For this installment of Hotel of the Week, GayCities’ Wanderlust chatted with author and bon vivant Robert Rorke, after a visit to Paris where he signed copies of his latest book, Car Trouble.
Where did you stay while you were in Paris?
I stayed at the New Hotel Roblin, in the 8th Arrondissement. I always stay there. If you go on Google Maps, zero in on The Madeleine. That’s where my hotel was.
Why do you always stay there?
The hotel is comfortable and clean and has a really good breakfast room, very good location, reasonable prices. By now they all know me. Champs d’Elysees is not far, but that’s a tourist shit show. Imagine a Five Guys on the prettiest street in the world and you get the idea.
What’s the crowd like?
The crowd is quiet and friendly. Businessmen, couples on holiday, many nationalities. Baby friendly. It’s more upscale in the 8th. The hipsters are out by Republique and Nation and Canal St. Martin, and maybe Strasbourg-St. Denis.
Describe your room?
My room, 211, was oval with a king-sized bed and two velvet chairs placed on either side of a table. The wallpaper was a pale gray floral, very tasteful, with a lovely dental trim around the oval. Wood plank floor, no rugs. The bathroom had a rainforest shower head.
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How were the bath products? Were they worth stealing?
The bath products were excellent. Penhaligon Blenheim Bouquet shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. You can’t get much better.
Where did you eat?
Cafe Madeleine, on the corner of Rue Tronchet and Chauveau Lagarde, is a popular spot for people watching and croque monsieurs.
The 8th arrondissement is in the center of the city. It’s a good location.
It’s a very good location. Plus, the hotel staff called a taxi for me to go to the airport and locked in the price, so there would be no funny business on the other end. 57 euros.
You can take the Roissy Bus from the airport, it drops you off at the Opera–which is one of the most magnificent buildings ever designed–and the hotel is a short walk from there. I decided not to take the bus because the French Customs people were in a mood because of Brexit. They shut down the Eurostar on a Friday night, so people couldn’t take the high speed train from London. I didn’t want any problems.
The French go on strike weekly about something.
Yes, so it seems. They don’t really work.
Related: Disney will sponsor ‘Gay Days’ celebration in Paris
