Life Along The Seine River...2014

Paris is a very familiar city for us. We have been privileged to spend many, many times here because of our association with The Rolling Stones. Chuck's first occasion was during the l982 Tattoo You Tour of Europe. So, after that there were several recording sessions at Pathe' Marconi across The Bois de Boulogne for Dirty Work, & Undercover.  Two songs for Forty Licks: and also the most recent sessions for Doom and Gloom and One More Shot were held in Paris at Giontelle Studios. 
 I was able to come along for some of those as well as our children Amy and Ashley. Of course, there were also European tours along with stops in Paris.  So, we have many fond memories over the past 32 years. The last couple of rehearsals have been held there. We have witnessed many, many changes through the years in this city. It has gone from being very stoic and pompous to multi-cultural and contemporary. Children were not appreciated in Paris as it was a Formal atmosphere.

Arch at The Louvre Palace

Being Americans, we were used to high chairs in restaurants and strollers on the streets. Taxis just wouldn't pick you up if you had children along with you. Now, all ages are appreciated. All countries are appreciated! It's about the Muh.nee, as my Grandson Rocco says. But, it is still the same very beautiful city where Fashion, Art, Culture, Food and beautiful gardens abound.  Some things never change.
Here we are in 2014! I had another Parisienne moment at Cartier. Chuck gave me a tank watch in the early 90's. I have worn it since then. Patty Richards, Sally Wood, Jenny Taylor and I went out for a walk through St. Germain having lunch a great sandwich shop and coming back up by the Seine. We passed by the Cartier shop where I mentioned that the only thing I needed was a new watch band as mine had started to tatter. Patty mentioned how great the staff was at the shops here, and that I could probably get it fixed without even having to leave it. The next day I went over. They lady took a look at my watch and said their is no serial number on the band.??? I was a bait confused? I have had it replaced 4 or 5 times through the years so I hadn't paid any attention to that. They were all lizard. Came from Germany, Atlanta or Paris Cartier shops. She brought me the tray with bands and I chose a crocodile brown one. She took it back to have it put on, but returned quickly to tell me that the repairman would not install it since it was not a proper Cartier band. I could buy it and take it somewhere else to have it put on....really? Guess I had been duped at some Cartier shop along the way. But, why be so rude? She shoved it back at me like I was a criminal. Pomposity again! You would think they would want me to have a real Band!  Last year we stayed at The Bristol on Rue Faubourg-St. Honore',  and that was a wonderful experience. One side was glazed,  and the other was sueded. I am not sure how the chef managed that technique.

The Bristol Hotel

This year we are back at our beloved George V Hotel on Rue George V.  There has been a tremendous upgrade at the hotel through the years, but it has never changed on the exterior. Our early visits were to chambers with lovely appointments of times gone by...you could hear pretty much everything being said by your neighbors. We also had a suite on the top floor which was added during the l940s era and the ceiling were only7 feet high. The furniture was so small I could hardly sit on it. All that changed as the Four Seasons Hotels bought it and refurbished all of the rooms/suites while retaining lobby, foyer and ground floor rooms in their original grandeur. Jeff Leatham - he's the Artistic Director and has been there 14 years - check out his website it's amazing. He did the flowers for Tina Turner's wedding, Chelsea Clinton, Eva Longoria and lots of others

...he was in residence while we were there and since it was Valentine's Day he was arranging flowers in the lobby for delivery to hotel guests.                   

Jeff Leatham at Paris George V

Each and every day is love day for us!!! The hotel had cakes in our room nightly. How spoiled is that??? And, then on Valentine's Day they delivered the most divine Chocolate Cake!! One side was sueded and the other glazed with rose petals for decoration.

Chocolate with rose petals....

I had to look at that the whole day while Chuck was at rehearsal. When he got home he immediately hid it in the cupboard as he has been trying so hard to take off a few pounds. That lasted until our last night there, and I just couldn't resist. Out came the cake, and we devoured it!! Wow!!!   

The Aftermath!