Fêtes, fêtes, and more fêtes

Six Dalzells, six days in Paris. Whoa. It was delicious, hilarious, and quite walky. They crushed it. I only have a few pics because typically my hands were full with food. Chrstmas Eve at Notre Dame de Paris. Christmas dinner with roast chickens bought on the bustling Turkish/Kurdish commercial street in our neighborhood. Not to mention street markets, Montmartre, Left Bank glitz, the Tower, Trocadero, the Arc, Champs Elysées, drinks in the Marais, le Cimetière du Père Lachaise, la Place des Vosges, le Musée de Carnavalet, drinks on Ile-Saint-Louis, Galleries Lafayette and associated rooftop, le Palais Garnier, choir with freaking orchestra warming up "Ode to Joy" in la Madeleine, la Place de la Concorde, le Jardin des Tuileries, le Musée du Louvre, etc., etc. Whoa.

Anyway, I'm exhausted and very proud. It's Drue's birthday today. Then I think we need to get out of town for a couple days, let things cool off a little. (The pics ae both of ours.)

Fêtes, fêtes, and more fêtes

Printemps

Printemps

Fantastic Weekend!

As Harlan said below, Brussels was magnificent! We woke up early yesterday and piled into the car (with a freshly baked baguette). I woke up three hours later and low and behold we were in Belgium!

We walked around a bit and then headed to lunch. The food was unbelievably unhealthy and delicious! After hitting the Christmas market it was time for a waffle. The waffle I ate was in my top five meals of all time (as you know, waffles are my favorite food, so I am an expert). Then we walked around some more and went to the Beer Museum which was really strange. It was basically two rooms; the first full of antique beer making things and the second with an un-narrated euro-tastic video of people drinking beer. Then after you visit these two rooms you have a beer and homemade candied orange rind. Strange but fun. Then we went to some lace shops (apparently something Belgium is famous for). After that we had waffle number two and hit the road! Great day!

Today Amy and I went to Printemps at Galleries Lafayette. It was HUGE and filled with millions of Christmas shoppers, but the roof top terrace has the most beautiful view of the city and we caught the sunset! Then we bought macaroons at Pierre Herme- the creme brule flavored one was incredible and the truffle one was one of the grosser things I have ever eaten. Next time I am going to try the chocolate foie gras flavor... maybe.

Brussels/Bruxelles

Here we come a-waffling!

Outstanding day trip to Brussels with my sweetie and the inimitables, Michelle Dellatorre and Amy Danielson.

I heartily recommend Kemwel/AutoEurope for your European car rental needs. I also counsel you to watch out for Bruxelleois drivers--they appear really to like to back up in traffic, especially in the dark and the rain.

Mostly, I recommend gaufres Lièges (Liège-style Belgian waffles). Holy crap. Also, Belgian beer's the best. 

Drue has more pics.

Brussels/Brussel/Bruxelles !

Cozy Christmasy Party

Cozy Christmasy Party

Pere Lachaise

Pere Lachaise

Museum Day / La Paella

Around Paris