Buffalogirl
I'm loving your enthusiasm and just great reporting on your trip. After too many trips to Paris to count I still consider myself lucky and joyous in going to Paris. I have now finished all the details, like airline tickets, apartments etc for my trip in May 2011. Reading your report is getting me more excited if that is possible. Keep sending in the reports

I love your report and the memories it brought back of my first trip. I wish I still had your fresh point of view. As for your battery-operated Eiffel Tower, what ever floats your boat!

DH and I downsized from 4 bedrooms to 1. If we hadn't used it in a year, we gave it away. This was 20 years ago and we never ever missed one thing. Good show!

During your upcoming return trip, we all know you will,why take cabs? The metro and bus systems are very easy to follow, cheaper and faster.

PatrickLondon, Sorry, didn't get to your post. Same thought.

Well, we really did walk almost everywhere. We walked and walked till we couldn't walk anymore. I like to walk.

My friend was very uncomfortable with trying to navigate the metro. She had been very accommodating throughout the trip - letting me plan the entire thing and making all the decisions on what to do and see, and she was just happy to follow along. This was pretty much the only thing she didn't want to do.

Lastly, there were only two or three times in the entire week that we took a cab, and in every instance it was because we just tired ourselves out by walking sooooo much. Each trip amounted to just a few euros, as they were very short rides. They were always last minute decisions.

It was as simple as that! But I promise to take the metro next time.

TDudette - thanks. It's been a lot of work, but I've cleaned out everything my full walk up attic to the basement and everything in between. Half of my trip was paid for by the sales I made on ebay of things I no longer needed or wanted.

A one bedroom would be too small, as we have a college aged son who needs somewhere to sleep during summer breaks, and I have been encouraging him to move back home for the next two years to save on dorm costs.

I just want to live small and travel big.....it's a work in progress!!!

>>But I promise to take the metro next time.<<

It's not compulsory! But it can be a help, as can the buses. You can imagine some practice runs here:

http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index...lan-interactif

Thank you, PatrickLondon. I have bookmarked that site for future reference! I know it's not compulsory. And I'm not against taking a bus or a subway. Neither is new to me..... just in Paris. Well, OK....I've never done it in NYC, either. But I have in Toronto and Montreal (and even my own little city, that has one subway line)! That should get me some points !-).

I have to admit a little something.....I like going to a big city and taking a taxi. It makes me feel very cosmopolitan. Although I live in a city, it's not the kind where you stand on a busy street and flag one down.

LOL on the light up Eiffel Tower! Who can explain why we sometimes just have to have something like that? Sometimes a little tschotske is just necessary!

I completely understand the taxi thing especially with a companion that is hesitant about the Metro. it is east to navigate in Paris but you can do that next time. Vacation really is about a little luxury and going the easiest way sometime!

denisea - it's a very nice light up Eiffel Tower!

DAY 6 - OUR LAST DAY:

There were so many sights that we didn't get to (Sacre Coeur, Musee' d'Orsey, Place Vendome, the opera Garnier, etc.), and we originally thought we could visit on or two of them on our last day. But, we decided to leave these for the next visit. And you really can't see everything in one trip. Sigh.

I actually surprised myself when I decided to make the last day a lazy day that did not include sightseeing. It may have had something to do with exhaustion. We slept just a little later instead of getting up at the crack of dawn to beat the crowds. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we decided to just walk and eat and shop and take it easy. Maybe even get back to the Luxembourg Gardens later in the afternoon to just relax and people watch. I wanted to get some more chocolate for gifts, as I managed to eat several of the bars I bought earlier in the week as presents.

We started the day by stopping in a little jewelry store at the end of our street. They had really, really pretty semi-precious gemstone earrings. My friend found a pair she really loved, but wanted to think about it. I didn't see any blue topaz (my favorite), but eyeballed some amethyst ones. They were gorgeous, but I have dark hair and just wasn't sure they'd look so great on me. So off we went.

We walked around our neighborhood, over to the Latin Quarter where we got one of those "to go" sandwiches on baguette bread), then over to the Marais district and just meandered up and down the winding little streets and did a little shopping. We bought sterling silver Eiffel Tower charms (why wouldn't we?). Then we came upon a building that was having a designer show - up and coming French designers, I believe. We spent some time in there buying some gifts for ourselves and others. It was a lot of fun, and we had some nice conversations with the designers.

Before we knew it, it was getting late in the afternoon, and we wanted to get back to the park. I was sooooo sure I knew where I was going....I didn't even need to look at the map. Surely we were headed toward the river. NOT!!!! I got us good and lost. Those tricky little narrow streets twist and turn. It's like being in a maze I tell ya.

We ended up on a major thoroughfare (the name escapes me). The problem was that I didn't know WHERE on this thoroughfare I was. Again, we had been walking for hours and we were getting tired. I had my map this time, but for some reason none or the side streets were on it. I just wanted to make sure we walked in the right direction, so I asked the gentleman (I use that term lightly) behind the counter in the magazine stand if he would show me where we were on the street.

