Help! Looking for any suggestions on "How to Avoid Jet Lag" -- can you add to this conversation?

We're jetting away from Oregon to four European countries on an extravaganza holiday this spring. I'm going to celebrate Mother's Day and my 68th birthday in while on travel.

I despair of the full day and night flying from west to east, and then directly across the Atlantic. It's the curse of the DREADED jet lag. It's been years since we've had to face it.

DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS OR TRICKS YOU USE TO HELP YOU ADJUST TO THE NEW TIME ZONE? Please post here as soon as you can. Remember, I am not asking for medical or prescription advice; but of course if you wish to share anything you use in the way of foods or OTC (Over the Counter) preparations, I'd be grateful.

I guess we're going from Pacific Time to GMT. Is that what Europe and the U.K. observe? Not sure -- is that eight hours difference?

This morning, I'm so excited that couldn't sleep and got up at 2 AM. It's now 5 AM. Maybe I'll try to push through today (Sunday) with a nap. We've got several days to make any adjustments.

About the trip. Please don't be jealous -- DUer Bullwinkle mentioned that last night. Hubby and I have each worked our bottoms off for fifty years -- with full-time jobs and five kids. However, I wish I were as rich as King Midas so I could afford a planeful of DUers. (Especially ones that speak French or Dutch or who completely understand the English and Scottish idioms and accents we run into in the U.K.!)

Thanks in advance for any posts! Have a great week!

Warm regards,

Radio Lady in Oregon

drink lots of water, wear comfortable non binding clothing, try to keep your feet up. do not eat a lot of food high in salt content.

edited to add, try to stay away from alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.

and when we had to open and empty our water bottles -- and then refill them after going through the checkpoint, I went nuts. Airport stores charge HIGHER PRICES! I use Evian water to spray myself (comes in an aerosol can) and keep my mouth moist with a small bottle of liquid for "dry mouth." I have to keep my tongue from sticking to the top of my mouth!'

I've thought about putting some regular water, diluted with a colored prescription (I have red and green colored syrupy potions) -- and carrying that in a brown Rx bottle with a label. That worked once, but it's a pain to prepare.

Right. I'm not planning to drink either caffeine or alcohol all day. That usually leaves my choice of tomato juice with 1100 mg. or more of salt (!), orange juice, apple, maybe cranberry and whatever else Air France offers on the leg when we "cross the pond."

Hey, kiddo! I've never been on the DU this early on Sunday morning. Whatcha up to today? I'm thinking about going to church to drop off items for their rummage sale next Thurs., Friday, and Saturday. Yesterday was just beautiful here. I hope today will be the same.

Lots of hugs for a Sunday.

RL

OT: Never seen this flick, but I do like those two French actors in other films!

Graphic by Dan Addison

http://www.virginia.edu/insideuva/2005/11/jet_lag.html

(From 2005)

A new understanding of jet lag

Study explains why biological clock is slow to reset after transmeridian travel

By Fariss Samarrai

A new study demonstrates that the brain’s central timekeeper — the biological clock that regulates waking and sleeping cycles — has two parts that fall out of synchrony during light schedule shifts of six hours, the time it takes to fly across the Atlantic.

The finding may explain, at least in part, why transmeridian travelers suffer from jet lag, the malaise experienced after crossing several time zones. The new understanding could eventually lead to the development of medicines that would “reset” the biological clock so travelers could adjust much more quickly to rapid time zone changes.

Most people require about two-and-a-half days to adjust to a six-hour flight from Europe to the United States, and even longer after an eastbound trans-Atlantic flight. The study also may have implications for ways to treat shift workers — health care providers, factory employees, truck drivers, etc. — who encounter alertness problems, and those with sleep disorders.

MORE AT LINK ABOVE --->

A little slow for most American audiences, but fun. Especially if you've ever had to spend any time at CDG.

on edit.

The French title (and name for jet lag) is "Decalage Horaire".

is France from East Coast US time?

If you know the answer, and I see it, I'll write that down, too. Merci beaucoups.

