dawnnoelm

Apres - yes, he has "baby" sat - The others will be 11 and 15 at time of travel. Not really "babies" ;-)

I will have t find a good place in the area - I am sure there are plenty!

I have to figure out what we are going to do about cell phones. Dh mentioned he needs his for business. So I will work on that soon and perhaps I can get mine to work there as well...

Really - they will be fine. It is me ;-)

StCirq

I stopped doing any planning for Paris around trip number 20. I'm past 100 trips there at this point, and the only thing I do is check to see what exhibits and musical events and such are taking place while I'm there. Even then, I'm likely to make choices based on what occurs to me in the moment.

I was totally compulsive on my first trips and gradually got more lax over time. Now, I just like to soak in the experience of being there and savor the moment.

I really only get compulsive these days when I'm planning a trip to a new place.

dgassa

We did seven weeks in Europe in the spring of 2006 without detailed plans. We knew we wanted to go to France, Germany, Belgium and Austria. We had some specific places we wanted to see, like the D-day beachs, Brugge, Hallstat but we only made reservations for the first week of the trip. We winged it most of the way.

You can read our trip report here:

http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/tripreport.asp?tripid=1259

Nikki

I do not prepare any itinerary beyond the tickets and reservations I need in advance. For my trip to Paris this coming week, I have tickets to the Comedie Francaise, the ballet at the Opera Garnier, a performance of the St. Matthew Passion at the Theatre des Champs Elysees, and plans to go to the early music concert at the Cluny Museum and a lecture at the College de France. One more evening is planned as a Fodor's get-together.

This is more than I usually pre-arrange, but they are all things I really want to do, and the performances that required tickets were nearly sold out, so I could not decide on the spur of the moment to attend. I also find that when I have pre-arranged tickets to an evening performance it will motivate me to go out when I might otherwise stay in.

I know I will be going to some museums, but I do not know when, so I have a list of museums, hours, and closing days. I know I will be eating at restaurants, but I do not know which ones. I have books and lists of recommendations I have compiled which I will review when deciding where to go.

And if I can shake this darned cold by Tuesday, I might actually enjoy myself.

clarasong

Can't remember who said "he who is tired of London is tired of life." and the same could be said of France (or Paris alone)!! The mistake most people make is to try to do too much. If I were in your should, I'd wander the art colonies, try a few sidewalk cafes, go to "Maxim's", go up the Eifel Tower, the Louve, and what we love to do most, just walk and look and experience Paris. If you take the Chunnel for a day or so in London, might be good although our daughter, who just returned, said that stuff is much cheaper in France. London is almost prohibitive, she says. Anyway, have a great time...play it by ear. I don't like to be committed to a schedule, when we travel, except in a general way.

have great times.!!!

CarolA

Nikki,
I swear we are living in a parallel universe. I was just sitting here hoping I am finished with this cold goine before I get on the plane to Paris Tuesday!

I will admit that this trip has practially NO planning! I am attending the GTG Nikki has planned.

I know I am going to buy a Museum Pass and I just got the latest edition of the Blue Guide to Paris to take with me.

I have lists of things I "might" do, but... then again. I think the weather (which is going to be colder then I hoped) is going to dictate me spending more time doing "inside"

I have been to Paris several times and have very few things on the "Must do" list this trip.

nytraveler

I don;t see how marching order makes the experience more enriching.

How does deciding I will go to the Musee D'Orsay on a Wednesday morning 3 months in advance make it more enriching than waking on Thurs and and saying - let's do the D'Orsay today. Same museum - just as enriching.

And if you have every instant pre-planned you have no opportunities to see things that just turn up. Ot sit in a cafe facing the Pantheon enjoying a campari and seeing the world go by and taking the time to really talk to your so. Isn't that truly enriching?.

Nikki

So CarolA, I guess we will recognize each other at the airport by the sneezing and coughing. I'll bring extra tissues for you.

Gezundheit.

StCirq

Here's hoping you guys feel better by Tuesday! If you haven't already done it, go get yourself some Zicam.

suze

I never plan my trips. I get plane tickets and hotel reservations, that's it.

I can't even stand to read those hour-by-hour, day-by-day itineraries that some people post here.

In Paris we based each day around one major thing we decided we wanted to see (by talking either at night in the hotel room or over breakfast, we'd make a vague plan and direction to set out in).

QueScaisJe

nyt, to me, planning doesn't require marching orders. It is more the awareness of options. Or lack of options.

Without planning, I may not know of a exhibition in Orsay that I really would enjoy. Or leaving the visit until Monday (arrggh...closed), with my flight out early the next day. Or even knowing that something magical called the Musée d'Orsay exists.

TRSW

dawn - On my trip to Rome and Paris last October I had nothing planned. Having been to both cities before, I had a general idea of the things I wanted to do and see. In the end I usually went with the 'where ever my happy little feet took me' approach. It was a very relaxing way to travel.

With the year you have had, becoming a Grandma, going back to school (good for you and the best of luck) and most of all, your Cowboys losing in the playoffs (I am just kidding ), a day or two just exploring a different area of the city might be an idea.

Have a great trip.

Tom

Sheepie87

CarolA,

When are you coming? The weather here has been pretty fab. Yesterday it was mid to high 60s. It's getting a bit chillier and rainier this week, supposedly, but still, 46 is the lowest I see and that's pretty good.

However, I am from Wisconsin, land of the frozen tundra where we have insulating fat layers made of brats and beer, so, this is like paradise for me. If you're from, say, Florida, yeah, it might seem a tad chilly. Just bring an umbrella. And the ubiquitous scarf

Have a great time!!!

CarolA

Sheepie87,

I am coming from Atlanta where when I got up this morning it was 47 degrees! LOL!

I will be fine either way. I am packing today and decided to toss in a pair of silk long underwear just in case. I have the scarf, the gloves, the umbrealla and the rain coat.

And StCirq, I am on Zircam. I think I am almost over the cold....

I can't wait. (I just have to live through a horrid day at work tomorrow and Tuesday AM)

dawnnoelm

Tom,

You just had to bring the Cowboys into it huh??? LOL

Reading all these fabulous responses really has encouraged me to let go and just "be" in the moment.

Btw, I took the train to San Diego yesterday with my dear cousin and we went to hear Eckhart Tolle speak... definately encouraged me to be in the "now"

San Diego was lovely as always...

dawnnoelm

btw Suze - it is actually reading those iternaries that started to make me have hives and wonder if there was a different way...