Random Pics of Paris trip day 1

Last week 5 friends who met through work about 20 years ago, managed to escape to Paris for a couple of nights, unnoticed by their families. Pics weren't that high on the agenda, so this isn't really a photo montage of the high points of the trip, more a random selection of pictures when there was enough light for blackberries and iphones to work.

We stayed here (view from the window)...

 The rooms were a mixed bag, some were positively luxurious (pics to come) others, not so much (but the hotel is in the centre of Paris on Isle de La Cite and starts from 70 euro per room, so no one was complaining) In fact T was thrilled....

It was 24 degrees so we changed into summery clothes and went to look around, but the fun bit was just hanging out, something none of us had done for a while..

We went to Collette and Christian Dior, but the miserable sales assistants would have lynched us if we tried to take pictures.  So we took refuge in the haute boudoir of Caron....

A broke our shopping duck by purchasing the beautiful compact above.
I was tempted to add another swansdown puff to my collection, but at 50 euro for the smallest resisted the urge.
After all that arduous perfume testing and jewellery trying at Caron we retired to the Plaza Athenee for afternoon tea.

They led us through here to our table..

A was pretty pleased with her purchase (but a little warey of 16 euro for a cup of tea!)

Turned out to be the best value of the trip as our lovely waiter served us free Evian all afternoon and as many chocolates as we could eat (plus more to take home for our families)

I got lost finding the loos and ended up in the spa...

 We did have a look at the menu for dinner, but it was 380 euro per person without drinks...

We took the long scenic walk back to our hotel along the river...

 And stopped en route for some obligatory cheesey Eiffel tower shots...