charlemagne (Room 11). The purple Dalmatic is embroidered with eagles and crowned heads. In this way the wearer of the garment is associated both with the heraldic beast of the Holy Roman Empire and his predecessors as king.
Alba, Palermo, Royal Court Workshop, c.1181 with later additions. Taffeta silk, Samite silk, fold wire embroidery, pearls, precious stones and tablet weave.
Stole, Italy, before 1328. Louise silk, gold threads, pearls, silver gilded appliqués with graduation, champlevé enamel and glass stones.
Imperial Cross, Western German, c.1030. Body: oak, precious stones, pearls, niello. Base: Prague, later additions c.1352, silver gilded enamel.
The Burse of St. Stephen, Carolingian, 800-833. Wooden body, gold, precious, stones, pearls.
Room full of extant herald’s tabards! Mostly 1700s, but just gorgeous.
Herald for the King-At-Arms and Herald of the Archduchy of Brabant, Brussels, c.1717. Embroiderer: Louis Almé. Velvet, gold lamé, appliqué, gold embroidery and fringing braid.
Herald’s Tabard for the King-At-Arms and Herald of the Duchy of Burgundy, Brussels, c.1600-1700. Velvet, silver lamê, fringing braid.
Tabard for a Herald of Maria Theresia (First King at Arms), Brussels, c.1742. Embroiderer: Eldens. Velvet, gold and silver lamé, appliqué, gold, silver and silk embroidery, gold braid.
Tabard for the First King-At-Arms of Archduke Albrecht, Sovereign of the Netherlands. Brussels, c.1599-1621. Velvet, gold and silver lamé, appliqué, gold silver and silk embroidery, fringing braid.
Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) – Bernhard Strigel (1460-1519), German, c.1500. Oil on Limewood.
Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy hoped to succeed Emperor Frederick Ill on the throne of the Holy Roman Empire. To achieve his aim, he assented to the marriage of his only daughter Mary to Archduke Maximilian, the emperor’s son and heir. The wedding, however, only took place after the duke’s death in 1477. Mary and Maximilian’s son Philip was born on 19 April 1478, ensuring the “Burgundian heritage” would ultimately remain with the House of Habsburg.
Mary, Duchess of Burgundy (1457-1482) – Francesco Terzio, Southern Germany, c. 1600 terracotta.
Tapestry Showing the arms of Emperor Charles V – weaver: Willem de Pannemaker, Brussels, c.1540. Wool, silk, gold and silver thread.
Tabard for the Stattholder First King-at-Arms, called Towson d’Or (Golden Fleece), Brussels c.1580. Velvet, gold and silver lamé, gold, silver and silk embroidery.
Order of the Golden Fleece Knight’s Chain, Burgundian-Netherlands, c.1435-1465. Gold and enamel.
Potence Chain of Arms of the Herald of the Order of the Golden Fleece, Netherlandish, c.1517. Gold and enamel.
This is one of the most beautiful heraldic objects I’ve never seen. I’ve admired it for years… never thought I’d be able o see it.
I am completely unapologetic for the amount photographs that I took and have added here!
Just when you think the Schatzkammer has delivered up all it’s treasures – the next room contains only some of *the* most famous embroidered objects ever created. I like did a double take when walking in… it was like the first time I saw the Cluny Tapestries all over again. They are so amazing and so beautifully preserved! Just fucking spectacular!
Liturgical Vestments of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Cope of the Virgin, Burgundian, c.1425-1440. Embroidery on linen, metal and silk threads, pearls, pastes (glass), velvet. Hood depicting the virgin.
Liturgical Vestments of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Dalmatic, Burgundian, c.1425-1440. Embroidery on linen, metal and silk threads, pearls and velvet.
Liturgical Vestments of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Cope of Christ (Pluvial), Burgundian, c.1425-1440. Embroidery on linen, metal and silk threads, pearls, pastes (glass), velvet. Hood depicting the Almighty.
Liturgical Vestments of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Casula, Burgundian, c.1425-1440. Embroidery on linen, metal and silk threads, pearls, pastes (glass), velvet.
Liturgical Vestments of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Cope of John the Baptist, Burgundian, c.1425-1440. Embroidery on linen, metal and silk threads, pearls, pastes (glass), velvet. Hood depicting John the Baptist.
Liturgical Vestments of the Order of the Golden Fleece. ABOVE: Antependium (rear panel), Burgundian, c.1425-1440; the Trinity, prophets and apostles. BELOW: Antependium (front panel), Burgundian, c.1425-1440; Mythical marriage of St Catherine Embroidery on linen, metal and silk threads, pearls, pastes (glass).
