slumming in paree

The fabulous part of being in Paris in the first part of January is that all of the decorations are still up but no one is there. If you are feeling flush or wish to push the boat out a bit, the sales are starting and the Michelin starred restaurants are easier to get into. Always go to lunch, not dinner, at a major restaurant like the French-it is cheaper, and then you walk off the meal in the afternoon.

The Grand Vefours, gastronomic three star hall-of-famer, is still oozing with history from its glass frescoes in the Palais Royal. After lunch you can walk through the gorgeous Palais Royal court and its' shops, passing by the famous (or infamous) checkerboard spaces and exquisite statuery and allee of trees. Sarkozy is threatening to remove the the checkerboard, as he says it is not well-maintained, and 70% of all Parisians say "oui!" Still, it is what France does so well-monumental but unexpected outdoor spaces.

All of Paris is agog and discussing the affair of their President Sarkozy and model/actress/singer Carla Bruni. My tres chic friend treated me to her Aqua Gym class at the venerable Ritz Hotel. So irate were the ladies regarding the non-presidential behaviour of their leader that there was nuch heated discussion while treading water and doing their leg kicks in the shallow end. Apparently Carla is hated for being a man-stealer; this is from the country that practically invented the mistress.