SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2008

Big day today. Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Alexandria, Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!

Today we up to the Marais where we did a lot of walking and window shopping. The Marais is a very lively place on a Sunday afternoon, especially the rue des Francs Bourgeois where we started our walk. Lots of shops and lots of people. On the place des Vosges, we listened to a string orchestra play an impromptu concert under the arches.

We went over to the rues des Rosiers, where there lots of Jewish food shops, book stores, etc. Heard a lot of Hebrew being spoken there. We stopped for a libation at a cafe at the bottom of the rue du Bourg Tibourg. We tried Mariages Frères but, being a Sunday afternoon, it was crowded and there was a line. We took the bus back home.

In the evening we celebrated with dinner at an old classic restaurant called Le Dôme. It is located on the boulevard du Montparnasse near the railroad station Montparnasse in the 14th.

The restaurant specializes in seafood and in shellfish. As you can see, it is beautifully decorated in wood panelling. There are plaques throughout commemorating the many famous people who dined there in the past. Such people as Dufy, Giacometti, and many famous authors and political figures.

Our apéritif was a Kir Royal which is cassis and champagne. Alexandria started with sardines and red peppers and Erwin had a dozen oysters from Brittany. We then shared the "true" bouillabaise marseillaise, a fish soup with large pieces of five different kinds of fish and boiled potatoes served in a large bowl with broth. We each had a large portion and barely dented the original serving. Erwin had a second large plateful, but Alexandria passed. It is eaten with large croutons topped with a rouille, a mayonnaise-based spread enhanced with garlic and hot spices. For dessert, we shared a nougat ice cream. It was one of the best meals we had in France this time. Excellent food, excellent service, excellent ambiance, and, of course, excellent company. Happy Birthday again.