Phew! Man, I haven’t been a smoker since May 17th 1997… but damn, after that I need a cigarette and a good lie down. Back out in the Real World, I had to make do with some bratwurst and a Coke Zero! What an amazing visit! I think this has now officially out paced the Museé de Moyen Age as my favourite museum.
While we were here, we thought we’d find a really nice dining experience and I booked us a table at Nouri – it’s considered a global fusion restaurant in that they take inspirations from food cultures all over the world and blend them into unique creations.
I’d heard of before Nouri, and was definitely keen to take the chance to check it out while we were here. The restaurant itself is one of those open kitchen places where the staff are so well drilled you don’t hear a peep out of any of them… everyone knows their jobs and it (outwardly) appears to run like a well oiled machine. The atmosphere, was classy yet not stuffy, and the service was exceptional.
We had to try their iconic Crossroads Menu – which is a chef’s tasting menu which delightfully came with a saké pairing flight. There was a European sommelier who was guiding us through out saké flights, and I swear, I’m no slouch in the saké department, but this guy has probably forgotten more about saké than I’ve ever known. He was so informative and very generous with knowledge, I was truly pleased we had decided to forgo the wine and opt for the saké.
The start of the tasting menu was ‘The Snacks’…
Rye sourdough, Vegetable broth, Silken cheese, Tomato as a sauce, Escabech Gelée and Shanklish… it was all delicious, but OMG the Shanklish was fabulous!
Silken Cheese…
Shanklish…
Escabeche Gelée…
Tomato as a sauce…
Narezushi…Otoro tuna, cultured rice cake, prahok, Oscietra caviar and katsuboshi…
Pamonha… Japanese white corn custard, bafun uni, and blue corn velouté…
Bouride… turbot in it’s own broth, bouquet garni (brewed table side, garlic skyr, and sesame paste.
Acarajé, Afro-Brazilian style fritter.
Vatapá… turmeric and coconut curry, salted prawn emulsion.
Beouf à la Presse… A5 Keisan-guy wagyu ribeye, white kimchi, pressed beef jus.
At this stage of the meal, we were offered tea… this came in the form of, what sort of tea do you usually enjoy and what are your favourite flavours. I responded ‘English Breakfast black tea and vanilla, maple and bourbon’ as the first thing that came to mind, and Mr K replied with ‘Earl Grey, and lemon, whiskey and root beer’.
I don’t know what magic was conjured up as he brewed some combinations of leaves for both of us, but he somehow handed both of us the most delicious cup of tea that was specifically chosen for our individual preferences. No, my tea didn’t taste of the things I listed, but it was absolutely marvellous to my palette… whereas I thought Mr K’s was really ordinary, and he loved it!
Troy de Champenois… violet granita, pickled lemon, sparkling wine.
Chocolate Fish balls… chocolate sorbet, ikan billis, wild pepper leaf, colatura di alici.
Petit Fours…
Nutmeg candy and Giandujotto…
Coffee and Hazelnut Dorayaki and Osmanthus Jelly
Season fruit… mango.
And because I mentioned the now much celebrated 25th wedding anniversary in our booking notes… there was also this delightful peach dessert to finish the meal.
This really was a dining experience like no other I had ever had before. The food was all so incredibly and passionately researched, and the chef was happy to share that inspiration and research with patrons who were interested. The saké flights were fantastic on every level – on one pairing, our sommelier (what is the saké equivalent I wonder?), suggested we try the saké he had chosen, then take a bite of our dish, and he then promised the saké would completely change in its flavour… and it really did! It went from tasting like a fresh crisp and somewhat citrusy saké to being more mellow, and tending towards a melon flavour. It was incredible how the food changed the profile of the drink.
I would highly recommend a night out at Nouri in Singapore. It’s pricey, but absolutely worth it. I will definitely be keeping an eye out to see what Chef Ivan Brehm and his team get up to in the future. 11/10 would absolutely do again.
Sadly, we couldn’t stay at George V for most of our stay in Paris; two reasons really… primarily because it’s far too costly for us for an every day stay, but also because it’s in not an arrondissement that I feel represents Real Paris™️, overly well. So we moved across to Saint Germaine to a cool little boutique hotel called, (simply enough!), L’Hôtel on the Rue des Beaux Arts, near the Musée D’Orsay and a bunch of really cool and well known cafés and restaurants.
L’Hôtel claims to be the world’s first boutique hotel, and is the ‘epitome of French style’. It was also the last home of Oscar Wilde and has a restaurant and bar named for him on the premises, with an impressive cocktail list, and a huge wall displaying all the famous people who have stayed here. I chose it because it sounded like staying in a quaint little piedaterre with it’s own story.
