LUNCH ON THE CHAMPS ELYSEES

Thanks to everyone who commented and offered congratulations on our 50th wedding anniversary. Now, I thought you might enjoy a glimpse of our celebratory trip.

We had spent many days in both London and Paris going in and out, up and down lots of important buildings, churches, palaces, monuments, and engineering marvels. It was our last day in Paris, and we had just finished Notre-Dame Cathedral. Bob asked, "What now?" On a whim, I suggested, "Let's go to Laduree on the Champs Elysees for lunch in a taxi. No more buses or subways!"

I had read about Laduree Patissier for years. It was established in 1862 and is the birthplace of the French macaroon. I had even seen in decorating magazines where people proudly displayed their various Laduree boxes.

Laduree Patissier is in a beautiful building. It is a miniature Versailles - all marble and gilt with gorgeous painted ceilings.

We were seated at a great table by the window; so at one point, someone was actually taking a picture from the outside of me eating my lunch. If they only had known that we were two hicks from the sticks gone traveling! We ordered the cheapest thing on the menu -- chicken and egg club sandwiches and a bottle of water. Everything was served so elegantly -- even the potatoes with our sandwich were stacked architecturally; and the ambiance was unbelievable. The bill was not too bad: $64 U.S. dollars.

Next was a trip up the curving staircase to the prettiest restaurant restroom I have ever been into. Then we went into the Laduree bakery. Pictures were not allowed inside, we discovered; but Bob was able to sneak this one. (Bad, bad tourists!)

First, I picked my box; I thought it was the prettiest one there. Then, I selected my assortment of 18 macaroons. They were the most delicious looking colors and flavors including several kinds of chocolate, lime, pistachio, different berries, caramel, and peanut butter. The bill: $55.20.



We are very frugal people, and rarely spend money extravagantly. But, oh, we enjoyed those macaroons. On our flight from Paris to Boston, we each had a macaroon while our fellow passengers were eating their peanuts.

To conclude our trip, we had planned a road trip up the U.S. coast. So, we ate macaroons from my pretty box in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Sometimes a person just needs to splurge and spend that money, because I now have a pretty Laduree box full of special memories.


Thanks for stopping by,

Sally