The W

I had the pleasure of staying at the W hotel in Seattle. Even though I had never heard of this hotel chain before, doesn't mean that it isn't worth mentioning.

We arrived at about 10 in the evening. The music was blaring and candles were burning everywhere. The hotel staff was friendly and efficient. The porter, very coolly dressed in black, helped us with our luggage. The room was nicely appointed with a big window seat, a very comfy looking bed and a large ultra-modern bathroom.

Our bed was super comfortable although I didn't think the bathroom had been cleaned properly. The hotel staff were super friendly and very helpful.

I never ate at the restaurant or drank at the bar as the items on the menu were very expensive...Why would I pay $20 for eggs, toast, hashbrowns and bacon when I can go down the street and get the same thing for $10?

Even so, every evening the lobby and bar area seemed to be packed with drinkers and diners. In fact, walking through the bar made me feel oh so not cool. The eating/drinking establishment anyways is for the very hip 20 somethings. It is the place to see and be seen...and for the wanna bes.

Anyways I liked the hotel...particularly the bed. The location can't be beat. Next time, I go to Seattle, I will consider the W for my accommodation.

Seattle

My husband has been bugging me for a long time to go visit this west coast city. Why bother I thought as it will be just like Vancouver (probably one of my favourite cities in the world)?

Anyways because our flights to Paris were out of and in to Sea Tac and because of the late return, we decided to stay in Seattle for a couple of nights.

Frankly, two nights was not enough time. I really liked what I saw. Most importantly, to me anyways, were the restaurants. We ate dinner at two very different places - the Purple Cafe and Wine Bar and Pan African.

The Purple Cafe was very hip and chic while the Pan African well it just was. The Purple Cafe had a wide range of food selections including pasta, sandwiches and meat selections. The waiter was shmoozy but did make good recommendations, particularly for the wine. The prices here well not cheap...Dinner for two with one appetizer, two main dishes, a latte, a glass of wine and the tip about $80.

The Pan African well it just was with easy to manage paper table coverings. The Pan African had half a dozen meat selections and about half a dozen vegetarian selections. All for under $10...I love a deal...The service was fast, efficient, even friendly but certainly not shmoozy. The food arrived quickly and was yummy and filling. Our meal, two main dinners and a beer, was $20.

I liked both places for very different reasons...I would happily go back to either. However, I also look forward to future opportunities to eat in many of the other restaurants around Seattle.

Lucky Me!!!!

I am a very lucky girl...spoiled too! My husband surprised me with a trip to Paris for new year's. I had been to Paris before and had climbed the Eiffel Tower and seen the Mona Lisa. What I couldn't do the first time was eat as it was just so expensive for a couple of 20 year olds.

My husband booked the Hyatt near the Charles De Gaulle Airport...very nice...comfy beds...but also very expensive...

We made the trek into Paris everyday and walked...we walked as much as possible...Paris is a city to walk in...Everywhere you go is beautiful...beautiful buildings and street corners...

My husband was not all that interested in the big sites...I think more because of the line ups than anything else...I was okay with that as I had seen many of the sites before.

I was so looking forward to eating this time...I was very disappointed...I just found the food inaccessible. Someone had told me that even the bad food is better than the best food we have in North America...I'm afraid not.

More than that, I found what I consider the heart of any place, the people, inaccessible. People were helpful enough, but certainly not warm or even friendly. Efficient, direct but certainly friendly!!!

While Paris is not among my favourite world cities, I had a lot of favourite moments....the bakery near the Eiffel Tower, chocolat chaud at some designer chocolate shop at Montmarte, my husband's reaction to the Eiffel Tower, walking, raspberry tarts and chocolate macaroons at Paul...mmmm...thanks Paul, Monoprix, $6 espresso at the hotel, walking to the creperie place near the Bastille and eating yummy crepes, dancing with my hubby like crazy people in the elevator for the security videos at the hotel....

I'm thankful to my husband for his very thoughtful gift and hope that even though I won't ever turn 40 again, we will still be able to pick up and go at the drop of a Euro.