The street frontage is super discreet… no noticeable signage at all, our cab driver nearly missed it entirely.
The concierge, Antonia, and I became fast friends as she complimented me on my Rammstein t-shirt and was so excited to be seeing them in concert this year. Her eyes went the size of saucers when I told her I came to see them in 2022 – all the way from Australia! She was really nice and welcoming. Our room is a ‘chic’ room on the fourth floor of the building. The lift is so tiny, that it fits two people or two pieces of luggage – but not both! 🙂
A couple of the small waiting areas near the reception…
The Wilde’s Lounge… which has a spectacular, and ever changing cocktail list. We’ve noticed that there are a more French people staying here than foreigners, and it seems to be a favourite hang out of businessmen meeting over drinks. There is a definitely French ambiance permeating the entire hotel.
Some of little cosy nooks in the Wilde’s Lounge.
The view down into the stairwell is a little daunting…
Et voilà! Our chambre for the remainder of our stay; it’s called the Mata Hari room, though I am not sure why.
It’s filled with antique furniture and has fabric draped on the walls (to tone the pink down to a dark aubergine, one assumes), the decor is definitely not the style of your run of the mill chain hotel – bit of a minimalist’s nightmare, and not a piece of IKEA furniture in sight! But I think it will do very well for us for the rest of the week.
Beautiful pink orchids, and a wee gift it would seem… macarons from Richarts? Don’t mind if we do!
Richart’s is just around the corner and is on my list for a stop on the way out the door on Sunday to try and take some home.
I wonder if Mr K will go into some Pepto Bismol induced trauma by the end of the week.
The restaurant is cool little brasserie space that opens out onto a terrace and small garden in fine weather.
The one upside of staying at the Georges V? Everything else seem super affordable. Eggs Benedict for breakfast for €14? Sure!
We’ve been out and about in the neighbourhood quite a bit already, and have found this little landmark (/piece of graffiti?) to be the coolest indicator that our street, Le Rue des Beaux Arts, is the next right! It’s a cute little tiled piece. 🙂
The days have been full of work, meetings in the CBD (which is nothing like the rest of this beautiful historic city and looks like the downtown of nearly any modern city in the world really – boring towers of glass office blocks.
So in between meetings, we have been trying to catch an hour here and there to see some of the sights, and have purchased a few French champagnes that we’ve not seen at home to try. Gods help us if we like any of them, they probably won’t be available at home at all! This Nicholas Feuillatte Grand Reserve Brut was €43 (just for my future reference), bought from a local grocery store. Really delicious bubbly, with a strong but not overpowering flavour and slightly leaning towards that creaminess I like.
We chose to have breakfast at the hotel again – as we had to set out early for meetings. The eggs Benedict was so good, I opted for the salmon version this time.
Definitely can’t do this every day!
Time for another champagne interlude – this bottle of Alfred Rothschild was €34… very nice indeed. Crisp and light, not as brut de brut as some that are so dry you wonder if you are drinking, but lacking that creamy texture that I’ve come to really enjoy in my bubbles.
The rounded hallways keep throwing me off… maybe it’s the sheer amount of wine being consumed with most meals!
L’Hôtel has another unique feature that we thought we’d check out – a ‘hammam’ in the cellar! I was looking forward to this! Guests can use the hammam an hour a day free of charge, just need to schedule in private use of the space. There are showers, toilets, toiletries, massive plush towels and bathrobes available for use. A sauna and a plunge pool!
Which looked sooooo inviting….
… until I discovered the water temperature was about 20°C! Jesus titty fucking Christ! Who wants to get in and have a soak in that. 😐 We did wonder if it was here when Oscar Wilde and his ‘friends’ were living in the hotel; if these walls could talk!
Either way, this is clearly for those Northern European polar bear types. Managed to get my feet wet for a while before beating a hasty and sensible retreat – like any self respecting Queensland’s would do!
Decided on a soak in the decidedly 19th century tub in our room instead… fabulous.
The next evening’s champagne interlude: a Pierre Mignon Grande Reserve Brut – €35 from the Cave de Chat. Well rounded and a bit more brut de brut than some of the others we have tried this week. Really nice though. Don’t suppose it’s acceptable to come home with a AUD$70 a day champagne habit, is it?
Tomorrow, we check out and start the transit home. But before we go… one final glass of Jean Josselin champagne in the lovely restuarant while we wait for our car.
I ❤️ Paris and could totally get used to the, ‘You walked across the road? You got out of bed? Champagne!’, lifestyle. 😀 It’s been a lovely stay, we got heaps of work done and gleaned so much useful information, and I feel like we smashed in as much fun and sight seeing as we could between meetings, visiting transport venues and seeking out transit operations.