So, would I say, "I am suffering from décalage horaire"?
I am now exercising my very basic French -- but if you answer me in French, I probably won't understand. The reason is that I've been using my Spanish in the decades since college and now, on frequent trips to Mexico and Spain. Spanish study in high school was overlayed by taking French in college, and I do not have aptitudes in either language when spoken.

I love French the best -- fell in love with a boy from Brussels, Belgium when I was 15 -- and then received "A's" in all my classes in college -- including conversational.

And if you drink too much, remember, "J'ai guele de bois." (I have a mouth of wood).

as we try to order food.

Last time we were in Paris, we got on the Metro and rode to one of the other stops. Right outside was a fruit vendor and I asked for a pound of "fraise" which as I recall were strawberries. The woman began putting the berries in a bag -- and I was astonished when I saw the HUGE amount. Then I remembered that she was measuring in the metric system, and kilos are WAY bigger than pounds.

We paid, and wandered off. We ate all the berries in the next few days and they were magnifique!

you may want to force yourself to stay awake as long as possible.

I live on the East Coast, and usually take the night flights over to Europe which get me there at 9 or 10 in the morning local time. I have no problem sleeping on planes, so I don't feel that tired when I get there. I am also usually so excited to reach my destination, that I have no problem staying up until 7 or 8 that night. Then I drop and wake up fine the next morning. The jetlag usually gets me on the return.

Since you do a lot of travelling, I am sure you know the routine for the flights (wear comfy shoes that you don't need to take off since your feet will swell, etc).

Have a wonderful time and take lots of pictures!
:hi:

East to west usually feels like a regular day to me -- of course, we're not in business and we try for daytime flights when we can. Then, I try to get on local time as much as I can.

It's the daytime flight across the continent and then another red-eye across an ocean that does me in! Luckily, on the return, we will stop for one overnight in the hotel, then continue on.

Swollen feet have never been a problem for me. I usually wear regular comfortable closed toe shoes but carry on sandals. We'll do a ten-day weather projection later this week -- I've heard of "April in Paris" -- but what about May? There's no song for that month!

Enjoy this day, Malta Blue. I'm waiting for the earth to turn and a beautiful sunrise. Oregon is so beautiful at this time of year.

"Yesterday is finished and tomorrow is a dream; all we have is the gift of today -- that's why we call it 'the present'" ....

I cheat though, I use a prescription sleeping pill. I hope you have a fabulous time. Please post pictures if you can. Wishng you safe traveling.

Photography is his mistress, along with travel, finances, car repair and other important things!

Re: Sleeping on the plane. The only way I'm comfortable is really lying down. But I'm taking a big pillow with me and if we have to, we'll leave it in some Scottish thrift store or something like that.

Re: Sleepless husband will usually sleep on the plane. But sleeping at night in his bed? Nothing doin'... Hubby has tried Ambien, Ambien CR, Lunesta, as well as Roserum or Rosy-Rum (sp?) the one with Abraham Lincoln and the groundhog or beaver -- or is it a woodchuck -- advertisement. The agency said that Abe Lincoln and the furry animal were "memorable". Well, maybe -- but not for sleeping. If it's a groundhog, stupid, he'll just keep have restless nights over and over again.

And have you seen the new ad? The woman walks across the screen with a purple pony/horse. And what does the old-fashioned scuba diver in the background mean? But I digress...

Thanks for your post.

I've only been to France and Ireland so I can't speak for all of Europe but none of our hotels or B&Bs had washcloths. If you use them you might want to think about bringing a couple of them along with you or else plan on buying some when you get there.

We won't have any laundry facilities and we'll be trying to hand wash polyester stuff that dries quickly. Actually, that's a good idea. I'm putting wash cloths in right now.

Here's what works for me: The flight leaves Boston at 6 PM (locl), arriving in Frankfort at 6 AM (local). I do not sleep on the flight over and put in a full day staying up as late as I can. So, by the time I go to sleep the first night I've been up between 24 and 30 hours and sleep like a log. From that point on, I am fairly well adjusted.

