Day trip to Paris - report and some pics

Andiline · 05-01-2005

Okay, guys, it was a veeeeeeery long day for me yesterday... when my alarm clock woke me up at 4.30 am I was cursing myself for having been so stupid to do that to myself on a saturday morning... went to the shower anyway and out of the door at 5.30 am.

Flight was in time and uneventful. Just noticed that obivously a lot of people had had the same idea I did as I recognized a lot of people on the flight back in the evening.

Trouble started at the airport Charles de Gaulle. I have seen many airports in the past but THIS airport is the worst I've ever seen. Orientation is very hard even if you understand french. My guidebook had said that there is a Metro from Terminal 2. I arrived at Termanal 1 so I took the shuttle bus to Terminal 2. Took me 15 minutes to arrive there that gives you an idea how big that airport is) and I took a ticket for the Metro (after having found a machine which actually WORKED). If you ever go to Paris, never throw the ticket away once you're inside the metro as you will need it to get out again... I was lucky because I never throw anything away.

First stop on my metro way to Paris City was Terminal 1 (do I have to comment that?

) After 30 minutes I was in the city. On my way there I was busy about deciding where to get out. But then I saw the Church Sacre Coeur and I could never resist a white church in front of a blue sky. I had to have some pics!!! So I left the metro at Gare du Nord and tried to get out of the station. Took me about 10 minutes and finally outside I had no clue in which direction to go. So I tried my luck and after 15 minutes I found out that I was walking just the opposite direction to the one I wanted to go. Okay, back again and then I found my orientation back. Without a map you are just lost in Paris... it's not like in the States where the streets are very straight which is easier for orientation.

I climbed the hill to the church and found the walk had been worth it, don't you think?

Went inside and noticed something which left me wondering again: in Mexico I had sometimes been reluctant to enter catholic churches as weather-related I wore only tops with bare shoulders but in Mexico nobody ever cared. Over here when you enter a church with bare shoulders you have to cover them. Saw it again yesterday and to me this seems a little bit strange...

Didn't stay there long as there were still so many things to see. My next stop was this one... does something dawn on you?

Yeah, Bump, 5 more pins are waiting for joining your collection and a new HRC-baseball cap will soon join the collection of my best friends husband.

Walked on to the opera

where I did a quick dash into Galeries Lafayette. Didn't do any shopping there though.

On my way to the Place de la Concorde I found the impressing church St. Madelaine... one of the biggest churches I've ever seen although on this pic you can't see it.

Next part to follow later on today, gotta go catch some sun now....

MWC · 05-01-2005

We visited France (Paris part of the trip) about 10 years ago. I loved Paris -- such a physically beautiful city! It's worth waking for an early morning walk, to see the effort they put into keeping it so clean.
My daughter, who was two at the time of the first trip, now takes French in middle school, and wants to go back.
Wish the euro gave us the same breaks $$$ that the mexican peso does!

TAPPY · 05-01-2005

Love your pics and trip report. Looks like it was just a great day for traveling.

Bumper · 05-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andiline

Didn't stay there long as there were still so many things to see. My next stop was this one... does something dawn on you?

Yeah, Bump, 5 more pins are waiting for joining your collection and a new HRC-baseball cap will soon join the collection of my best friends husband.

Merci beaucoup, mon amie! Not bad, eh, and I wasn't even there? Many, many thanks for your most welcome help with my Hard Rock Cafe collecting habit, Andrea. I owe you a large Bumper Hug, payable in Texas in August. (And some tasty Chardonnay to go with it!)

Andiline · 05-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumper

Merci beaucoup, mon amie! Not bad, eh, and I wasn't even there? Many, many thanks for your most welcome help with my Hard Rock Cafe collecting habit, Andrea. I owe you a large Bumper Hug, payable in Texas in August. (And some tasty Chardonnay to go with it!)

Bump, this was no trouble at all and I had to buy the cap for my friends husband too.... We just divide the work: I spend my money for the trips and someone else's money in the HRC's

I have something more in mind but I will not tell you as it should be a surprise!

Andiline · 05-01-2005

No sun on my balcony any more so I can continue...

