Paris in the Autumn

Paris is one of those cities that just seems to draw you back time after time. It may feel like you know it well but everytime you visit you find something new and exciting to see, eat or indulge in. It really is a beautiful city. London (which is over twice the size) might be the hippest city in Europe with a sub-terrainian energy that produces great street fashion, world class architects, the best media, the grooviest clubs and night life, but in terms of old-fashioned substantial beauty, no city in the world comes close to Paris. With wide tree-lined streets, immaculate belle epoque buildings and a certain graciousness it's a city that has always been close to my heart.Arrived from Nice on the Easyjet shuttle to Orly and RER'd it to Auber and a short walk to the fabulous Intercontinental Le Grand Hotel on the Place Opera. The Entrance Drive at Le Grand Hotel

The hotel is in the grand Parisian/Hausmann style and is so over the top in terms of decoration, curlicues, sycophantic staff and restaurants, that you get the distinct feeling you entered some very camp broadway musical set.The Garden Room Conservatory in the Middle of the Hotel

It helps that the famous Cafe de la Paix is part of the Hotel complex with its famous oyster bar and restaurant.The Chefs Table at the Cafe de la PaixThe bedroom of room 3304