We are looking forward to seeing how the Paris 2024 Olympics and Para-Olympics pans out in the transport sectors and see what we can learn to make sure Brisbane 2032 does it better… I have made a bunch of contacts with locals to follow up with them after the games, so it’ll be interesting to see what non-transport industry people make of how things go. At the moment, they all sound like they want to flee the city and rent their houses out. 🙂
We are in Paris all week for work, and most of the sightseeing we will be doing will be snatched minutes between meetings and venue and site visits. So I’m just posting some of my favourite pictures of all the super recognisable places that don’t need any much explaining into this post and will probably share it at the end of the week. Paris has such a famous skyline that hardly any of these buildings and monuments need a title, let alone a description.
The Eiffel Tower seems to have received a fresh coat of paint in readiness for the Olympics. It’s looking the best I’ve ever seen it. It is however, all closed off around the base, so you can’t walk around underneath it like normal at the moment, and most of the long park behind it (where one goes for that typical long shot of the Eiffel Tower) is all closed off in readiness for the Games also – they are erecting grandstands along the park and we think this is the venue for beach volleyball? But haven’t been able to confirm that – scratch that, it’s confirmed. Beach volleyball is happening in that park.
L’Arc de Triomphe…
Views from the top. Obviously I couldn’t go up with my fucked up knee… stupidly there is an elevator that will get you most of the way to the top, but given the AdT is on the world’s craziest and most notorious traffic roundabout, to get to the base of the monument, you need to go down a significant flight of stairs, go under the roundabout in a pedestrian walkway, and then up another significant flight of stairs to access the lift that goes up the monument. Well, done Paris. Yes, you’re an old city, designed without accessibility in mind, but that’s fucking stupid.
Train station under the Louvre to get to the CBD.
No one ever sends home their happy snaps of the Paris CBD… wonder why that is. Honestly, could be the downtown area of any modern city.
Market stalls lining the Seine… these are so typically, ‘Paris’ to me. I remember them so well from my first visit here in 1995. Back when I had 28 rolls of film to last me for a six month trip and taking photos was done sparingly! So I recall seeing mundane things like market stall and not taking any photos of them because we needed to save our shots for more interesting subjects. I also remember the processing cost when you got home, oh and the stress that the airport security x-ray machines were going to trash all your treasured images. I really should go dig up all my old travel pics and digitise them somehow.
A half hour spent shopping at La Samaritane… went in to see the peacock murals, came out having utterly brutalised the credit card! Spontaneous luxury shopping centres and unmedicated ADHD are a powerful combination apparently. 😉
Nearly bought a Tiffany key to go with my other ones, but it was only in rose gold, and my other two are yellow gold. It would have made a nice collection: Home, Paris, Fifth Avenue in New York, but I don’t do rose gold. When Mr K bought me that first key, I warned him that keys come in bunches…
Love the peacocks.
French jewllers… Van Cleef & Arpels. Beautiful and timeless pieces.
Back outside and heading back to the hotel (not sure which day)… I love that they haven’t modernised all the Metro signage.
More magasins along the Seine, selling touristy bits and pieces…
… and this one stall selling French Michelin guides from every year from the 1960s.
Early morning pics of the Louvre… where only crazy people (and Chinese bridal parties with their photographers and stylists), venture this early.
Mr K taking a selfie.
The Musée D’Orsay from the bridge.
Notre-Dame is still under repair… they were hoping for it to be open by the Olympics, but they’re looking to be six months behind schedule on that one and it’s now aiming to be open by Dec 2024. I wonder how different it will feel once it’s completed.
It’s truly an iconic building and it’s hard to believe that at one point in it’s history, the city considered tearing it down to avoid the cost of upkeep.
I’m not sure about the super modern colour scheme that Paris has chosen for their Olympics, it certainly makes the city look bright and different for the locals, but for visitors? I feel it detracts from the city’s old world charm.
Thus ends our week in Paris.
Only other observation I wanted to make note of, is that the Charles de Gaulle Airport is a full on dump compared to other international airports. It also feels stupidly haphazard with weird exit processes… mostly around VAT tax refunds etc – which all need to be done *before* you check in your suitcases, creating a crazy hectic and illogical situation where you have heaps of people lined up with enormous trolleys to get paperwork processed across two levels of the airport which has elevators barely large enough to put one person and one airport trolley into, and the little guys handing out cash refunds never asking anyone to show them the actual duty free purchases anyway, because who has time for that when you’re processing paperwork?! Weird.
We managed to see quite a bit of the city while we were here. Which was great.
