paris mon amour

greetings from cold and gorgeous Paris, the time of snow and sales.........

Any news you have heard that Heathrow is a nightmare, or cauchemar as we say in Français, is highly accurate. One cannot buy duty free upon departure from the US if you are transiting through Heathrow......no liquids!! I was busted by the (very polite) security guards for exiting one plane with contraband water before taking the next. In other words don't buy Scotch in LA on the way to Paris through Heathrow-someone else will be drinking your single malt.

However I quite enjoyed the shopping at Terminal 4; rumour has it that Terminal 3 is even better. Lulu Guiness handbags were on sale at Harrod's and champagne was cheaper than the US. British Airways has a nice lounge where you can take a shower or have a quick facial.......or my next favorite thing which is drink really strong coffee at the numerous expresso bars there. Terminal 4 also has an oyster bar which is reputedly decent.

Speaking of which for lovers of the glorious and controversial mollusks I had three different kinds last night, one of the treasures of this season in Paree. If you don't like them, read no further: I had pleine mer, fines de claire and speciales from Marennes d'Oléron. This is a bit south of Brittany, and purchased from the nice oyster man at his seasonal stand on the Rue de Sevres. They were opened with one of the non-purchasable oyster electric knives that do not exist in the States:(as far as I know.) The discovery of the evening was some French gourmands pepper their oysters while eating them with rye bread and SALTED butter.