BikerScott

Final thoughts for our fellow Fodorites after a week in Paris between Christmas and New Years:
- If you've never been here before, this might not be the best time to visit. A lot isn't open between the two holidays, especially outside the really touristy areas, which makes the touristy areas even more crowded than normal.
- Pack for several types of weather - in the week we've been here, it's been up to 14C above, below freezing, sunny, rainy, and snowing.
- Don't worry about looking like a tourist by wearing sneakers or ski jackets. You will never look like a Parisian, nor would you probably want to. The fuzzier the giant hat, the better
- Try venturing outside the tourist-centric Latin Quarter, St Germain, the Marais etc...we love the 11th, the 14th, and the 18th, and I'm sure there are so many more intersting bits of Paris we haven't seen yet. It might not be as polished, but it's the real Paris.
- Seriously, try a gavotte. They sell them at Marche Franprix, and G20, and probably elsewhere - look in the biscuit aisle.
- When in doubt, find a cafe, order a coffee or a wine, and relax. Everything seems better in French cafe.
- If you can, rent an apartment, rather than a hotel room. It's nice to have a place you can call home even if only for a little while, and even nicer to have a little fridge stocked with cheese, wine, and milk for your morning coffee.

Please ask if you have any questions - we're more than happy to share our experiences.

Treesa

Thank you, Scott, for an inspiring report. You're quite the writer and she's quite the photographer. A good match.

jamikins

Thanks Treesa...although I have to admit that Scott takes half the pics in the family...and cooks too...darn it I am a lucky woman

gomiki

This is just so good! Scott, are you a writer in your work? I think you and Jamikins should be travel writers/photographers and entertain/inform us with your travels .Wouldn't that be a dream for most of us....but you would be better than most of us.

julia_t

Thank you for a most enjoyable report.

I've loved it being in real time too, I've read it every morning this past week and will miss it!

Happy New Year, and please go back to Paris soon!

ruedebuci

I enjoyed your report and pictures immensely. Thanks for sharing!

jamikins

Thanks everyone...we made it safely back to London this afternoon (sigh). We had the most relaxing time...no schedule to follow, no must sees to fit in. Great trip.

Gomiki - Sign me up for that job anyday!!! That would be our dream...if only we didnt have a mortgage hahahaha!

Stay tuned for a Dublin weekend in Jan, Easter in Budapest, a long weekend Venice in May, and a week in the Cinque Terre/Piedmont Italy in June!

TDudette

Don't know how I missed this the first time but it was a delight to read it all at once. Wonderful photos, adorable loft and a treat to read.

Hope you come to Washington DC sometime.

crefloors

I'm so sad this is over. I've read you exerpts every day and love the photos.

I stayed in the 14th my last trip to Paris and really loved that area. Thanks for the daily reports.

irishface

Thanks for a wonderful report with pictures! Looking forward to hearing upcoming reports of your winter and spring weekend jaunts!

PS I didn't think you looked like a twit in the fur hat. In fact with the temp at 7 degrees Fahrenheit, 10 inches of snow on the ground and lots more swirling down, I wouldn't have cared if I looked like Super Twit in the hat; it just looked warm and comfortable!

progol

LOVE your report and photos! Great sense of humor - I guess you gotta laugh your way up those 101 steps!

I really do love many of those photos - you (both) have a great eye and way of framing things.

Paule

Leely2

Love the 11th, love the 14th, love your report and photos. Happy New Year to you both. Reading and viewing this has been very cheering to me. Thank you!

timsmom

I loved reading your reports and looking at your photos. Now I really do need to visit at New Years - Paris in winter is still much better than Southern Ontario! Where in Canada are you from?

jamikins

Hi Timsmom...we are from BC...although Scott spent several years growing up in Ottawa. We definately miss the snow

gregeva1

Jamikins, great report!!! Loved 2008's report and this one surpassed it. Can't wait for this year's trips.

cherrybomb

Bikerscott. It is the way the holiday fell. We have come numerous tomes this timeof year and this being our last night practically everything has been dead and closed these past two weeks. It is not normal. People have just started coming home it seems in the last few days. .

jamikins

cherrybomb...that explains it! There really was a lot of places closed over the week!

cherrybomb

I know - some of my favorite restaurants were closed. I had a sad.

Apres_Londee

How did I miss this earlier? Fantastic photos. I stayed in the garret a couple of years ago and would rent it again in a heartbeat. I loved that neighborhood.

tod

I loved your report and will get to the photos when I have loads of time to view them slowly.
So, you met with Dave - is that the same Dave-in-Paris that used to be quite active on this board??
I will give your regards to BC when I visit for the first time in August - meeting up in Lacombe and doing the two National Parks over two weeks -Can't wait to be in Canada!!(VIA PARIS, OF COURSE!).