That was so uplifting for me yesterday, watching all the comments come in. I loved seeing what some of the reader's favorites were, like the steve sherman story, the time spouse put foot cream on his face, and the excitement of visiting the Moncton tidal bore. Thank you all for such kind words, it really helped get through the dreary rainy day that was yesterday. Spouse and I sat pretty much the whole day in front of our computer screens. I researched Paris. So overwhelming, we're only going to be there for five days, and spouse gets all confined feeling if we schedule too many things. So I've made a list of things we're interested in doing, a list that makes my heart race with terror were we obligated to do them all. And Jiminy Christchild but that town is expensive. The five day transit pass is going to be eighty dollars EACH. That's more than a monthly pass in Montreal. At least we don't have to tip in the restaurants, or do we? I read that the tip is included but if you liked the service you could leave 5-10 percent. I'd love a clarification, what is standard?
Today I've got a class and then I'm going over to the library and see if I can copy some maps of the city. If not I'll go buy one at the map store (one of the few stores I can't just pass by without entering.) I want to get a couple walking tours copied too as possible activities. Only eight more sleeps until we go. Ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy! I was thinking that I'd try to do little blog postcards during the trip. Try to put up a picture and quick note each day. No promises, but I think it would make a nice souvenir. I don't want to blog the trip, that would be too much like work, but a picture and a couple sentences, maybe that would be more fun. We shall see.
28 comments:
I think Paris would be as expensive as London or less!
I am planning my first trip to London (and my first trip by myself, ever!) and Boy everything is EXPENSIVE! Even transits, and don't get me started on the plane ticket.
My biggest hurdle would be the visa application... Hopefully the document from my office will carried a decent weight (I work for British Council, the English language institute).
I enjoy seeing your excitement building up as the trip nears. It will be a life changing experience. A bit of information: Paris is called the city of lights because it is a place of learning and enlightenment. Ed
I, for one, as a reader, would not at all be offended should you decide to leave for Paris, enjoy your entire stay and live it to the fullest without posting or thinking of us, and then return home and post the dickens out of Blogger with tales of your trip. :)
Go, Torn! Enjoy the trip with Spouse! It is the chance of a lifetime! We will be here when you get back.
I think a photo with a couple of lines would be just fine!
Postcards would be wonderful, but don't feel obliged to do it. Nothing that feels like work should happen on your holiday.
I love your excitement! You know that Disneyland commercial where the two kids jump on the bed in anticpation, shouting, "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I can't sleep! I'm sooooo excited!"? That's how I see you and Torn right now ... and we're right there jumping along with you.
Ah vacation - I am envious. I look forward to hearing your travel tales, be it during your vacation or when you come back. I'll miss you, your blog is usually the first one I check in the mornings!
I loved Paris. Not so much the Parisians, who were a bit snobby, but I did love the city itself.
One thing you must do is take a cab ride. Closest I've ever come to death in my life. Really.
HUGS....
just a few pics and words, it's like taking us all with you!!!
Oh, cool...a few more links into the archives. I just love to get into your old posts and roll around like Sara on a stinky fish!
As for vacation blogging, it's nice of you to think of us with postcards and all...but that sounds a bit complicated and less-than-relaxing...so use your best judgement...and remember we'll all be waiting at the dock, waving our hankies at you (well, something) as your ship comes back to port!
(Oh, what to do...I'm supposed to enter the word ver, but it's given me nothing to read...)
What fun! I'm enjoying your excitement.
Paris is my lifelong dream. Enjoy every minute of it!
I'm going to watch the Tidal Bore video before I leave. God, I love that Serge!
-Rox
When we went to London a few years back, I kept a little journal of notes. It was a pleasant experience finding it the other day.
You're going to have a ball.
Your spouse is correct. A big part of enjoying Paris is walking around and soaking up the atmosphere.
Tax and tip are included in the price of the meal, but we typically left an additional euro on the table at the end. Before we went, I got a book of the bistros in Paris and planned some of our trip that way. The food was very good and didn't seem unreasonable to me.
I don't know what part of the city you'll be staying in, but if you find yourself anywhere near the Gare de Lyon (in the 12eme, I believe) and it's a nice day, you should check out the viaduc des arts. It's a long elevated strip of gardens and walkways, and it's very pleasant. If you follow it to its eastern end, there's a large lawn that's great for a picnic and for watching people sunning themselves.
What an adventure this is going to be. I can't wait to hear your excitement and see the pics. It might be the closest I ever get to going!
Eat stinky cheese, crusty bread and drink wine for me!!
Behold the incredible value of the Euro right now. This makes everything more expensive.
Postcards would be appreciated, but not if it starts to feel like an obligation.
