I left the apartment for my 10.30 appointment at Jo Malone, I arrived by Velov. Laure met me at the door, what a sweetheart she is.
Laure took me through the Jo Malone fragrances. My favourite wass Pomegranite Noir, so fruity I wanted to eat it. So many of their fragrances are inspired by edible delicacies. Laure treated me to a hand and arm massage with products of my favourite scent and I left smelling and feeling devine.
Alex and I checked in at Hotel Cour des Loges http://www.courdesloges.com/ at 2pm and settled into our room. We enjoyed the plate of soft, baby-pink marshmallows, fresh raspberries and strawberries, fruit jellies and macaroons, left as a welcome to the hotel. Off to a great start we declare!
The hotels 4 Renaissance buildings are now one, washed in a dusky pink hue, some areas exposed natural stone, a harmony of new and old and utterly delightful. Raphael, who tends the bar and has done for 9 years, is a wealth of knowledge and divulges little tit bits of information about an exclusive, members only club which keeps me enthralled. Romain, the Sommelier, gave me a private tour of the wine cellar, it was such a treat to see some of the world's best wines and champagnes like €1,500 bottle of Dom and the Louis Roederer - Cristal, 2000 vintage made for the Tzar in Russia. Just as special was to be shown these bottles by someone with passion and excitement for what they do, all the staff at Cour des Loges share this quality, it is quite a special place.
Alex and I head to the spa area and relax a while in the pool, followed by a brief stint in the sauna and steam room. It was fun to be together, just hanging out, having fun.
Alex and I head to the spa area and relax a while in the pool, followed by a brief stint in the sauna and steam room. It was fun to be together, just hanging out, having fun.
I headed downstairs to the atruim foyer for Warren Saxe's jazz piano concert www.myspace.com/warrensaxe . Warren's notes wove their way throughout the arched boundaries of the atrium, some fat notes, some thin, some sweet and some not so. He played with the crowd. It's a special night at Cour des Loges with Warren playing his intimate concert and a smoky, jazz themed art exhibition on display courtesy of Herve Thibault http://www.hervethibault.com/ , who has been painting the walls and pieces of art in the hotel for years on end. Tonights exhibition is jazz themed also, both artists together made a musical and visual tapestry, filled with vibrant colours
Alex is ready to roll for dinner. The gastronomic restaurant was closed tonight because of the large number of guests expected to dine after the concert, so we were given a reservation at the Epicerie at 9. My beef was tender as the night and the shallot jus reminded me of a jus Sam Walters from Restaurant Rapide makes back in Brisbane, I think of home. Dessert of raspberry tiramisu was sweet and sexy, smooth as silk. It was great dining with AJ, relaxed and happy we meandered through the night until sleep came.
Alex is ready to roll for dinner. The gastronomic restaurant was closed tonight because of the large number of guests expected to dine after the concert, so we were given a reservation at the Epicerie at 9. My beef was tender as the night and the shallot jus reminded me of a jus Sam Walters from Restaurant Rapide makes back in Brisbane, I think of home. Dessert of raspberry tiramisu was sweet and sexy, smooth as silk. It was great dining with AJ, relaxed and happy we meandered through the night until sleep came.