The first time I did that was Boston to Hong Kong without a stopover.

We got to the Marriott Hotel from the old airport -- and I just burst out crying from fatigue, sobbing for no particular reason. A hot shower and a short nap of one hour and I felt human again.

Hubby did the exact opposite. He walked around alone while I was napping and thought he was doing fine, until about 4 PM local time. He sat down in a chair and automatically fell asleep for a couple of hours. Weird.

Thanks for your comments.

the theory is the same. Stay up as long as you can and get a good first night's sleep.

Husband is nodding in agreement over here ------------------->

Thanks for your comments, Maineiac. (Great screen name, by the way!) I have no idea where you are. Near Portland, ME, or Bath, ME, or Lewiston, ME? I have a high school friend who is retired in Bath. Or, G-d forbid, do you live near the Bushes of Kennebunkport, ME?

They should get their own ZIP CODE and TOWN -- Screw U(niversity), in Screwed, ME.

OT: Are sigs and avatars and comments turned off today?

Works like a charm.

early this week. I think the regular dosage was 3 mg. or was it 6 mg. Which strength helps you?

Thanks for the tip, GW.

I've seen studies that show it is not effective, but it seems to work for me. Maybe, it is just physological, but I do sleep through the night using twice the recommended dosage.

Usually not anywhere long enough to really adjust.
But once in a while had 3 day layover somewhere in Europe, Middle-East.

Melatonin helped get a fairly good night's sleep when body clock said 'not sleepy time yet'.
Once I got that first night's sleep I was pretty much in sync.

A couple of times across the zones would leave me in a puddle.

But then, I'm a recovering fearful flyer. I used to go by train from New York City to MIAMI, FLORIDA, overnight in a sleeper car, nauseated from motion sickness, which I NEVER get in a plane. I married a man with umpteen zillion free miles in 1973 -- did the US Air Fear of Flying class with a former pilot Captain Pette, then age 66, and a woman psychologist, Carol Stouffer. It was once a week for nine week, at Boston's Logan Airport. Explaining how lift and drag keep you in the air, what all the noises mean, and basic stuff. I've been fine ever since. They took us up in the control tower and we watched the air controllers work. We did an aborted take-off, and on a clear November night, we flew, without landing, from Logan Airport to Albany, NY, and back. Each of us got to sit behind the pilot and co-pilot briefly, to see the view from UP THERE IN THE COCKPIT. It was just amazing!

I did have to suppress memories of the Eastern Airlines pilots who boogied and drank all night in some of the local bars in Miami and Miami Beach, Florida. One of them lived next to us and he had VERY LOUD parties and he left VERY early in the morning, maybe hung over... who knows? Also, I shared an apartment for a brief period with some "stewardesses" and it was a horrific experience. They are a partying bunch, they were. I was in college and couldn't study because people kept coming and going 24 hours a day. Maybe it's better now.

But I tell myself the old canard, "Pilots are very afraid on one part of their trip..." "When's that?" "When they have to drive to the airport."

First, Continental to Newark, and then, Air France to Charles de Gaulle. I remember showering there for a couple of francs, before we went on to Israel. Now, I tell myself, "The pilot has been doing this for years. It's just a big bus in the sky. You take off and you husband holds your hand as you reach V-1 (is that right?) and you "jump into the air." You're in good hands with Captain Trof. Of course, he doesn't want to drop in the ocean either! Addendum for the new century after 9/11: Forget about the possible mutant nutcase sitting next to you who looks a bit like Omar Sharif. He's probably just a camel dealer or something exotic."

90-something % of accidents happen in either the period during take off, plus 4 minutes, or landing, minus 7 minutes.

So it's OK to go ahead and sweat bullets for 4 minutes after take-off and from 7 minutes before landing until touchdown.
The rest of the time, relax and enjoy.
;-)

than the approach to -- was it 22-R in Boston? Planes used to land over Boston Harbor and we were over water right until the end of the runway appeared.