Have yourselves a fantabulous time in Paris! But I sooo agree with your sentiment, "I don't want to blog the trip, that would be too much like work..." That's exactly what I did about my trip to San Fran and it got quite laborious.
I highly recommend a tour of the catacombs. Here's a link so you know what you're in for. YOu'd think it would be creepy but it's pretty enjoyable and makes you feel like a very very small part of history.
http://www.paris-france.me.uk/catacombs.htm
oh and I forgot. We always leave a little something extra as a tip if the service is decent. We figure to goes a long way with international relations and in the end doesn't add up to very much.
Paris is so much fun and a great city to just experience by getting lost on the streets and walking, eating and drinking. Have a blast.
Sounds like lots of fun planning and getting ready to travel. We waited until we got to Paris before buying one of their city maps which is very well done. All the shops will have some sort of map, ours was a little book and the maps unfolded out of it. In any event, I can feel your excitement!
I don't think I ever saw the tidal bore one before. That was fab. I miss Serge.
I love the Tomatoes one too, but that is already highlighted.
At first I thought you meant postcards like Elizabeth. I was gonna be all impressed.
Can I hate you? I LOVE Paris! I hope to be there for a milestone birthday in a few years. You're going to love walking along the river with your partner. One thing that I remember most was walking through Tuileries Garden and we'd kick around the fallen chestnuts on our way to get Angelina's African Hot Chocolate....you have to get some!
Don't spend too much time on the trains. paris is best experienced walking or renting the bikes at the cool Velo stations scattered throughout the city.
The Museum pass can be a very good investment if you plan on hitting a lot of the major sites. Adn you must go to the Monet Museum as it is one of the most peaceful spots in the city.
I think you should look into getting the carnet of metro passes instead of the five day pass. Have you looked into whether or not it will be more affordable to use that instead?
http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/ticket_t.php
I dunno about polt's suggestion to ride in a deathcab. Maybe you should rent scooters! Those are MUCH safer. :)
We are all breathless with anticipation for you and Serge. Do what you want as far as blogging. (I know, I was one who begged for posts. But it should be fun, not work.) Take a real vacation! And we'll all be here when you return.
Paris is expensive, but soooo much cheaper than London!
Don't worry about buying a pass for five days, you'll be surprised by how much you'll walk. Paris isn't big....
Just buy a carnet (10 single journey tickets) and use the tickets as you go. It's the cheapest way.
I have two restaurants to suggest - le reconfort (pretty unknown place in the heart of the jewish/gay quarter) on rue du poitou. Excellent food, lovely ambience. And Tokyo Eat at the palais de tokyo art gallery. For food and an environment that is truly, truly unique....
Enjoy yourselves...!
Nice idea, blog postcards. We'll take whatever we can get.
I like your idea of a list of things you're interested in seeing/doing, with the full knowledge that you will not have time to do them all.
Mark :-)
Hi Tornwordo, I'm a Canadian expatriate living in Paris, chiming in. I think you may be looking at the wrong pass. The Metro in Paris is actually really cheap; cheaper than the metro in Toronto, for example. A trip on the Metro costs 1.50 Euros. However, the RATP (metro company) does produce tourist passes which are a rip-off, and which the average Parisian would never get.
Instead, if you want to get a pass, you should look into the Carte Orange. There is a weekly Carte Orange for 16.30 Euros which covers the Monday-Sunday time period.
This should satisfy all your transportation needs. You really shouldn't need to buy a pass outside Zone 1 (Paris proper); if you're visiting Versailles (outside Paris, in the suburbs), you would just buy an individual Zone 4 ticket.
Otherwise, as people said, you could just buy a carnet of 10 metro tickets, and use it for distances you can't walk. Paris is best viewed by wandering its streets and boulevards, anyway.
FYI, the museum pass isn't really worth it unless you're planning to visit half a dozen museums or something. Again, stay away from such tourist passes because they're usually a rip-off unless you're a militant tourist.
Paris is generally expensive (especially accommodations and dining), but the best of Paris is free: the beauty of the city, its parks and gardens, and its street life.
Parisians are also friendly, DESPITE the stereotype. (This is especially impressive considering the swarms of rude tourists they deal with each day.) Visitors who arrive with a firm belief in the Snobby Parisian Myth will find nothing else; however, if you leave the myth behind, you'll find that for every snappy waiter, there are five incredibly kind and polite Parisians.
Anyway, I hope to bump into you and Serge on the streets of Paris. The weather has been beautiful (if a bit cloudy today), and the city has been shimmering. I offer a suggestion: have a picnic on the Pont des Arts with some bread, wine and cheese at sunset, or take a relaxing walk along the banks of the Seine.
Bonnes vacances!
P.S. - No tipping is required. At most, you can leave a few coins if the service pleased you. Otherwise, the service is usually included in the price.
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