Thank you so much for a fantastic stay in wonderful Paris!! We love the city and could not find a better place than Chez Claude to enjoy it as much as we wanted to. The location is just ideal, and the apartment itself is truly wonderful. Some useful addresses we found this time “Quai 21”, so close by (No 21 of course) for a simple but “just right” soupe-l’oignon with “un verre de vin rouge”on the day we arrived the best atmosphere ever in “Le Tirebouchon” in Montmatre for simple but once again “just right” crepes. Thanks a million again.

As frequent visitors to Paris, we were thrilled to find Chez Claude. It was an effort not to spend the entire weekend by the windows – what a view! It’s such a privilege to both stay in such an elegantly appointed home and to be in the very centre of this beautiful city. Our two favourite restaurant discoveries are within easy walking distance. The first is Le Petit Pontoise, 9 rue de Pontoise (t. 01-43-29-25-20) excellently prepared traditional dishes served in a tiny and crammed environment. Service was friendly and we found it helpful to ask for an English menu to cross reference against our school standard French; otherwise the veal kidneys would have been a missed treat or an unwelcome surprise, depending on your view of offal. Reservations are essential. Our second ‘discovery’ is located on Rue du Dragon. Chez Claude Sainlouis is one of those Parisian gems that one only dreams about. Antique wallpaper is adorned with portraits of French presidents, past and present. Red leather banquettes invite lovers, friends and statesmen to linger in the convivial environment. Also serves the largest steak tartare ever seen! Go for the lunch menu – reservations (m 01-45-48-29-68) Truly a magnificent stay.

We loved the apartment, fabulous location – A great Parisian experience. We could have spent the whole time wandering around St Germain and Latin Quarter. Lots of intriguing sights and great spots for watching the world go by. We were fortunate to stumble across plans for a Papal visit that coincided with our stay, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Precinct was alive with young people all to see the Pope. On Friday night approximately 150,000 people carrying candles processed from the Notre Dame to Esplanade des Invalides. They were planning to camp over night for Mass with the Pope the next morning. The procession at midnight went down the road directly below our windows.We purchased museum passes and this made it very easy to access the sights we visited. Highlights were, Louvre, St Chappelle, Notre Dame, Musee d’Orsay, Montmartre and wandering along the river, Il de Cite and across the many bridges. Great memories and great times

Bonjour! My name is Donna, my friend Lisa and I stayed at Chez Claude for the 1st part of our 2 weeks in France vacation and it has been a real trip. Anna has put together a good list of suggestions in her Chez Claude manual but we did discover a few things while here. So in no particular order, here’s what I especially enjoyed:

1. All sidewalk dining. It’s so fun to be outside, watching people walking by, and having leisurely lunches and dinners. I can’t say I’ve had a bad meal yet here in Paris. There are all sorts of restaurants here in the area and we didn’t eat at any place twice.

2. The Monoprix store. Curious mixture of food, and department store items. Helpful if you bring the black shopping tote on wheels Anna keeps by the umbrella stand.

3. For you chocolate fans – we found a great store, Chocolat DeBauve & Gallais, 30 rue des Saints Peres. Wonderful dark chocolate.(www.debauve-et-gallais.com)

4. Best éclair EVER!! After we went to Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, we walked down on the side the funicular was. The street below had a great patisserie which I believe is called Le Gostelrie. It had a blue store front. Lisa and I got the chocolate éclair and we both agreed it was the best ever. Instead of the traditional custardy filling it was filled with chocolate mouse. YUM!! Next door to the bakery is a fun store called Pylones, and then down the street and turning left is a cool jewellery store with a lot of unique pieces.

5. My goal was to eat a crepe every day while I was in Paris and I am happy to say I succeeded. I sampled both sweet and savoury ones. Favourite crepe place was by the Eglise.du St. Germain, which is the oldest church in Paris, I believe.

6. We enjoyed the double decker bus tour. It’s a good way too see the sights you want to check out in more detail. There are 4 loops on L’Open Tour and there is a stop near the apartment which is convenient.

7. BHV Store - very fun, full of people on the weekends. Sort of like the IKEA of France.

8. Flea markets, we went to two, near Porte de Vanves and Porte de Clignancourt. Porte de Vanves, to me had a more traditional flea market feel, although not cheap. Porte de Puces (at the Porte de Clignancourt Metro stop) is big. You just see a bunch of clothing stalls. Keep going and take some turns to the left and you will start o see more traditional flea market stuff.

9. Flagship Sephora store, Champs Elysee – LOVED IT!!! It is seriously awesome if you’re a fan of the store. We probably spent a good hour there.

10. Versailles – save yourself some time – when you are at the RER station, they sell a combo train and entrance ticket. Buy it and you can pass right by all the people waiting in line at the palace itself. Similar tip for the Louvre – buy your ticket in the mall off of the Musee de Lourve Metro stop, in the mall there.

11. La Poilane – written up in books as the best bakery in Paris. We went there and although good, it’s not really that much better than any other bakery here, so I am not sure I’d bother seeking it out.

12. We found everyone to be super nice and helpful. We know a little French but I would say that “fluent” is a stretch. We managed to get our point across and so many people were cool about our attempts to speak.

13. METRO – great way to get around town, buy the 10 ticket pack.

14. 3 Advil each day helps with your sore, tired body from doing so much walking. I would like to add that the apartment has been a wonderful way to feel less like a tourist and more part of life in Paris. The location is perfect. When I think of our trip, in addition to what Donna has written, I will remember the music of Paris. Music that pops up all over the place, in the streets, around the corner, at the cafes, in the metro station (where we heard a 10 piece string ensemble that was amazing) and on one of the bridges to Ile de St. Louis, that included a piano that was rolled out there as part of a group. A special treat for me is that there is a musician in the building here that plays the flute. It seems that she practises in the afternoon. On Sunday it was like a dream and I enjoyed about an hour and a half of beautiful flute music as I rested on the bed with the windows open. It was a great way to relax. A wonderful memoryof many. Merci beaucoup