Regarding hooking up with Fodorites in Paris... I am sure you are all very educated and charming people. That goes without saying since you are traveling to one of the most beautiful, vibrant cities int the world. However, I do not understand why you would want to seek out other Americans when you have traveled all this way to see another culture and appreciate it's many wonders! Hope you all enjoy some of the hidden treasures of the city.

I can’t understand why everyone is so concerned because a few of us want to take an hour out of a trip to get together. Have you never met up with friends visiting your city from out of town for a coffee or drinks? They were willing to take time out of their trip to see you. And because we are meeting Fodorites for an hour in the evening, does that mean we will not be "experiencing" Paris? I often take naps, feeling that my time will be better spent if I am rested—-should I take amphetamines to be sure I get every single minute out of "Paris" that I can? We always stay in hotels in different areas to investigate those quarters. In fact, this meeting gets me over to the Marais for exploration during the afternoon. And, Merry, please alert us to where some of these hidden treasures are so that we might enjoy them, too. (I’m serious.) <BR>PS. Merry, this is Sue's husband Gene, and I echo her request about hidden treasures; each time we are in Paris, we discover "something" new, which is a great part of the delight of the city; and I am sure that this trip (somewhere around our 20th; Sue lived and worked there while attending school) will be no different. As for meeting up with Fororites for an hour or two or even three, I am not sure why this distresses you and a few others. We are interested in meeting people who have become friends on the internet and we want to see if they are as delightful in person; and we always like meeting people from different parts of the country. Again, I find myself puzzled as to why this proposed meeting distresses people so.....

Right on Wrights! Evidentally Merry and a few others have never heard of "live and let live." "whatever turns you on" or "different strokes for [those] different folks" who drink that other cup of tea, no matter how educated or uneducated or how charming or uncouth they may be. Have fun!