well maybe we can get back on track here:)<BR><BR>My anniversary trip to Paris-<BR>we stayed at the Angleterre.We had a suite with a fireplace.It was very nice,we went right out to a local flower shop and bought lilacs and lilies and brought them back to the hotel.The desk clerks were scrambling to find the perfect vase for Madames flowers! We put them on the mantle,in the bathroom,by the bed.It smelled wonderful,what a treat, to wake up in the morning, smelling lilies and lilacs, then to look out the window at the sky over your hotel in Paris.To walk out to the street early early, and see the shopkeepers sweeping the sidewalks, smell the bakery and coffee scents in the air.Wander over to a cafe and sit and watch the people hurrying by,have another coffee,decide what we want to do today.<BR>Why don't we just walk, play it by ear,buy each other small anniversary gifts?<BR>We walked across to the Louvre,to the Antiquarius behind the Louvre where we pretended we could afford a Jean Cocteau lithograph.We wandered in and out of the haute couture shops on the rue de Rivoli.Stopped at Angelinas for chocolate.On to the Madeleine,Galleries Lafayette,over to the Opera Garnier where we would see a ballet that night.<BR>Back across to the Ille de la Cite and St Chappelle,where you could just weep from the beauty of all that stained glass.<BR>Walking up and down the small streets between Blvd St Germain and the Luxembourg Gardens, gazing in the windows of small shops, hand bags, shoes,jewelry.<BR>I bought his gift, he bought mine.<BR>Ending up at the Luxembour Gardens.Sitting at the cafe in the park, having a glass of vin rouge and just watching the children play,the nannies with the strollers,the students from the Sorbonne.Now and then an official looking gentleman coming in or out of the Palace.<BR>Back to the hotel to rest and get ready for the ballet.

Since I can't afford another trip to Paris right now my husband and I are going to Quebec City. It's as close to Paris as one can get here in Canada. Little cafes, Pain au raisin, croissants, waiters with "attitude", And all without having to exchange our dollars. Our next choice for a French getaway is St. Martin but that will have to wait until December.

topping per request

My husband just told me last night that he was going to win the lottery this week so we could travel all the time. I will take you all with me! My boss asked me how my weekend was and I said "OK" he could read my face and said not as good as being in Paris? I guess it shows!

*SIGH*<BR>I'm just back and I'm ready to go again... pictures begin at http://travelswithus.net/june02/

Wow-well done , S Fowler!! <BR>As if I needed these to make me feel more "homesick" for Paris!! Great photos!

Please keep telling your Paris stories!<BR>I am unable to travel this year, and miss it terribly.<BR>Disregard the unpleasant old complainers,and tell me more stories.<BR>Thank you,thank you.<BR>MissingParisAlso

Thanks a lot, Sally. I was having a perfectly nice day at work and you had to go and ruin it with those pictures. Now I've joined the ranks of malcontents who want to be elsewhere. I am so homesick I could cry. <BR><BR>Seriously, totally wonderful pictures.

One reason that I keep a minimum of 100,000 miles in my frequent flyer account is so that I KNOW that if I REALLY can't take it anymore, I can punch up a ticket and leave for Paris the next day... Now stop it before I pull the trigger!!! :o)

Yuppers -- don't expect any help from us -- if I could go tonight I would :D<BR>My name is s.fowler and I'm addicted to Paris...<BR><BR>Thanks for the nice words on the photos -- I focused on places I hadn't been recently or at all -- and as a result experienced a "new" Paris to add to the other memories...

Your pics are lovely; funny, I have that same one of the Saints in front of Notre Dame (like who doesn't, right?)! St. Etienne Du Mont was the 1st church I visited...thanks for sharing. Given the opportunity, who wouldn't go back to Paris in a minute?<BR>

We should all have a GTG in Paris next year..<BR>Or maybe this year since I am longing to be in Paris.So much so that I am starting to make all of our favorite dinners that we had in Paris,as if I could make them that well! But I am trying, with some Piaf on and enough red wine, it works sometimes:)

I would like to know how Yuppers manages to "punch a ticket and leave the next day." I just used miles to reserve a trip to Italy in May, 2003! I always have to book well in advance with mine (two different credit cards, American and Delta). Am I missing something?

I thought I was the only one!!!! I was there in May and am very depressed. Chocolat chaud at Angelina, dejeuner at Jules Verne, wandering along the Seine, any museum, setting on the steps of Sacre Coeur, Berthillon, Nutella crepes, rue Mouffetard, rue Dragon, Cafe Dany overlooking the Seine, !!!!!!!! Please take me back to Paris.

Andi, the reason is the 100,000 miles vs. 50,000 for a capacity-controlled. It's nice if you can find the lower "cost" opening, but if you can't, then you can use more miles and dump the limitations on seats. In short, you're doing the right thing to get the most value, if it fits your plans. But if a person wants to do something impetuous, then there's a way to handle that, too. :o)

You, impetuous, I can't believe it.

Lola, I was going to go to Laduree (at your suggestion) last time I was in Paris but couldn't make it. :( But did make it to Angelina's in your honor (mmm ~ pink champagne and Quiche Lorraine, Mont Blanc and le Africain!!).<BR><BR>Wish I were shopping on Rue Cler for those HUGE grapes and other picnic essentials!! BIG SIGHS, everyone!

I miss waking to the sounds of the dishes clinking as room service brings me wonderful coffee and croissants.<BR>I miss sitting in Luxembourg Gardens and watching the people.<BR>I miss sitting at Cafe Marly and watching the tourists.<BR>I miss the food,the wine.<BR>I miss stumbling along with my fractured French and having a Frenchman/woman beam at me and answer me in French(appreciating my trouble) and I beam back (thrilled that we understood each other)<BR>I miss getting lost in small winding streets and discovering something/someplace that no one had told me about.<BR>I miss Paris.

topping because I miss Paris, too