Also, there was a World Airways crash in Boston, where the plane missed the runway and crashed into the wall. I was a radio announcer and talk show host at one of the major radio station (WEEI) when that happened, and it was pretty gruesome.

Meanwhile, I'll check my watch -- and my pulse -- for those "Eleven Minutes" -- Thanks for posting, Trof.

San Diego approach is the hairiest U.S. approach I've ever seen.

The absolute bone-chilling WORST was the approach to RWY 13 at the old Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong.
I was a jumpseat passenger on a company flight when they dragged an engine on landing.

Scroll down for a picture of the NCA B-747 I was on when it touched down. You can see the #1 (left outboard) engine making contact with the runway.
http://johnwfa.com/kta5526.html

whew

We came in to Kai Tak airport in 1997, before the handover to China. We were at the J. W. Marriot on Hong Kong island. The next time we went was 1998 and we landed at the new airport. It was about 10 PM and all the lights were on. What a sight!

http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/vguide/destination.html

The only drawback was the drive into Kowloon took a very long time, but I do recall a couple of gorgeous bridges -- I was on the top of a double decker bus and could see into the little rooms of the people who lived there. It was a hot night -- windows open -- saw everything.

I'm going to send this thread to my cousin, who volunteers at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. He's retired AF with years of flying planes big and small -- then having the fun of sharing it with his son, too.
My cousin's been asking me to fly with him for decades. (Wife is my first cousin -- she wouldn't go with him either.)

I've never been in a helicopter or a very small plane. I get very queasy even at IMAX or trains, busses, We did one trip from SFO to LAX in a plane with maybe 30 (?) seats, and some interisland flights in Hawaii, most recently, Maui to Oahu. Drive to and from the airport, plus security, then wait to be boarded, then actually boarded, then take off, and then the flight is about 30 minutes. It's almost shorter to swim!

Great talking to you. The other pictures on that site are terrific, too -- wfa associates...

Stay up until bedtime at your destination, even though it can really suck (long day, sometimes) and then take the melatonin to help you fall asleep and your body to adjust. Alternately, take the Melatonin on the plane at the time you *should* be going to sleep at your destination, and rest/sleep then. Depends on the time change and whether you're someone who can sleep on a plane. Also, set you watch to your destination time zone as soon as you get on the plane, so you start mentally acclimating. Have fun! :)

how lucky can we get?

These truly are the Golden Years. Now, if this country would just get straightened out.

this was the big scam of the 90s and now has been retired w. the other myths of days gone by such as crystal power

you do fall asleep for 30 minutes or so but then wake suddenly and find it very difficult to get back to sleep

absolutely useless for shift work and jet lag, and god knows it had plenty of opportunity to show its stuff, but it was just a rip-off

the other person working/traveling with me had the exact same experience

at the end of one trip we were hallucinating from lack of sleep, we still wonder about some things we think happened but which were probably "visions"


ugh

i suppose everyone is different and there must be someone in the world for whom melatonin works, but there's a reason why it fell out of popularity -- by this time of century, everybody's tried it already and discovered that it's a total rip-off except for a very very few who must be lucky in their brain chemistry

That was L-Tryptophan. Touted as the best natural product for insomnia for years, then it was pulled off the market, I think.

On edit: Just Googled it -- and it's back. What's up with that?

Oh, by the way, Alzheimer's disease was also linked to aluminum ware and I believe to ingestion of Teflon. The problem is that they really don't know what causes Alzheimer's disease yet or how to completely eradicate it. So a variety of things get pointed at -- and people believe them.

One thing is for sure, the projection of numbers of older people who get Alzheimer's is increasing. But I recently read an article when I was on vacation -- must have been in U.S.A. Today. The aging population is caused by the fact that so many people are living to an older age, and therefore, they have outlasted cancer, heart disease, and other organ failure deaths -- leaving Alzheimer's as the possible final cause.

Thanks for the post.

Change your watch as soon as you get on the plane (not before, you don't want to mess yourself up and miss the flight! LOL! ;)) Anyway, change your watch and keep telling yourself what time it is in the place you're going. It sounds silly but it really helps you mentally adjust.

