12 days till Paris...nerves and excitement rising...rising

Ack! This time 2 weeks from now, I will be bopping all over the City of Light, and I'm freaking out! :bounce: My nerves are crazy, as I've never been out of the country (save Canada), especially by myself and especially for 3 weeks! OMG! :scared:

At the same time, I'm wicked excited, but praying (as much as an atheist can :P) that I haven't forgotten anything.

-vent over, thanks-

You will have a WONDERFUL time! When you come back you should let us know:
1) What was and what wasn't what you expected
and
2) How has your point of view altered as a result of your trip?

(I think ALL Americans should get seriously abroad at least once in their lives.. and not in one of those groups where you never actually contact any furriners, either.)

I'll be studying French for 2 weeks at the Alliance Francaise, and that's something I'm really excited about. I absoltuely love people from other countries! That's why I'm an ESL tutor!

and I will be DUing, just not quite as much :)

I wish I'd done that when I was younger and had fewer responsibilities. I know you'll have a great time.

if i hadn't worked my ass off for the scholarship, it wouldn't be happenning any time soon. I'm blessed. :)

That makes the trip sweeter!

and rest assured, you will be seeing plenty of pics! ...maybe even some of me with my short hair and glasses :P

Looking forward to them! :thumbsup:

:P

My residence hotel does have an indoor pool, y'know ;)

:P

come fly away with me, baby, and we will find you a hot Parisian man and true love (with dirty stuff too :P)

I spent the summer of 1980 in Paris while my husband was there on business and spent many days wandering the City of Light and surrounding areas by myself. That summer it rained every day, and the two most useful items I brought were an umbrella and raincoat.

I don't own one, and don't wanna deal with packing it, but it's definitely something I've thought about. At this point, I can't really think of anything I haven't thought about, I've been sooooo obsessive about the preparations...

Do the L`OpenTour. Get a pass for 2 days and you will have so much fun.
Its a get on get off wherever and whenever you want. 35.00 eruo.
Here is the site.
www.paris-opentour.com
It's perfect for a free sprirt and on your own kinda fun.
Lofty

Try my favourite spot around Abbesses Metro Station in Montmartre (other side of the Butte from the over-touristy part). Great atmosphere, good bistros, bars and restaurants, quintessentially French book and art shops. Unfortunately, the Museum of Naive Art will be closed for the Summer but look out for other small galleries.

If you're at all interested in history, try the Musee du Moyen Age on the South Bank. Fascinating exhibits in what was the town house of the Abbey of Cluny. They do good early music concerts there some days too.

Enjoy. Bon Voyage.
The Skin

I want to go there...so interesting and cool looking.

http://www.paris.org/Metro/gifs/abbesses.html

The Skin

While I'm in school for the first 2 weeks, I'm booked at a residence hotel in a studio apartment, the Citea Vanves. Kind of far out on the periphery, but I'm only going to be sleeping there, so no biggie. (it's a part of the school package)

http://www.hotels-paris.fr/en/hotel/Citea-Vanves-Porte-de-Versailles.htm

then, for the last week, I am booked at a little hotel in the Latin Quarter (approximately) called the Hotel Monge. The owner, Julie, is fantastic and I've had great email communication with her:

http://www.hotelmonge.com/

I usually stay in the Marais/Bastille/Oberkampf area on the Right Bank. Vanves is out there but there's lots of green space.

I'll be sure to report back with tons of funny stories, I'm quite sure! :hi:

... quickly and cheaply.

Hows your French? I usually get a Carte Orange for the Inner Zones - unbelievably cheap, last time I was there about $20 for all Metro/Bus Trips for a week. Technically, it's for Paris Residents only but in my experience the staff don't ask questions if you ask for one in French. You'll need a passport photo.

Otherwise use "carnets" of tickets @ 10 a time rather than buying them one at a time. It's cheaper!

The Skin

:loveya:

Hey....my mom was born and raised in Paris and I did two years at the American University in Paris. You will LOVE it.