I arrived at Place de la Concorde about noon. After having walked 3 hours already my feet started giving smoking signals to let me know they needed a break. First I had to admire Place de la Concorde though. Unfortunately pictures don't show the beauty and impressingness (does that word exist?) of that square so I took pictures only of some details.

Then I entered the Gardens of Luxembourg and there I had a nice view towards place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

As my feet made more fuss and it was getting too hot to stay in the sun I took a chair under the trees and admired some art works.

The Luxembourg Gardens together with the Tuileries and the Louvre (they are all linked together) are really impressing. I sat there thinking about what they would have to tell about history if they could talk. Would really be interesting to listen....

When my feet were no longer smoking I continued my walk towards the Louvre. There is so much to see in that area (unnecessary to say that I took lots of pics

).

When I arrived at the Louvre I found that here the same is valid as for the Place de La Concorde. Pictures don't do this building any justice. It's majestic and huge and you need to make many pictures to cover it all.

This is the back side of the Louvre.

Then I continued my walk at the river Seine as my next stop should be the church Notre Dame. Lots of people over there.

And the famous book-sellers are still there. Nice that those old traditions have not disappeared yet although a lot of them sell more tourist stuff than books.

I went into a quarter where there are lots of restaurants and had a late lunch there. I had wanted to eat a 'Croque Madame' which is a french specialty (toast with ham in it, melted cheese above and on top of it is a sunny-side-up egg). Sat there in one of the brasseries, did some people watching and had a glass of french wine which went directly into my head (didn't matter though as it was not enough to make me dance on the table

).

Then I still had some hours left and could barely walk any more. So it took me some time to decide whether to go back to the Musee d'Orsay (which is a former train station). I've always wanted to visit this museum which has a large collection of impressionist paitings like Claude monet who is one of my favourite painters.

But then decided against it as it was too far away. So I continued towards the city hall where you can see that Paris wants to host the Olimpics 2012.

From there I walked on to the Centre George Pompidou. The Centre Pompidou has a large art collection as well. I will never forget when I went inside for the first time many, many years ago and for the first time in my life I saw a painting of Salvador Dali 'live'. I had a chill running down my spine in that moment.

Near the Centre Pompidou is a fountain with water spraying objects made by Nicky de Saint Phalle. I've always liked that fountain.

From there I went to Les Halles (not worth showing pictures) which is a large shopping complex now. It was packed with people, police everywhere to keep people safe (see police running like that here in Cologne only at Carnival). Sat there, drank a coke and waited until it was time to go back to the airport.

When I wanted to go back the final adventure of the day began: getting a ticket was a mess as there were long lines in front of the machines and the ticket counters. So I waited patiently until I had my ticket (plenty of time anyway so no need to worry about it). Arriving at the airport I thought it might be a good idea to get off the train at Terminal 1 since I had to go there anyway. So I went off there and followed the signs pointing to 'Terminal 1'. The signs led me outside the building but I couldn't see any Terminal. There were only busses. So I went back inside to look whether I had missed anything but the signs were clearly pointing outside. There was a green 2 beside the signs towards Terminal 1 but I didn't wanna go to Terminal 2. So I went to the information desk, feeling really stupid that I was too stupid to find Terminal 1. And then the nice Lady told me that I had to take bus number 2 to get to Terminal 1. Sounds logical that Bus Number 2 goes to Terminal 1 and 3, doesn't it?

Once back at Terminal 1 I didn't have any more problems in finding anything. As I still had lots of time I wanted to go to the Lufthansa Lounge (I didn't fly Lufthansa but I am a Senator with them so I am entitled to use their Lounges on all aiports even if I take a low-fare-carrier) but there was no Lufthansa lounge...

So in the end I was back at the airport, tired to the bone and when I finally arrived at home I slept for 11 hours...

My conclusion is that Paris has very impressing buildings. It shows that lots of history has been made and happened there. Still I am not sure I will go there again anytime soon. Several streets were very dirty and the drivers are VERY aggressive. I crossed streets only at traffic lights and only with green light as everything else was too dangerous. When I was watching the windows of a GAP-shop near the Opera I heard the horn of a car and then suddenly I realized that there was an asian women flying over the street. She had been hit by a car. Fortunately she was able to get up again but I think her face must have hurt a lot as she was sliding over the ground with one side of it...