Everyone else already mentioned it but I will mention it again: STAY HYDRATED. Lots of water, no caffeine, no alcohol, avoid salty foods. The new no liquids rule does indeed suck hard but you'll just have to make more work for the attendant. Last time, I brought an empty sports water bottle and had them fill that when they came around with water. The tiny cups of ice water just don't work. Even if I wasn't thirsty at the time, I just kept sipping a little bit. Yes, it means you'll have to go to the bathroom more, but it's better to do that than to have jet lag for days or, worse yet, getting sick. That's the thing, all of these tips are also important for keeping you healthy on the trip because if you're dedydrated and jet lagged, that's when you're going to pick up some nasty bug.

Bring packets of Emergen-C or Airborne (or both) with you and take them often. Both are pretty readily available at major groceries these days. Trader Joe's carries them, as does Whole Foods (I'm thinking of places I know in Portland). My husband and I actually use both, we make a "cocktail" of one packet of Emergen-C and one tablet of Airborne in about 12-16 oz. of water. We take that cocktail every day of our trip (and even a few days before and after). Since we've done that, we never get sick on trips and our jet lag and fatigue have lessened tremendously. The Emergen-C especially gives an energy boost so it's good to take one when you land in your destination to help keep you going.

Which brings me to this: stay awake as long as you can when you get there. Plan activities that will keep you moving around and active. If you can stay awake until a normal bedtime (or as close to it as possible) in your destination, by the next morning you will be almost completely adjusted. It's hard though. You may have to give in and take a little nap, you don't want to fall asleep and hurt yourself!

Let's see... anything else? Oh, yeah, bring your own snacks. Staying full helps you avoid eating salty snacks that will dedydrate you, and will keep your energy level up for that first day. Just don't bring fresh fruit or liquids.

Lastly, have a GREAT TIME! I am a *little* jealous! But then, I get jealous when I plane flies overhead and I live near O'Hare Airport! LOL! I just love traveling. My dream job would to be a travel writer or something like that (except that I don't write very well).

Maybe we'll be IN a plane that FLYS over your house!

Put a big sign on your roof and say, "GRACE0418 LIVES HERE!"

Seriously, I have to get some more Airborne. The company gave me a free ticket for "one free" after purchasing six of them. I use the stuff and think it works very well.

What's wrong with fresh fruit? We always bring it and eat it up on the plane. I know you usually can't go through customs on the arrival side, but are you suggesting you can't bring it as food? I'm confused about that part.

Appreciate your excellent suggestions -- many, many thanks.

If you can consume it on the plane, go for it. Sorry to confuse.

I will try to get on that sign, but I'm not sure my condo board will approve it. ;)

The dog came over to me, nosed my bag, and sat down. I told the security handler that I was SURE I had NO fresh fruit left...

Then I began to show her the assorted items in the bag. There, under some newspapers, at the bottom of the bag, was one lonely orange we missed!

Those dogs have absolutely wonderful noses. Last night on PBS, they did a show on dogs and one section showed how dogs are trained to sniff urine for possible bladder cancer cells!

Wow, that's something!

And once at your destination, stay awake until night time. Resist the temptation for a quick nap. It won't be. You'll be out for the count.

it makes you drink water and is full of vitamins C, and B and zinc I believe - helps you from getting sick too.

they came out w. that study a few years ago about zinc, older people shouldn't be taking it, the study had to be stopped early because the people getting zinc were having such an elevated risk of alzheimer's -- i stopped taking zinc immediately and have never felt better -- google should be able to come up w. something on this, it was widely reported

also people using those products where they stick zinc up the nose -- that's really bad -- several people lost their ability to smell FOR LIFE after use of those products

water, c, and b are fine

zinc, a metal, is probably nothing to be taken otc although it's still heavily sold and marketed otc unfortunately

not to swab it in my nose. I'll have to look up the zinc connection -- it's always a question of risk versus benefit. My doctor once said, "It's a question of the quality of your life." That was when I began taking Prilosec in 1991. Rats had died from stomach cancer from the stuff. I took it anyway because of gastric reflux disease.