Before I continue - let me just say that I found the French people to be THE nicest, most helpful people. All week long we commented to each other on how nice everyone was. If we looked lost, people offered to show us the way. They were patient when we couldn't figure out the right word in French, or figure out which euro coin we needed when making a purchase. I can't say enough about the residents of Paris. It was not what I expected after hearing people say they're rude. They're not. Except for...... the man behind the magazine stand counter on the last day. I heard him speak English, so I asked him to please point on the map where we were (on that particular street). He gave me a dirty look, hollered "NO" and waved me away with his hand.

I was tired, I wanted to get back to the chocolate shop on the island to get my candy bars and, well up until now everyone had been so nice that his attitude took me by surprise. So I did what any respectful woman would do in that situation - I gave him a dirty look back and then stuck my tongue out at him!!! Yep, I did. I haven't done that since I was a kid. It was fun, actually. I might have to try that more often.

After that, we marched straight over to a TAXI STAND!!! And we had the driver drop us off in front of that jewelry store. My friend was deciding on her earrings when I commented that I wished they had blue topaz. The owner heard me, opened a drawer, and out they came! They were such a sparkly blue - just like the twinkly light show my iron lady friend puts on every night. OK, they weren't that pretty. But pretty enough. Now these were not real high end earrings - it was 18k gold over sterling silver (who needs to know, right?) with big honking genuine stones. The frugal shopper in me knows darn well I can buy something similar on ebay for half the price. The hell with ebay, I bought those puppies.

They are something I would wear when dressing up - like during the holidays. When someone says to me, "Why BuffaloGirl, what beautiful earrings those are - where did you get then?" And I will answer, in a demure sort of way, "Oh, I picked them up in a little shop in Paris."

Sounds so much better than, "Oh, I bought them on ebay." So this is how I justified that little shopping trip.

It was too late to go to the park, as we had dinner reservations. So we dropped off our stuff, relaxed and finished off some cheese and wine we had in our apartment, and started packing up.

We had dinner around the corner at a place called Le Temps de Purdu. It was recommended on a post by me asking for recommendations in our neighborhood. It was a darling little restaurant and we really enjoyed our meal there. I had mussels then coq a vin with homemade noodles.

And that, my friends, was the end of my Paris vacation. Sigh. I would love to be there for Christmas. Maybe next time!!!

"Why BuffaloGirl, what beautiful earrings those are - where did you get then?" And I will answer, in a demure sort of way, "Oh, I picked them up in a little shop in Paris.">>

LOL BG - I do the same with scarves. [though I'm not sure if you can get them on e-bay - I've never looked!]

great trip report, BTW.

Hi BuffaloGirl,
A few years ago I and my DW and son and DIL took a memorable trip that ended in Paris...it will probably be our last...so, I wanted to tell you that, the joy I felt doing a rather long and disjointed trip report, the give and take with the Fodorites, the laughs and giggles was one of the most memorable experiences ever! Reading your bubbling over, WOW! report brought it all back...take pleasure in the pleasure you brought others by sharing all those walks and decadent cab rides....
You certainly breathed some life into these old bones and I am grateful for the gift...I hope you have many more journeys and that you continue to light up lives by telling the world about them...
Thank you so much...
Dupher

annhig -- I also do that with scarves.

buffalfogirl -- We also found the Parisians to be mostly delightful and helpful. But not everyone. Also gave a glare or two, but never thought of sticking out my tongue. Good for you, LOL.

All trip reports are fun to read. Your trip report made me laugh way more than others, WOW! We will be in Paris for Christmas and will post a trip report. If someone is rude to us, we will stick out our tongues. You may be starting a trend

The Fodor Official Tongue Lashing is born. Very enjoyable BG!

Buffalogirl..I feel you one the jewlery. My last trip into France was a lil town up near the German border called Metz, I came across this jewlery story that just had the perfect birthstone I had seen, blue topaz for December, nice emerald cut, clear blue. Loved it on site and bought it. So thanks for the reminder as I pulled it out the box and cleaned it today and how have it on. I kept the box and the receipt..lol

dupher - thank you for your very beautiful post.

annhig - you can buy almost anything on ebay!

TB44 - glad to know I can make someone laugh.

acacia67 - I kept the pouch they came in. I pull them out and look at them too, and I've only had them for a month or two!

mebe and TDudette - you know, in the the US a lot of people flip the bird (I don't, but it seems a lot of people do), but I was in Paris, and it's such a polite place, that I felt sticking out my tongue was a more polite way of going about things. !-)

Hi Buffalogirl,

I too am still excited over my recent trip to Paris and so I very much enjoyed feeling your enthusiasm come through in this report.

Sounds like you will be back there again before too long!

Good luck with the simplifying.

gruezi

WOW - just had to say it! So glad you had such a great first impression! Sounds like a wonderful trip! The Paris afterglow - it's a good thing!