I might go back... eventually.... but there are still so many other cities I haven't seen so far.

Andrea

Donny · 05-01-2005

Great trip report, Andrea! Thanks for sharing!
dr

Jacko · 05-01-2005

Great report, Andilene! We stayed in Paris many years ago in a flat right over a boulangerie on the Rue de Montemarte....staying in the city was really delightful...I would say it is one of the most difficult cities I have experienced to visit and NOT speak their language...they are particular if you don't say the words just right! )-:

Thanks for bringing back pleasant memories....

tommy · 05-01-2005

nice report Andi!!!!great pictures!!!!!

dingodi · 05-01-2005

Hi, just want to comment on your pics from Paris.......we just got back from there. We started in Dublin and then I was pleasantly surprised from my boyfriend that we were going to Paris for 2 days.

One of our first things to do in Paris was of course going up the Eiffel Tower. That was truley amazing. A little history for you on a personal note. My boyfriend and I have been together for some time, so of course when he surprised me with this 2 day Paris thing, of course I jumped to the conclusion that perhaps I was going to receive an engagement ring......well, what better place than the Eiffel Tower. Well, up we went, and around we went, I was getting ready with my reply.....and well, down we came. I was sooooo disappointed.

Then he planned a bike tour called Fat Tire Bike Night Tour for the next day. This was our last day there, leaving early the next morning. Just to let anyone know who is interested in doing this bike tour....it is awesome. It started at 7:00 pm, you bike around Paris, seeing alot of the major monuments, and then park your bikes, hop on a boat that takes you down the Seine River for an hour, return to the bikes and ride back to the shop around midnight. Well, while on this boat, my boyfriend takes me up to the top of the boat, and PROPOSED to me!!!! I was totally not expecting it then, as I didn't answer right away. I was not rehearsing it at the time like I was up the Eiffel Tower.
I said a whole bunch of OH MY GOD, and pinch me, is this really happening. And of course shed a few tears.....ok, I was bawling. haha

Anyway, just wanted to say your pics are really fun to look at, we didn't get to take many good shots of anything being night time. Would you have a pic of the Notre Dame?

And on a side note does anyone know of a good wedding planner in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico?

Di from Winnipeg Canada

cuffedlinks · 05-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by dingodi

... so of course when he surprised me with this 2 day Paris thing, of course I jumped to the conclusion that perhaps I was going to receive an engagement ring...... Well, while on this boat, my boyfriend takes me up to the top of the boat, and PROPOSED to me!!!! Di from Winnipeg Canada

Congratulations !!

05-01-2005

Hi Andiline,

Great trip report. I have wanted to go to Paris for years even if it's only to spend a day at the Louvre. One of my favourite painters is Monet and I first got to see one of his paintings just two years ago. Since then I've visited the National Gallery of Art in Ottawa, the AGO in Toronto and the Museum of Fine Art in Montreal and have seen many great works of art. I saw a Dali, for the first time, in the Lord Beaverbrook Gallery in Frederiction, New Brunswick. His work is amazing and you don't get full appreciation until you see and original. I'm off to Ottawa again on Tuesday and will get to visit the Art Gallery before I going home where it's back to work for a few days and then off to Playa for two weeks. I even get to overnight in Montreal on the way home so it's back to the gallery. One of my paintings is kind of Monet inspired. It's of a fish pond in my sisters garden in New Brunswick. I threw them food and they swirled the water just as I took a picture. I just had to paint it. http://www.susanbparsons.com

pmb · 05-01-2005

Thank you so much for sharing your phots and trip report! Since I might not ever take the opportunity to go to Paris this is as close as I might get. The photos are beautiful! Again, thank you.

Andiline · 05-01-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by dingodi

Anyway, just wanted to say your pics are really fun to look at, we didn't get to take many good shots of anything being night time. Would you have a pic of the Notre Dame?

Di from Winnipeg Canada

Hi Di,

first of all congratulations! That's one thing I noticed too: so many kissing couples (saw the first ones at check-in in Cologne).

There is a pic of Notre Dame already, you might have been confused by the angle though. I thought this one more interesting than the one I took in front of the church.

