Une vraie teuf!

What a crazy weekend. It was jam packed with fun. I had so many things I wanted to do with my Dad, that unfortunately we were unable to do all of them with the time constraints, however we managed to do about 80%. We have been coming to Paris once a year for the last four years and it has become a tradition. This year is a bit different because I have been here for longer than couple days. My father, having grown up here from the age of 6 to 14 and having loved his experience here in his youth, has been living vicariously through me for these last few months.

Friday, I got off work at 4pm. My Dad met me there and we headed back to my apartment and then up to Montmartre, specifically rue des abbesses. Time was not to be wasted - we started our shopping expedition right away. That night I had planned for Paula to join us. We started off with an apéro at this hotel in Montmartre that Paula had known about called Hotel Particulier. Damn was it true to its name. It looked very beautiful from the pictures on the website - very boutique hotel. It was in the heart of the 18th, in a very residential area - so residential, there is not really a sign. You must ring at a metal gate in order to get into the courtyard. Once in, no signs once again. It was an adventure to say the least. We ended up finding it and it was rather beautiful and sweet. It seemed like the owners had turned what had once been a family house/mansion, into a hotel or bought an apartment building and did just that. The jewel is the little garden they have where they serve apéros. This was where our drinking for the night began and "began" is the operative word. My dad had mentioned that he had been catching up on his sleep for the last few weeks in order to do the TEUF with me when he came to Paris and he wasn't joking - and neither was I. From there we headed to the restaurant Casa Olypme next to Place St-George. I had heard about this place from two different blogs and Paula as well. It is known for its very good traditional french food and it is typically VERY difficult to get a reservation. They are also not open on Saturdays and Sundays. Luckily we scored a reservation - the reason being that they were closing for holiday the following day and this is the time when all the Parisians have already left for holiday. The meal was delicious. After a bottle of champagne and wine later, we headed back to my dad's hotel on the Champs d'Élysée for an after dinner drink and to decide where the hotel could arrange/suggest for us to go and continue the teuf. They made reservations for us at this club called Chez Castel in St-Germain. Paula had been before and was ecstatic when she found out that was where we were going. It was going to be her suggestion. It is a very exclusive club which is mainly members only. This was my first time going to a club-club with my father. We had a great time the three of us. We left around 3h3o in the morning and the best way to describe our mentality, the next day Paula called me in the morning, telling me that she was still feeling the alcohol from the night before. My dad really lived up to his word and did the teuf. Hey, in his day, he was a much bigger partier than I could ever be today - sacrilegious Mondays...

After a night like that, the next morning we had work to do. I met him back at his hotel and we began shopping. We headed to our favorite store in the Paris called l'Éclaireur and spent most of the morning there. Had lunch at our favorite restaurant we discovered in St-Germain last year called Le Comptoir. We then found him a suit in that area - at the only store in the world where he can buy a suit off the rack because of his enormously broad shoulders and tiny waist. We then headed back to the hotel to relax for our traditional diner at Hotel Costes. For the last four years we have had dinner here and every time it has rained and this time was no different - the weatherman schedules our arrival. Zonked from the night before - more me than my father - we returned to the hotel and passed out.

Woke up at 9am by my father to go to the gym and by 11h30 we headed out to the Marais to rue des rosiers - once again a tradition for Sundays because it is the only area open as it is known as the Jewish quarter. We spent most of the day there, had the best falafel for lunch and then went to my apartment to chill. Paula met up with us for a picnic at Parc Monceau. We were whistled out swiftly at 10pm when the park closes and walked home to have a drink at Cockney Pub, the bar that has FINALLY opened under my apartment. It is pretty cool seeing a place start at nothing and turn into something. The owner, Mouss, who I have become pretty good friends with since he owns the Long Island Bar down the street that I pass it each day has done a really good job renovating the place. The drinks were very good and there is a great ambiance.

I had a great time with my dad and look forward to Wednesday when I leave for Forte with Nathalie to meet up with both mom and dad. Relaxing in the sun is going to be well deserved.