And I am now so excited. I am planning a solo trip for next April that includes Paris. I have been concerned that I would be crazy after spending 10days alone, but now I can't wait! Thank you for the inspiration!
Judy

Thanks, Anotherjudy!!! How nice of you to say so!

I hope you have a most fabulous time in Paris. Would be interested to see what you have planned as an itinerary. Or are you just gonna wing it? Paris is a very wingable city.

Wait a second, I forgot to add that I plan to be in Paris next April as well, with my 2 children. If all goes well, we'll be finishing up the Monday after Easter so that they can experience Easter Mass at Notre Dame. If you are there during the same time maybe we can meet up for cafe somewhere.

I will sorta wing it. I was there last April before and after a barge trip on the Canal du Midi. I twisted my foot on the barge, so didn't get my fill of walking around, so I'm going back. I have my list of favorite museums, etc and now, thanks to you, some new restaurants to try.
I haven't locked in my travel dates, but probably leave Dallas the Wednesday after Easter. But if that changes I will contact you here! Meeting for cafe sounds delightful.

Cool!

Anotherjudy, did you post your trip report here or anywhere else? I'm thinking I may have run across it somewhere? A barge trip sounds like so much fun. Sounds like you've been to France numerous times.

I have never posted a trip report - there is a reason that I am in accounting and not an English major! Yes, I have been to Paris several times. The barge trip was wonderful. Probably the most relaxing trip I have ever taken - just sat on deck and watched France float past, ate wonderful food and drank fabulous wines and visited with the other passengers. There was an excursion every day to an interesting village or a wine tasting, etc. Such a wonderful time! Will do it again sometime.

Wow - that sounds great. So peaceful!!

What company did you go through?

I was on the Anjodi which is operated by European Waterways.
4 cabins
4 crew members
Great time!

Judy, that sounds so cozy, just 4 cabins! Thanks for the info!!

And I hope you have a fun-filled 10 days alone in Pareee!!!!!!

I loved your report, so please don't take this the wrong way.

It seemed like you really spent alot of money on food and took a long, long time on meals. Two to three hours per meal was common?

Was this by design or did it just work out that way? Not judging here - all vacations are meant to be enjoyed.

And what about your food choices? Did you have the place and the menu down ahead of time so you knew exactly what to order?

I loved the way the staff at each place seemed to take an immediate liking to you. Don't know if that is typical. Besides speaking a little french, how do you pull that off?

Hmmm, those are really hard questions. I didn't think that I spent that much money on food. I know that spending $90 for lunch is excessive & I hadn't meant to spend that much but I was really looking forward to having lunch at le Vieux Bistrot. As far as other places, I didn't think I spent that much money. Maybe the $30 for afternoon tea at the Ritz but I knew ahead of time how much that would be. Considering I spent less than $2,000 for a 9-day trip that included airfare, hotel, food, museum pass, Metro passes and extraneous sundries then I think I did pretty well. I spent a lot of time preparing for this trip. All my really close friends can tell you that. You should've seen my itinerary!! LOL! I spent an inordinate amount of time researching hotels, restaurants, museums to find out pricing. My income is not great & I knew I'd have a limited amount of money to spend.

I did get a lot of nice responses from the various waiters. Not all places were so nice. There was a cafe that I happened across near the Musee Marmottan. They weren't rude. But they weren't friendly either. Just lukewarm. I wasn't bothered by it knowing the reputation of French waitstaff. But I didn't mention it in the trip report because it was no place special. I don't know if I was just blessed on this trip, if attitudes are slowly changing or they just really appreciated my halting efforts to speak the language. But I received some really nice responses. I'm really touched when I think back on some of the places.

And at one place, the maitre d' kissed my hand and then kissed me on the mouth. But I didn't mention that here, and I'm not naming names or naming restaurants. That is nice memory. Certainly not anything I'd expect here in the US!! Perhaps it's because I just really appreciated the culture, trying to drink things in, making an effort to speak the language and just utterly enjoying myself that things turned out well.

It has been said on this forum that it is all in the attitude. Who knows???

But to my credit, I am obsessed with Paris and have spent many years reading up on the place before ever stepping foot there. I am in love with the culture, the architecture, the history, the art, the food, the language, American literature written over there, the general expat history. Perhaps if I'd been less well-prepared it would've turned out differently?