Something else I forgot to mention are the french pastries. When I walked towards Sacre Coeur I was looking for a french pastry bakery because they have those great pastries filled with chocolate or vanille cream (called eclairs). Unfortunately the quarter was more arabian/african so in the end I bought some sort of doughnut but without a hole in the middle and it was filled with an apple cream.

Thank you all for showing so much interest. I wasn't really expecting that. So here - further to the pics of the well known buildings - are some snapshots of the 'all day life' in Paris. There are so many impressing buildings with lots of gold ornaments.

Guess what they sell here?

People do a lot of shopping in the area near Centre Pompidou.

That's how people spend their saturday afternoon (Jardines Du Luxembourg). In addition to that, children are playing everywhere, there are people running others play 'boule' which is a french national sport.

This sort of labyrinth is near the Tuileries. I liked the bushes because of their symmetrical order. You can hide between the bushes but you can't really get lost as the ends are open.

And that is the police 'prefecture'. Not bad for a police station, isn't it?

Andrea

caramba · 05-01-2005

That's awesome...thanks for sharing! (I'd love to be able to just hop a plane for a quick "day trip" to Paris.)

05-01-2005	#1 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 9,870	Day trip to Paris - report and some pics Okay, guys, it was a veeeeeeery long day for me yesterday... when my alarm clock woke me up at 4.30 am I was cursing myself for having been so stupid to do that to myself on a saturday morning... went to the shower anyway and out of the door at 5.30 am. Flight was in time and uneventful. Just noticed that obivously a lot of people had had the same idea I did as I recognized a lot of people on the flight back in the evening. Trouble started at the airport Charles de Gaulle. I have seen many airports in the past but THIS airport is the worst I've ever seen. Orientation is very hard even if you understand french. My guidebook had said that there is a Metro from Terminal 2. I arrived at Termanal 1 so I took the shuttle bus to Terminal 2. Took me 15 minutes to arrive there that gives you an idea how big that airport is) and I took a ticket for the Metro (after having found a machine which actually WORKED). If you ever go to Paris, never throw the ticket away once you're inside the metro as you will need it to get out again... I was lucky because I never throw anything away. First stop on my metro way to Paris City was Terminal 1 (do I have to comment that? ) After 30 minutes I was in the city. On my way there I was busy about deciding where to get out. But then I saw the Church Sacre Coeur and I could never resist a white church in front of a blue sky. I had to have some pics!!! So I left the metro at Gare du Nord and tried to get out of the station. Took me about 10 minutes and finally outside I had no clue in which direction to go. So I tried my luck and after 15 minutes I found out that I was walking just the opposite direction to the one I wanted to go. Okay, back again and then I found my orientation back. Without a map you are just lost in Paris... it's not like in the States where the streets are very straight which is easier for orientation. I climbed the hill to the church and found the walk had been worth it, don't you think? Went inside and noticed something which left me wondering again: in Mexico I had sometimes been reluctant to enter catholic churches as weather-related I wore only tops with bare shoulders but in Mexico nobody ever cared. Over here when you enter a church with bare shoulders you have to cover them. Saw it again yesterday and to me this seems a little bit strange... Didn't stay there long as there were still so many things to see. My next stop was this one... does something dawn on you? Yeah, Bump, 5 more pins are waiting for joining your collection and a new HRC-baseball cap will soon join the collection of my best friends husband. Walked on to the opera where I did a quick dash into Galeries Lafayette. Didn't do any shopping there though. On my way to the Place de la Concorde I found the impressing church St. Madelaine... one of the biggest churches I've ever seen although on this pic you can't see it. Next part to follow later on today, gotta go catch some sun now.... __________________ Life is better in flip flops! Underwater pics Pics from my trips/trip reports Last edited by Andiline; 05-01-2005 at 07:34 AM..

