Diamond VIPs in Paris
Dr B.'s Hilton points (collected throughout one and a half years of working away from London and being put up in one of the chain's branches for three to four nights a week) were going to expire at the end of April, so he took me and his parents to Paris and used them to get two very nice rooms for two nights.
It was a lovely weekend, very relaxing and with a little bit of extra luxury that I'm not used to, thanks to Dr B.'s last couple of days as a Hilton Diamond
Thursday. Got home from work. Loaded and started bread machine. Went to pick up StreetCar. Sat in car while Dr B. drove to Euston station. Picked up Dr B.'s parents. Sat in slow traffic. Got home to the smell of freshly baked bread. Small talk with in-laws while Dr B. went to leave the StreetCar where he found it. Ate bread. And more bread. Packed. Panicked as Dr B. gave me 20 minutes to power down computer to go to sleep. Slept.
Friday. Woke up. Had breakfast. Got cab to Waterloo. Checked in at Eurostar. Waited for departure. Boarded. Slept through the Eurotunnel. Paris. Got ridiculous quote for people carrier to hotel (95 Euro). Got cab to hotel (15 Euro - nyah nyah!). Dr B. flashed his Hilton Diamond VIP card. Red carpet appeared. Upgraded to executive rooms. Fauchon chocolates. Nice bottle of wine in both rooms. Access to ultra-top secret Executive Floor. Access to all-day-long free booze and nibbles on Executive Floor. Contemplated not leaving the Executive Floor all weekend. Freshened up and went out. Had sandwich. Boat to Notre Dame. Visited church. Walked through flower market to Saint Michel. Parents ate. We drank. Boat to hotel. Champagne and nibbles on Executive Floor. Snooze. Shower. Underground to Chatelet. Got lost. Used map on mobile phone. Met friends. Had pizza. Underground to hotel. Slept.
Saturday. Woke up. Had breakfast. Taxi to Montmartre. Visited Sacre Coeur. Sat for a drink. Tourist mini-train to Pigalle. Underground to Arc de Triomphe. Lunch on the Champs Elisees. Underground to Louvre. Met friend with partner and two-month old baby. Walked to Palais Royal. Walked to Seine. Boat to hotel. Found a baker. Ate half a baguette and a chocolate éclair. Had three tall glasses of Suze at Executive Floor. Parents pretty tipsy too. Went for a lie-down. Freshened up. Went out for dinner. Got back to hotel. Watched Tour Eiffel light show from Executive Floor (yes, again!) balcony. Went to bed.
Sunday. Had nightmare. Woke up. Went for a run from the Eiffel Tower to Ecole Militaire to Eiffel Tower to Trocadero and back to Eiffel Tower. Showered. Had breakfast. Queued for tickets to Tour Eiffel. Queued for lifts to second floor. Queued for lifts to top. Enjoyed view. Did not enjoy wonky floor metal plates. Got food. Ate. Left hotel. Taxi to station. Checked in to Eurostar. One hour early. Train to London. Slept through Eurotunnel. Goodbyes to in-laws. Got home. Lovely cup of tea.
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