In 2006, I asked my GI doctor what's up with Prilosec? He said the studies now showed that even huge amounts of Prilosec, which effectively controls Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (these cases have continuous production of stomach acid) have been debunked as "causing cancer."

Thanks for the post.

So if I get Alzheimer's, I won't remember that I got it from zinc anyway.

as your destination.

After the layover, I'll get on to the time in Paris, France.

if you can sleep on those night flights to europe it's quite convenient and really in the end there is no substitute for a decent amount of sleep

second best is an exit seat w. full recline however you will have to be strong enough to perform the exit row duties or they'll move you out of the seat and you'll probably end up w. some horrible worst case leftover seat considering today's very full flights across the pond

I think we have the best seats we can get, according to my husband.

Thanks for the tips. We could certainly sit on the exit row -- no problem. We've done it before.

and don't take naps until it is the real bedtime at your destination. I flew to Singapore a few weeks ago and instead of sleeping on the plane I spent most of the time watching DVDs on my laptop. I probably slept a total of only a couple of hours on the flight. The idea is to be absolutely dead tired when it is bedtime at your destination so you will get a good first night's sleep and get into the correct sleep pattern.

When we went to Hong Kong, I think hubby and I shared about four during the flight. Delicious -- but VERY SALTY!

That was the time I had a whole row of seats to myself (undersold flight). I fell asleep for about three hours. No problems with jet lag.

Thanks for your suggestion!

My Fellow Oregonian

To avoid jet lag take...............




AMTRAK :rofl: :bounce:


Have a great flight!!!! :hi:

That's the recipe for the OTHER illness -- motion sickness. I even got sick on the ferry from Anacortes, Washington, to Victoria, B.C. I get sick in a CAR idling in about two minutes. <[cue the vomit emoticon>]...

But the cure is DRAMAMINE... no, don't tell me about those wrist bands. They don't work.

Thanks for your good wishes and the yellow waving-icon-thingee.

zanax and gin and tonics but probably not advisable for everyone :+

GMT is 8 hours difference to the West Coast. Continental is GMT + 1 (where I live) so it's 9 hours difference.

Some additional thoughts; get the eye cover/masks (if your carrier still offers them!) and put them on and try to sleep when the cabin crew starts going around telling people to close their window shades.

Be sure to take your shoes off for the duration of the flight and every half hour or so that you are awake, rub the balls of your feet to stimulate blood flow and reduce the risks of blood clots (Economy class syndrome.) Be sure to get up and walk around as well.

Have fun in your travels and good luck deciphering the Scottish accents.

liked the moose avatar. And then, there's that little drinking and drug taking you do on airplanes.

I'm still confused about the time.

Pacific time to Eastern time -- 3 hours.

Eastern time to GMT -- 5 hours

GMT to Continental -- 1 hour

So, we're going to France, Belgium, England and Scotland. They are all nine hours ahead of Portland, Oregon.

It's 7 PM PT 4/30/07

It's 4 AM 5/1/07 Continental -- Is this right?

I am math challenged, truly.

It's 9:45 AM here and 12:45 at night where you are but at least it's the same day! England and Scotland are 8 hours ahead of Portland, Oregon. France and Belgium are 9 hours ahead. Hope that helps.

Candied or crystallised ginger seems to help us with jet lag. That and staying up as long as possible when you land (in either direction). Of course, we only fly to France and back from the east coast, so your mileage will vary.

We generally leave PHL at 7 or 8 P EST and land at CDG at 8 A. Travel into Paris or wherever and fall over at 2P European time. Nap until 4-4:30 and then get up, walk around, and have an early (by French standards) dinner. Try to stay up until 10P local time and then get up the next morning refreshed.

Here's another tip: Wherever you're going learn to say, at the very least, hello, please, thank you, goodbye and "I don't mean to bother you, but do you speak English?" in the language of the countries you're visiting. It makes a difference. And say hello when you walk into a shop before you make a request.

Have a great time.