05-01-2005	#6 (permalink)
Andiline añejo Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 9,870	No sun on my balcony any more so I can continue... I arrived at Place de la Concorde about noon. After having walked 3 hours already my feet started giving smoking signals to let me know they needed a break. First I had to admire Place de la Concorde though. Unfortunately pictures don't show the beauty and impressingness (does that word exist?) of that square so I took pictures only of some details. Then I entered the Gardens of Luxembourg and there I had a nice view towards place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. As my feet made more fuss and it was getting too hot to stay in the sun I took a chair under the trees and admired some art works. The Luxembourg Gardens together with the Tuileries and the Louvre (they are all linked together) are really impressing. I sat there thinking about what they would have to tell about history if they could talk. Would really be interesting to listen.... When my feet were no longer smoking I continued my walk towards the Louvre. There is so much to see in that area (unnecessary to say that I took lots of pics ). When I arrived at the Louvre I found that here the same is valid as for the Place de La Concorde. Pictures don't do this building any justice. It's majestic and huge and you need to make many pictures to cover it all. This is the back side of the Louvre. Then I continued my walk at the river Seine as my next stop should be the church Notre Dame. Lots of people over there. And the famous book-sellers are still there. Nice that those old traditions have not disappeared yet although a lot of them sell more tourist stuff than books. I went into a quarter where there are lots of restaurants and had a late lunch there. I had wanted to eat a 'Croque Madame' which is a french specialty (toast with ham in it, melted cheese above and on top of it is a sunny-side-up egg). Sat there in one of the brasseries, did some people watching and had a glass of french wine which went directly into my head (didn't matter though as it was not enough to make me dance on the table ). Then I still had some hours left and could barely walk any more. So it took me some time to decide whether to go back to the Musee d'Orsay (which is a former train station). I've always wanted to visit this museum which has a large collection of impressionist paitings like Claude monet who is one of my favourite painters. But then decided against it as it was too far away. So I continued towards the city hall where you can see that Paris wants to host the Olimpics 2012. From there I walked on to the Centre George Pompidou. The Centre Pompidou has a large art collection as well. I will never forget when I went inside for the first time many, many years ago and for the first time in my life I saw a painting of Salvador Dali 'live'. I had a chill running down my spine in that moment. Near the Centre Pompidou is a fountain with water spraying objects made by Nicky de Saint Phalle. I've always liked that fountain. From there I went to Les Halles (not worth showing pictures) which is a large shopping complex now. It was packed with people, police everywhere to keep people safe (see police running like that here in Cologne only at Carnival). Sat there, drank a coke and waited until it was time to go back to the airport. When I wanted to go back the final adventure of the day began: getting a ticket was a mess as there were long lines in front of the machines and the ticket counters. So I waited patiently until I had my ticket (plenty of time anyway so no need to worry about it). Arriving at the airport I thought it might be a good idea to get off the train at Terminal 1 since I had to go there anyway. So I went off there and followed the signs pointing to 'Terminal 1'. The signs led me outside the building but I couldn't see any Terminal. There were only busses. So I went back inside to look whether I had missed anything but the signs were clearly pointing outside. There was a green 2 beside the signs towards Terminal 1 but I didn't wanna go to Terminal 2. So I went to the information desk, feeling really stupid that I was too stupid to find Terminal 1. And then the nice Lady told me that I had to take bus number 2 to get to Terminal 1. Sounds logical that Bus Number 2 goes to Terminal 1 and 3, doesn't it? Once back at Terminal 1 I didn't have any more problems in finding anything. As I still had lots of time I wanted to go to the Lufthansa Lounge (I didn't fly Lufthansa but I am a Senator with them so I am entitled to use their Lounges on all aiports even if I take a low-fare-carrier) but there was no Lufthansa lounge... So in the end I was back at the airport, tired to the bone and when I finally arrived at home I slept for 11 hours... My conclusion is that Paris has very impressing buildings. It shows that lots of history has been made and happened there. Still I am not sure I will go there again anytime soon. Several streets were very dirty and the drivers are VERY aggressive. I crossed streets only at traffic lights and only with green light as everything else was too dangerous. When I was watching the windows of a GAP-shop near the Opera I heard the horn of a car and then suddenly I realized that there was an asian women flying over the street. She had been hit by a car. Fortunately she was able to get up again but I think her face must have hurt a lot as she was sliding over the ground with one side of it... I might go back... eventually.... but there are still so many other cities I haven't seen so far. Andrea Last edited by Andiline; 05-01-2005 at 03:39 PM..

