Paris et ses tea rooms: La Durée...

I must admit I had never heard about this place before, and what my sister suggested us to go to "LA DURÉE", I found it was a nice idea, but didn't expect such an splendid place.

La Durée is a wonderful tea room which first opened in 1862 as a bakery. A lucky fire in the bakery during the refurbish carried out by Baron Haussman al over Paris, made it become a pastry shop, opening later one of the first tea rooms in Paris. Nowadays you may find one of these at the Champs Elysées, Rue Royale, at Galeries Printemps and at the Rue Bonaparte; there's also one in London, at Harrods. We went to the one at the Rue Royale, close to the Madeleine (the strangest church I've ever seen). The macaroons are the typical article of this tea room, and you'll may find them in different flavours; this one is tastes anis...

However, I must tell Ms de Winter La Durée has been chosen by Sofia Coppola exclusive pastry consultant for the film "Marie Antoinette", and at the pastry shop you can find different articles related to the film, as this cameo or different cakes, as the one shown.

I just adore any of them...

Paris, again: Caveau de la Huchette

And, here I go again, wandering in Paris and discovering some great places to go in, drink, eat and, this time, dance!

The Caveau de la Huchette (5, rue de la Huchette, Paris; Mº St Michel or Cité) is a Cave du jazz located at the quartier latin; however, avoid any restaurant you may find there, as they are quite expensive and disgusting. This cave (a cellar where people used to play jazz in the 50's) was the first club in Paris where jazz was played, after the Second World War, and has kept without interruption the jazzmen tradition.

The building dates from the XVI century and was the templars meeting point, becoming during the Revolution the Caveau de la Terreur.

Opening at 21:30 everyday (it won't close until dawn from friday to saturday), you'll find different jazz bands playing good traditional jazz. Sometimes even Big Bands have played. We enjoyed a Benny Goodman Tribute by the Michel Bard Orchestra. There's a dance floor, where the best boppers in town go and dance (be prepared to be taken out by a real bopper).

You'll have to pay from 9 to 13 euros to go in, but the drinks (4,50 soft drinks and 6 euros for spirits) are not compulsory.