Yep. Paris is totally amazing. My friend and I had two solid weeks to explore and play, and shop, and eat..
We stayed at the beautiful Hotel du Pantheon. The staff was so wonderful, they had even made my wish come true for one room in particular. (staying at this hotel started with a photo post on Flickr.com... Flickr was actually a big help in research as was googleMaps) And of course TripAvisor is gold.
One of my best investments for the trip was a magnifying glass on a neck cord. I never left the hotel without it. Even with my glasses, it helped me see the maps in my moleskin, and details at the art museums. ( especially the jewelry at the Decorative Arts Museum... the BEST museum IMHO ) I also made good use of my opera glasses in crowded museums.
Turns out I pack suitcases like a magician.. nothing wrinkled?? But its a super-challenge to store everything in these tiny Paris hotel rooms when you unpack. Especially 2 weeks%26#39; worth. (no,I didnt over pack.. used everything I packed) I did pack my shoes in SHOE BOXES.. kept my Clark%26#39;s from getting squooshed. I fllled the shoes with costume jewelry wrapped in tissue paper and sox filled in the box. It wasnt wasted space. Once I arrived the empty boxes made terrific %26quot;drawers%26quot; under the bed for sox and other stuff.
Parisians are wonderful people..and no, not everyone speaks English,
Well.some the waiters really are very rude. Some down right sociapathic. The cab drivers are SWEETIES, They always get out and open your door?? The Metro is easy. I felt very safe in the city ( ex NYer, always street-aware ) Got the full Paris experience when the ring trick was attempted. etc.
I spent so much time %26quot;walking%26quot; around on googleMaps before m trip,I never got lost and found my way around like a resident. ( my sister says...maybe in an earlier life...what ever)
Let me tell you. OPENSKIES Airlines was fabulous... can%26#39;t say enough good things, and want to fly them again real soon!
We spent a lot of time down Rue Mouffetard ..around the block from our hotel.
My biggest regret though? Not enough macaroons!!!!!
I really want to live in Paris.. The night desk guy at the hotel said I could have his job cuz he%26#39;s moving to South America.. Seriously, any one in Paris know about a job opening??
And what is it about me that makes airport security always so entertained??
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Nice to hear you had a fun time,, I have never met any waiter that qualified as sociopathic though, that does sound interesting.. LOL( in two weeks I am not surprised you hit a few %26quot;duds%26quot; though)
I will also congratulate you on being the first person that I have ever heard from,, in the last 5 years or so on these boards,, to pack shoes in shoe boxes,,, it is so rare to read about anything here that hasn%26#39;t been posted before.. LOL
The magnifiying glass sounded like a great idea .
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Thanx Joan, ok, %26quot;sociopathic%26quot; MAY be a little harsh.. it was at the Monte Cristo on the Champs Elysees, I told my buddy we shouldnt dine along there. We had a 32 euro tab, and gave him a 50 bill... we got nothing but coin back.. that was the last straw. And we were polite, used our French..yadda yadda . I say. if you dislike tourists so much, find another job.
But everyone else was LOVELY, and for sure,, it wouldnt be a major world city not to find one jerk. We laughed with shop people every time.. and the cabbies too.. basically we had everyone laughing at/along with us!!
I learned sooo much this forum before hand that it made my %26quot;once in a life time%26quot; trip a sweet dream. No problems. Learned Parisian table manners.. the metro, gold ring scams.. I felt wonderfully prepared thanx to this forum and the many people who donate their time, expertise and excitement over Paris.
What else could I contribute after all these posts? ( shoe boxes! lol)
Happy Trails everyone.
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