Hi Katie - great to see you back here. I'll have to give some thought to the question (I think the answer is in Asia, not Europe), but just wanted to say hi. How old is the toddler now?

I'll be posting the same post over there too in a minute so you can post there! The toddler is coming up on 2!

Hi Katie---nice to see you back.
As for trip reports, I am partial to any by Mr_Go and Ms_Go.
Their recent Tuscany adventure is typical of their format and style, which is the gold standard IMHO.

Wonderful to have you back. You have been missed.

He is a report resulting from a trip that everyone pitched in to turn a potential disappointment into can't-wait-to-go-back trip:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/getting-around-paris-and-france-trip-report.cfm

Here is the initial thread that started the planning process:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/getting-around-paris-and-france.cfm

Katie, so glad to see you back! You have definitely been missed!

I've been greatly impressed with Peter-S-Aus experiences in Venice:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/venice-a-sort-of-trip-report.cfm

He has a great way of describing things - and I love his Australian take on things.

He's back next year, I believe - and I'm looking forward to another report.

We'll be there in October 2012 so we're checking out his recommendations.

Go, Pete!

Welcome back; you'be missed.

Not a trip report re se, however, Kerouac is a Parisien who frequently posts pictures & other data re Paris which are
inspiring to those of us who love Paris.

I really enjoyed reading julia_t's report on her trip to Sarajevo this spring
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/sarajevo-in-the-springtime-juliat-makes-a-return-trip.cfm

My husband and I visited Bosnia & Herzegovina in the fall of 2010 and it was good to re-visit the city through this report. I have also gotten some good movie and reading tips from julia_t so have continued to learn more about this fascinating part of the world.

Most importantly - Welcome Back! You are missed.

There are truly so many reports that are helpful, each in different ways, that I cannot choose one over the other. Some are foodie reports which I love, others more on transportation help and hotels. So each one has something to offer even if only for pure entertainment value.

MaiTaiTom and mr_go/ms_go's are always enjoyable to read when I have time.

Right now I'm following jamikins & bikerscott's live trip report in Rome.

Katie, I am delighted to see you back here.

Would it be horribly inappropriate to point you towards "Susan's Paris"?

E

I look forward to trip reports by Bob the Navigator and
Betty yk. Their reports are the standard ones for me.

Pat

Since Paris is my favorite city to visit, I always look forward to gracejoan's "foodie" reports and kerouac's photo journeys. They both inspire me to return to the city of light.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/october-december-paris-part-iii.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-few-photos-of-christmas-in-paris-2011.cfm

Since Paris is my favorite city to visit, I always look forward to gracejoan's "foodie" reports and kerouac's photo journeys. They both inspire me to return to the city of light.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/october-december-paris-part-iii.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-few-photos-of-christmas-in-paris-2011.cfm

Sorry, didn't mean to post it twice

TPAYT, sometimes things happen when we are thinking of Paris.

(It's our last night in Paris, cold & drizzly, but we will walk the streets no matter to bid adieu.)

That recent TR about the Camino de Santiago in Spain has me thinking about a hiking holiday next year sometime.

Also, I'd just like to jump on the "great to see Katie again" dogpile.

Katie, you are back, fantastic.

There is a poor Canadian teacher who takes school kids to Europe/north Africa each yeat and normally gives great stories and looks for good guidance. This year it looks like it all turned sour as school administration stepped in and put "MoreThanMyJobsWorth" in the way of common sense. Either way the articles started in the first half of the year but stopped until recently. These were some of the best real life articles.

Katie, I'm so happy to see you here!

This year I've enjoyed thursdaysd's reports to the Baltics - not an area that's covered much here. And also the Belgium off-the-beaten-path report by VTtraveler.

P.S. I also like the 40th b-day celebration with BEER in Germany trip report by November moon!

The "B" Trip, Part Three, Western Balkans
is a great read, an adventure not many here have undertaken

Welcome back, K!

I enjoyed LisaRoberts' TR about her trip to Rome and then a cruise to Greece:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/13-days-7-cities-3-kidsour-dream-to-trip-to-italy-day-1.cfm

Maybe Lincasanova's report of her Camino de Santiago doesn't technically qualify (since it was in 2010), but it has been commented on a lot in 2011. It has certainly motivated me to start planning my own Camino for 2012!

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/a-bit-of-the-camino-de-santiago.cfm

Thank you for all these (and the warm welcome!)There's a lot to mull over. I (unfortunately) was last across the Atlantic about four years ago. It doesn't look like it's in the cards for 2012, but there's always 2013. Happy Thursday!

iamq is always a big inspiration and writes the most wonderful trip reports! He told a wonderful story about his trip to Umbria this past summer! Happy Thursday, Katie!

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/8these-are-some-of-my-favorite-things8-iamq-and-m-in-umbria.cfm

Another vote for TeacherCanada's Europe trip reports with his students. They are always informative, interesting and told with humour, both in the content and writing.
Sadly, as previously mentioned in an above post, their 2011 adventure will not be documented for reasons also explained in said post, but his previous annual reports were cracking ! (if you're prepared to make an exception).