PM me if you want some excellent restaurant suggestions. You probably realize that you will be there when most of Paris vacates for pretty much the entire month of August. Lots of places are closed, but I have a list of restaurants that I know are open in August. A fair number of them are inexpensive as well.

Also, I am not familiar with the Hotel Monge, it is in a very intresting area of the city.

Again, feel free to PM if you have any questions or want any suggestions!

I'm ok with Paris being vacated...less pressure on my french, hopefully :P

I'm toying with the idea of transferring to the American University there, so if you could tell me more about it sometime, I would love it! :hi:

I hope you have a great time on your trip... don't do anything I wouldn't do (snicker).

no, i'm saving all those bad things for when I get back :evilgrin:

btw, can't wait to meet you! ;)

and the Dollar is stronger than when I was in Europe earlier this spring ($1.29 = 1 Euro). Have fun!

See, I'm already using commas instead of periods in my numbers! So French! :P

I hope it stays there, or goes down a little more.

I would go back to Paris just to spend a day there.
Take a sunset picnic to Pont Neuf on Isle de la Cite.

When you're done the school thing, look up some of the "walking Tours". They are cheap, like 10 bucks, I forget the actual franc/euro cost. They last about an hour and are available for the different arrondismont (spelling). You can always walk back to some point and EAT. There are tons of places to eat, and tons of delicious food. Sometimes I just had a jambon cru, other times Mrs. steely and I would splurge. Some of the restaurants cater to tourists, so it's hard and fun to try to find something closer to french cuisine.

The Metro is the best: fast, frequent, clean. I think you can get a massive $ break on a 10 day pass. I give you 2 or 3 days before your confidence soars. I have gone 3 times w/ Mrs. steely, she went to school there for a year, and we've visited every couple of yrs since.

Caution: 1) watch out for the letches tho', she got pinched on the Metro, use common sense, go w/ a friend at night. 2) ALSO, watch out for pick-pockets - usually 10-12 yr old kids traveling in packs of 2 or 3 working with a kid on a motor-bike - they probed me when we were at Mont-Martre / painter's hill. 3) if you ask 3 people for directions, be prepared to get 3 different answers - you will get help, but it will not (I repeat NOT) be accurate. 4) Long lines at the Eiffel tower - go early. 5) resist compulsion to buy - go back later or keep your eyes open, you may find it later - cheaper - unless it is your last day - then you may regret not picking up that souvenier.

Walk everywhere, metro back when yer tired. We stayed near the Ile de Cite once, walked where-ever (museums all over), never needed a cab or car. ATMs are plentiful. You will never forget it, and chances are, you may go back later. After a while we tried to blend in like we werent' tourists (in our dreams). OK, I'll stop here.

Flower shops and boulangeries - sigh. (I was a free man in Paris)

Bon voyage!!!

I'm planning on doing the French Revolution one and Hemingway's Paris.

Pickpockets, I am aware and have taken all good, yet not too paranoid precautions

Definitely getting a Carte Orange for the Metro

Also, definitely going to the Tour Eiffel very early in the a.m, or very late at night.

I've taken a self-defense class, so letches beware! :P

We did the Hemingway tour too - the guides are the best! Most were transplants from the UK and are into it.

rooms were tiny - but that wasn't what we were there for.

I'm not planning on sleeping much, and both places I'll be staying have a private shower, so I'm overjoyed! :bounce:

You'll have a great time, I'm sure. I wish I could go to Paris too!

:hi:

:bounce:

This crew would rock out so hard in Paris! :bounce:

back in the Clinton years when airfare was low and I had money, I would take off for four day weekends in Paris on a whim, or just to pick up Christmas presents. I barely speak any French at all, but I've found that if you make an effort and are friendly, you won't have any problems at all. As far as forgetting anything goes; just bring an ATM and Am Ex card. There's no exchange fee at ATMs.

Have fun!

:hi: