Janisj,
Thanks so much for the terrific trip report. I too love the Pompidou and Tate (but I LOVE modern art, so that figures)--I think the atmosphere of these two museums is exciting.

I'm starting to plan for DH & my 25th anniversery next Spring and you've given some great ideas. And I really appreciate the problem of flying from the West Coast--we're in Seattle and there aren't any direct flights to Paris from here and I really hesitate having to transfer planes--your story certainly reinforced that. This is why we stopped off in Amsterdam last time and London the times before. This to me is the only disadvantage of living on the West Coast!

Also, docdan, thanks for the opera-comique link.

Artlover - if you can come up to Vancouver to fly out, look into Zoom Airlines (flyzoom.com). They have direct Vancouver - Paris flights, with a stopover in Calgary, which from what I understand, is to drop off any Calgary-bound travellers, and pick up any Paris bound travellers from Calgary - so it shouldn't be too long of a stopover.

Imlweb,

Oh where were you when I was booking my flights? I'm in Anacortes, Washington, halfway between Seattle and Vancouver, and wish I had heard about Zoom airlines! I just looked up their fares, and for when I am flying, in October, the fare is $249 each way.

I always make a point of never looking further after I have booked my flights, for fear I will see a cheaper fare, and not you have to spoil all that. I paid a LOT more.

Actually, thanks for the tip. I'll bookmark that one!

:-)

Yes - that's Canadian dollars - so for you US travellers, it comes out to even better deal once the exchange is done (even at around 1.20 rate), right?!!

Next time! It also goes to London, Wales or Scotland.

Inlweb,
WOW--a great rate too! Thanks so much for this tip. No wonder I'm addicted to Fodors!

I've finally posted my Paris pics. Just about everyone recommended pbase - but noooooo, I decided to go w/ photobucket cuz it is free. Big mistake - pretty clunky getting photos loaded and hard to rearrange/edit. I'll probably be on pbase or some other site by my next trip.

Anyway here they are - http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i71/go9ers/

Hey Janisj - Great trip report - thanks heaps. Can u let me know if the apartment had a washing machine or was there a laundry nearby?

No washer/dryer - but we didn't need one since the heated towel rails dried men's cotton underwear, socks, and even damp jeans in 3 or 4 hours. And my cotton blouses/tees etc were dry in an hour or two. I washed by hand twice, and CTC once, plus we had to dry out wet jeans/slacks/scarves a couple of times.

I didn't look for a laundromat - but I'm sure there are some close to the flat since there are so many students at the nearby Sorbonne.

Oh - meant to add a post script for the Flight from Hell. CTC wrote to AA and after about 4 weeks got appology and a $150 voucher. So I figured "what the hey" - I'd give it a shot too. So well after the fact, I wrote to AA -- and Friday I received a $150 voucher too :)

ttt for Cheryl