Hello Katie and a Happy New Year to you and your family.

John183 really inspired me! I looked forward to each installment and I'll most certainly benefit from his detailed research this summer when I take my 15-y-o daughter to France for the first time!
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-normandy-the-loire-valley-with-our-granddaughter.cfm

Reading trip reports is one of my favorite planning tools. Phrases like "Ellenem's suggested day-trip to Firenze" or "Ekscrunchy had a great lunch here" fill all of my itineraries and trip notes. I got the idea to go to San Sebastian this year from a report by LowCountryIslander -- it wasn't even on my radar until I read her report, and it turned out to be one of the best vacations I've ever taken. A great big thanks to everyone that takes the time to write a TR. I truly appreciate it.

This year, I was especially inspired by NNolen's report on her trip to Rome.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/il-giorno-in-piu-the-extra-day-rome-trip-report.cfm

I'm hoping for a trip to Sicily in 2012 or 13, and will very likely follow the path of Bruce and Marija

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/bruce-and-marija-carless-in-sicily-in-november.cfm

and I also intend to model a return visit to Northern Italy around Zeppole's report

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/my-italian-riviera-job-to-the-valle-daosta-and-back-july-2011.cfm

Most inspiring, though, would have to go do Adoc (even though she hasn't finished it -- I hope she comes back and does so!) http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/i-shouldnt-be-alive-spain-italyin-augustin-a-wheelchair.cfm

oh and P.S. I wish Jamikins and Bikerscott would take me on their next vacation. They always seem to have so much fun!

I enjoyed Ridge Rose's trip to Paris as I was to go to Paris soon after I read it. Mentioned above.
There was another report by a young women disabled who went to Spain. I cannot think of her name it would be posted under. She had researched the places she would go in a wheelchair so that the trip would be more assessible to her.
I think it was this year. I was inspired by her effort to travel even with her disability as this would not be the easiest thing to do.
Does anyone remember this one?

maryanne1 - it was Adoc86

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/i-shouldnt-be-alive-spain-italyin-augustin-a-wheelchair.cfm

Cambe's 2009 Hurtigruten trip report inspired me to make the trip in 2011, and I am so glad it did.
Thankyou Cambe.

Only two months and I go again!

AnselmAdorne report http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/susans-paris.cfm was really moving(and good)plus, any report from ekscrunchy;lincasanova , denisea or bobthe navigator.

I recall enjoying wayfinder's candid report of a family trip to Italy.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/highs-and-lows-of-a-family-trip-to-italy.cfm

Any of the TRs from FrenchMystiqueTours, but I was especially inspired by his reports from Annecy and Burgundy since we recently visited these areas.

Love his photo essays. His pictures and commentaries give me a sense of riding along with him. They make me want to see it all for myself someday.

I'll add another vote for Kerouac's amazing work.

I won't play favorites as all the mentioned above are very good but I will add my friends, Thin and Nikki.

PS-though I am grateful for the free books, it's disappointing to see my old quotes used in two following editions. And, several places in Boston and France have been out of business

I really like Kerouac's photo reports (any topic) - always good. And this year Vttraveler's report on Belgium (http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/10-days-in-belgium-plus-a-day-in-the-netherlands.cfm). Vttraveler and her husband made an effort to get to know Brussels aside from just the Grand' Place, and explored the suburbs much in the same way that people explore the arrondissements of Paris. Full marks!

Lavandula

How great to see you back Katie.

All the Italy, France reports et al are lovely as usual, but I am glad to see the off-the-beaten-path reports, for Europe especially. Julia's in Sarajevo was already mentioned. Been reading thursdayd's accounts through (mostly) Eastern Europe and most recently about her time in Albania in the third segment, the links to the first two segments are in the first post.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/the-b-trip-part-three-western-balkans.cfm

I'm going to throw another bouquet at juliaT, whose account of driving through Bosnia convinced me that two middle-aged Canadians could enjoy a road trip in Croatia (and we did).

Katie: welcome back!

I love Kerouac's postings and photos which inspire so many of us!

Paris/France trip reports by tpayt, sap and Piccolina were great this year. I may think of others also.

I always look forward to reports from Ekscrunchy, Neopatrick, Nikki and Mr_Go and Ms_Go.

I've gotten good ideas from Nikki,wanderful,ekscrunchy,kerouac, danon,lincasanova and so many others I can't remember.

Have always enjoyed reading details written by Bobthenavigator.

Though it's from 2010, I like to cite Jill Davis' report on a trip to Venice: www.fodors.com/community/europe/venice-a-magical-spell-came-over-me.cfm. She explains so well the fascination of Venice.

Susan's Paris made me think again and again of what love, family and memory can mean.

On the Africa board, atravelynn's latest (southern and Northern Tanzania) is as good as an atrvelynn report gets. That means it's terrific.