Y'all were so helpful with the links from my post a few days ago.

I am definitely doing the Paris Walks. I am going to make a list of museums I want to visit and just fill it in from there.

My dh says I should be embarrassed to say to true travelers where we are staying-it is the PARIS-PORTE DE CLICHY Holiday Inn. But is the best price FREE and in true Georgia fashion, my husband assures me it is air conditioned.

What are the sales? Is there something I should be looking for to buy?

Thanks for tips and info!!!

Laura Lee

I love this title! However, I was born without the shopping gene, so I can't advise on sales.

Don't worry about trying to impress - only a tourist would look down on your accommodation, not a true traveler. Just go and enjoy. And BTW, Holiday Ins in Europe are generally a cut above their US cousins.
As for sales - unlike the US, in France there are only sales periods (les soldes) twice per year, generally January and late June. This year it starts June 25.

Laura Lee, Everything in Paris was really expensive, and serious shoppers that we are, my daughter and I bought very little. We each bought a bottle of French wine(take big heavy duty ziploc bags--wrap the bottles in bubble wrap that you've brought from home and/or t-shirt or sweat shirts and then put everything in the ziploc--it will be fine) and also each bought a scarf--our big splurge--at Bon Marche department store (24 rue de Sevres--St-Germain-des-Pres). It's a very elegant (= expensive) store, and fun to wander around, even if you don't buy anything. There is a great gourmet food store that is across the street--La Grande Epicerie--definitely worth a stop--especially if you like pastries for lunch as we do. We love the Amora Nature wine and mustard salad dressing--can't find it anywhere in the states--and also bought bottles of that to bring back. It's very fun to just walk around St Germain and look at the stores and people. Check it out in your guide book.

We also loved visiting Pere- Lachaise Cemetery. Locating the graves is almost like a treasure hunt. They're not as easy to find as the maps make it appear. After seeing the works of David and Delacrox at the Louvre, it was interesting to see the final resting place of these artists--and Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison, too, of course.

Take really comfortable shoes.

Thanks so much for y'all's input!

Laura Lee