We just came back from Paris where we celebrated our 20th along with 27 friends.

Bon jour, bon soir, bon matinee, madame, mademoiselle, monsieur.

Merci beaucoups. Pardonez-moi.

Je m'appelle Ellen.

Je ne parle pas Francais...

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I've got the idea. Happy anniversary! Do you speak French yourself?

on the Quai d'Alma, just before the entire group got on the Bateaux Mouche for lunch and our anniversary party.

Oui, je parle le francais. Mais, lentement, s'il vous plaît.

Do not, repeat, do not order Andouillette sauscisson thinking that you're going to get Andouille.

Andouillette is,


wait for it,






Chitlin sausage. That's right, chopped pig intestine, stuffed inside whole pig intestine. Now, I must admit that I'm a great fan of PIG in all it's many manifestations, but I have to be in the mood for andouillette(which basically means starving and seriously intoxicated).

I decided to have haggis when I was in Scotland last time. We were on tour and it was one of those "try Scottish delicacies" dinners. I had a minimal piece of haggis which tasted OK -- maybe a little like chopped liver. Nothing to write home about.

More fun was the Scotsman who sang to me and also played the bagpipe. Ah, the road not taken. He was breathtaking. We bought his CD and played it a few times.

Then, of course, with the moderator's permission, if you are over 18, you must go to:

www.upkilt.com

Just some Scottish natives in their habitual dress and the dangers of the wind and all...

But if you're looking for good eats in Paris check out the article in NYT from the weekend.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/travel/29Choice.html



You also might want to check out this website: http://www.whitings-writings.com/parbishome.htm

about half a dozen times including three trips to the middle east where the jet lag was 11 hours. Keep in mind that it can't get any worse than twelve.

I agree with what's been said about staying hydrated.

I believe that one of the reasons arline travel is so fatiguing is the high ambient noise. I never really noticed how bad it was until I tried using a walkman on a flight and having to turn it up all the way to hear anything. I thought that can't be good. Now I have an ipod and active noise-cancelling headphones. A lot of times I'll just wear the n-c headphones without it even plugged into a source. Earplugs cut the noise as well, but they bug me after a couple of hours.

Get a decent pillow. Those u-shaped ones are cliche but they work. Sleep masks are cliche too but they work.

Try to get a window seat so you don't have to deal with people climbing over you.

I try to force myself into the new timezone as quickly as possible. And if I have the time to devote eight hours, I'm not above using an OTC sleep aid.

If you must take a nap during the day in your new TZ, keep it short like no more than 20 minutes. Force yourself to stay up until bedtime and then get a good night's sleep.

Have fun.

Husband and I are college graduates.

He's been an electrical engineer and a software engineer -- Northeastern University 1957.

I have a degree from the University of Miami 1962 in Communications.

However, for the life of us... we don't understand this comment: Re: Jet Lag: "Keep in mind that it can't get any worse than twelve (hours)."

Could you explain that to us, please?

Thanks a bunch. Have a wonderful May!

Radio Lady in Oregon

Think of 12 hours of jet lag as being exactly 180° out of phase with your normal time.

12 hours is the most out of phase your circadian rhythm can be out of whack. One hour more or less would put you an hour closer to your normal rhythm one direction or another.

Thanks for your explanation, and have a great May Day tomorrow -- oh, I don't know exactly where you are but maybe it's tomorrow already where you are!

Good night and good luck! Nice to meet-chu on the DU!

Radio Lady in Oregon

I fly from O'Hare to Zürich to London for my summer internship in 33 days. (Swiss International Airlines was the low bidder.)

Did I mention I have a bad fear of heights? (although the last flight I was on seven years ago wasn't all that bad (except, of course, the final approach to Central Wisconsin Airport with that low altitude bank was a real white knuckle moment for me.

that a lot of planes now have. You can watch the runway flying under your wheels and the takeoff. And see the ground coming up on landing.

I love it, but obviously some people will hate it.

My flight to Zürich will be on an Airbus A330-200

The Flight to London will be on an Airbus A321