Unfortunately I don't have time to post a long trip report now (first day back at work) but I would like to share a few observations after returning from a week in Paris. Feel free to send any specific questions.<BR><BR>1. The trip there - if appropriate for you based on your health, etc., I highly recommend taking an Ambien after getting on the plane. I did and slept soundly until we arrived and was not tired or groggy at all on my first day. Also, if you have a night flight, eat first or bring food with you. We were delayed for several hours leaving because of snow and most of the airport restaurants closed down. I would have been starving if I didn't have any food with me.<BR><BR>2. Museum Lines/Tickets - we literally walked into the Louvre. Waited in the pyramid entrance (inside) for about 2 minutes. I couldn't believe that there was no line on a Sunday at 10:30-11. I wouldn't bother with the museum pass at this time of year since unless you plan to visit LOTS of museums, it won't save you any money and you don't need to worry about the lines. I also walked right into the musee d'orsay (no line) going at about 3pm. I only needed a couple of hours there so that was a handy time to go. There was a line at the Eiffel Tower (had to wait about 15 minutes) which seemed longer because it was very cold. more on the weather below. We did not have advance tickets for the Matisse Picasso exhibit at the Grand Palais (which you can buy online) and I understood the ticket seller to say that advance tickets are sold out for the rest of the Paris run (of course I may have misunderstood with my rusty french). You can buy tickets for that day but to do so you have to stay in line and wait until there is time to be admitted as the tickets are timed. In other words, you may get there at 10 and they will put out a sign saying no tickets avaiable from 10-11 (which means you have to stand in line until around 11 when they may put up the next sign that says, no tickets available 11-12, etc.). <BR><BR>3. The Exhibits (or what to see if you have been to all the sights before). Obviously one can visit the Louvre, d'Orsay, etc. every day and still see something new. Here are few things I enjoyed seeing in the museums since I have already seen the &quot;greatest hits&quot;. Louvre - Napoleon's apartments (a lot of fun, so over the top!). Musee D'Orsay - Art Nouveau furniture, architecture exhibit. Also I enjoyed the Modigliani exhibit at the Musee Luxembourg although none of the signage was in english.<BR><BR>4. Eating. Before leaving we made restaurant reservations (by fax) for 4 of the 6 nights we were there. We ended up going to three of them. I liked having the reservations because finding a new place each night can become tedious. The nights we didn't have reservations we ate lightly or at neighborhood places which were good as well. The zagats paris has fax numbers of all the restaurants. <BR><BR>5. Shopping. Great anytime of year in Paris but particularly fun at christmas time. Galleries Lafayette and other department stores had great window displays. <BR><BR>6. Packing. Bring WARM clothes. It was very cold (in the 20s) last week. also bring a good hat, gloves, scarf. One good thing about going to paris in the winter is that you don't have to worry about feeling like an unstylish clod bc everyone is all bundled up anyway.<BR><BR>7. Christmas. There was a nice market behind the louvre as well as in Place St. suplice. I found nice ornaments on the Ile de la cite near st. chappelle (in a green house plant nursery). The decorations seemed more elegant than here in the US. Stop by the George V which is beautifully decorated.<BR><BR>Hope that helps!<BR><BR>

Thanks for the report, Sally! My Husband and I really enjoyed Napoleon's apartments as well--hard to imagine calling them home!

Sally:<BR><BR>Good report/recommendations. Brought back memories from my trip in October.<BR><BR>I liked your focus on particulars. I'm not interested in reading what time people woke up in the morning, etc.<BR><BR>Rita

Great informative report Sally!<BR>Our party of 5 will be leaving for Paris in 72 hours!!<BR>I monitored the weather and it's going to be showers this week and next week but we are just going to make a little adjustments to our itinerary and be positive about it.<BR>Please share more when you get the time.<BR>Did you experience any jetlag coming back?<BR>

Jetset, I'm taking a quick break and wanted to write back. First of all, yippee! you are going so soon. I did/do have a bit of jet lag in that I have been waking up earlier than usual and falling asleep earlier. although that is a good thing for me because I usually oversleep. Don't worry about the weather. The reports on weather.com before I left called for showers and it never rained so I guess you never know.

Thanks for the post. I'm leaving 12/21 and I'm concerned about the weather. I went last year at the same time and the museum pass worked great. The lines at the Louve and St Chapelle were long so maybe more people are in town the closer we get to the holidays.

Besides, the pass and the little foldout explaining all the museums makes a nice little souvenir ;^)

Sally, did you stay with Mme Ireland and her little dog?

Nice report, we always go to London around Thanksgiving and do shopping maybe will go to Paris next yr. there are just more street markets in London-ex. Camden, Covent garden, Portebello. Petticoat Lane (Sunday only) but a good one.

Sally-<BR><BR>We're leaving for Paris next week. Wonderful report! Any restaurants that you recommend? Thanks.<BR><BR>

Can you let us know the name of the hotel that you stayed at and how it was?

we stayed with friends so no hotel recommendations. sorry. as for restaurants I like La Bastide de L'Odeon (near Odeon theater) and La Coussoule (?) Coupple (?) I'll have to check the name (near St. Suplice). I highly recommend looking in some books before you leave and then bringing the zagats to carry around with you. <BR>

one additional thought...since Paris (as well as most northern european cities) don't see much sun in the winter, I wished that I had brought some black and white film to take photos with (of course, you can but it in Paris). most of the color photos come out very gray and drab but sure look great in black and white.