05-01-2005	#2 (permalink)
MWC añejo Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 6,500	We visited France (Paris part of the trip) about 10 years ago. I loved Paris -- such a physically beautiful city! It's worth waking for an early morning walk, to see the effort they put into keeping it so clean. My daughter, who was two at the time of the first trip, now takes French in middle school, and wants to go back. Wish the euro gave us the same breaks $$$ that the mexican peso does!

05-01-2005	#3 (permalink)
TAPPY añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 21,148	Love your pics and trip report. Looks like it was just a great day for traveling.

05-01-2005	#7 (permalink)
Donny añejo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Washington State Posts: 3,337	Great trip report, Andrea! Thanks for sharing! dr

05-01-2005	#8 (permalink)
Jacko añejo Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 30,889	Great report, Andilene! We stayed in Paris many years ago in a flat right over a boulangerie on the Rue de Montemarte....staying in the city was really delightful...I would say it is one of the most difficult cities I have experienced to visit and NOT speak their language...they are particular if you don't say the words just right! )-: Thanks for bringing back pleasant memories....

05-01-2005	#9 (permalink)
tommy Rastaman Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Austin Tx Posts: 12,845	nice report Andi!!!!great pictures!!!!!

05-01-2005	#10 (permalink)
dingodi way into it Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 112	Hi, just want to comment on your pics from Paris.......we just got back from there. We started in Dublin and then I was pleasantly surprised from my boyfriend that we were going to Paris for 2 days. One of our first things to do in Paris was of course going up the Eiffel Tower. That was truley amazing. A little history for you on a personal note. My boyfriend and I have been together for some time, so of course when he surprised me with this 2 day Paris thing, of course I jumped to the conclusion that perhaps I was going to receive an engagement ring......well, what better place than the Eiffel Tower. Well, up we went, and around we went, I was getting ready with my reply.....and well, down we came. I was sooooo disappointed. Then he planned a bike tour called Fat Tire Bike Night Tour for the next day. This was our last day there, leaving early the next morning. Just to let anyone know who is interested in doing this bike tour....it is awesome. It started at 7:00 pm, you bike around Paris, seeing alot of the major monuments, and then park your bikes, hop on a boat that takes you down the Seine River for an hour, return to the bikes and ride back to the shop around midnight. Well, while on this boat, my boyfriend takes me up to the top of the boat, and PROPOSED to me!!!! I was totally not expecting it then, as I didn't answer right away. I was not rehearsing it at the time like I was up the Eiffel Tower. I said a whole bunch of OH MY GOD, and pinch me, is this really happening. And of course shed a few tears.....ok, I was bawling. haha Anyway, just wanted to say your pics are really fun to look at, we didn't get to take many good shots of anything being night time. Would you have a pic of the Notre Dame? And on a side note does anyone know of a good wedding planner in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico? Di from Winnipeg Canada

05-01-2005	#12 (permalink)
NewfieSusan Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Andiline, Great trip report. I have wanted to go to Paris for years even if it's only to spend a day at the Louvre. One of my favourite painters is Monet and I first got to see one of his paintings just two years ago. Since then I've visited the National Gallery of Art in Ottawa, the AGO in Toronto and the Museum of Fine Art in Montreal and have seen many great works of art. I saw a Dali, for the first time, in the Lord Beaverbrook Gallery in Frederiction, New Brunswick. His work is amazing and you don't get full appreciation until you see and original. I'm off to Ottawa again on Tuesday and will get to visit the Art Gallery before I going home where it's back to work for a few days and then off to Playa for two weeks. I even get to overnight in Montreal on the way home so it's back to the gallery. One of my paintings is kind of Monet inspired. It's of a fish pond in my sisters garden in New Brunswick. I threw them food and they swirled the water just as I took a picture. I just had to paint it. http://www.susanbparsons.com

05-01-2005	#13 (permalink)
pmb beachaholic Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 322	Thank you so much for sharing your phots and trip report! Since I might not ever take the opportunity to go to Paris this is as close as I might get. The photos are beautiful! Again, thank you.

05-01-2005	#15 (permalink)
caramba añejo Join Date: May 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 6,643	That's awesome...thanks for sharing! (I'd love to be able to just hop a plane for a quick "day trip" to Paris.)

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