Lastly, not at every place I ate did I spend 2-3 hours. But there were times of the day that I did just have to sit, reflect, eat, write & people-watch. Being out & about for 12-15 hours a day you do just have to stop for a while. And I do that on vacation. Certainly not at home. And it is part of the culture. Perhaps that's also part of how I received. I wasn't impatient, I didn't press for the waiters' attention. But would write & relax & enjoy my surroundings. Every once in a while I'd catch the eye & request something. My moments there were very laid-back. However, there was no place I HAD to be (like at home) so I could afford to be like that.

Hope that answers satisfactorily? I hope that wasn't way too much information.

Beatchick, Its obvious that your passion for Paris runs deep and strong.

I just thought you might be a foodie and that was the focus of your trip. The 90E lunch followed immediately by the 30E Tea sent my eyes spinning. I guess there are many on this forum that wouldn't even bat an eye at that amount. Wish I could afford to do that. With that inital pace, I didn't know if you were averaging over $150 a day on food.

But did you know what you wanted to order before you sat down or at least knew what these places were famous for? I always seem to draw a blank and often end up ordering something not really that good. You know - the plate at the next table always seems better.

I am shy and eating alone is a bit of a strain so I don't linger too long. Having a book, newspaper or magazine helps.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. info.

Oh, no, I don't normally spend that kind of money on food. And I did know ahead of time, usually, what to order. Good sources of reference material were "Fodor's Paris", "Bistros of Paris" by the Hamburgers, and "Historic Restaurants of Paris" by Ellen Williams. For inexpensive restaurant picks, try "Rick Steves' Paris".

And having a journal helps a great deal, too. Seems people in Paris respect people who are writing in a cafe or bistro and tend to leave them alone & don't think it's odd. I have to admit I had a nerve-wracking moment at Bofinger. It's a very large beautiful restaurant and I felt a little intimidated. But I just focused on watching the wait staff, watching the customers & staring up at the gorgeous dome. Before long the food showed up. I very shyly watched the very beautiful couple next to me. I thought they were French because they had a romantic & elegant, sophisticated air about them & then learned later they were Swiss. It was when the man accidentally spilled wine on my table that we began to talk.

The funniest thing, though? Is that when I was younger I was very shy & incredibly introverted. In my 20s, however, I did a brief stint as a telemarketer (a most horrible experience) and it forces you to learn to talk to people. So that actually turned out to be a very valuable experience.

Maybe that helps a bit?

Beatchick, I loved your answer about eating and spending a lot of time and money on meals. My husband & I were in Paris last Sept, and I could really relate to what you were saying. I spent a huge amount of time preparing for the trip, researching hotels, restaurants, shopping, transportation around the city, etc. My husband wasn't really crazy about going to Paris, but he ended up really enjoying it and admitted that it was really nice that I certainly knew what I was doing and where we were going.

I also had a wonderful response from waiters, especially at Les Bookinistes and La Fermette Marbeuf (isn't it fun to have them flirting?), and I agree that attitude has a lot to do with it. I only speak a very little French, but that, plus a pleasant, excited-to-be-there approach means a lot.

We also really like to eat well on vacation and spend more than normal when we're on vacation. My mother & I are going to London & Paris next week, and we will especially be going to La Fermette Marbeuf in Paris for their to-die-for Grand Marnier Souffle dessert!

I really enjoyed your trip report, it just glowed with your wonderful experience!

SusanP, I always envy those who get to see Paris in September!! I've been dying to go for years during that time. I hope you & your mom have a really fantastic time in London & Paris next week!!!!! And that Grand Marnier souffle sounds divine!! Mmmm.

I've always wanted to check out Les Bookinistes and I've been reading & seeing some good things about La Fermette Marbeuf so I must check them out next time I go to Paris (sans le bebes).

Beatchick - I think I'm almost as passionate about Paris as you are. I've been there only once but I'm going back in May. How did you manage to keep your budget at $2,000? What hotel did you stay at?

Madison, if you want to e-mail me I can send you a copy of my itinerary; it'll show the breakdown of cost. I actually had it budgeted at around $1,800 but splurged a little here & there so it bumped it up a bit. Of course, the main factor is the airfare & the hotel. Once you can keep those costs down, then going to Paris on a budget is quite do-able. And as you can tell, I didn't eat at dives, either!!

I stayed at the Grand Hotel Jeanne d'arc and LOVED it.