guen, thanks for the info. yes, with the strong euro, its very expensive to go to europe.

guen---so what's the french hotel's name???

dumpy hotels now this is a topic I now well.

Bob...It's Hotel le Clement at 6,rue Clement. If you stay there, book a room facing the street either on the top floor or one floor down. It's on a quiet square...the Marche St.Germain... which is surrounded by apartment buildings. It's magical at night as you look out your window and see all the lights from the apartments and can look right into people's apartments and see folks moving around or eating or watching TV. You really get a slice of Parisien life. Happy Travels!

Gloria, I have some Morrocan hotel stories of my own, Dirty, dirty, grossly dirty - and, of course, no hot water... (Of course there are the "Orientals" of Morocco like the Palais Jamais as well...)